Curriculum
To obtain the titre you must write a dissertation and take a final exam. Tutorials and workshops throughout the year complement your course work to develop the necessary critical skills to research and present a subject of your choice. The final oral exam, taken in September, requires you to identify and describe major works of French art and is based on the classes taken during the year. At the end of the year, you will have gained a titre II in biens culturels, the equivalent of a Bachelor degree. Learn more about the titre and ECTS on the Campus France website.
IESA is set in the heart of Paris, with premises right next to the Louvre. We have an unrivalled reputation for our teaching, combining the study of art history with professional experience in the art market. Thus we can bring to our short courses a range of experience that take you beyond the classroom into the vibrant life of the city.
Find out about IESA's other art business programs.
PROGRAM OUTLINES
Each semester you study French language intensively so that by the end of the semester, you have a working knowledge of French and can hold conversations on day- today topics. However, you will also gain a special focus on the French of the arts and literature. Each semester is constructed to be independent but equally to complement the other. Each semester offers a background survey of French history and culture (September) or French art and architecture (February), ensuring that you have a good overall knowledge from which you can explore different, more specialised subjects. Your options are taught through lectures and workshops, complemented by weekly visits to key site in Paris. For some options, such as the history of cinema, classes will take the form of lectures followed by discussion sessions and seminars. All courses will have assignments throughout the semester if you are taking the course for credit. Assessment takes the form of short presentations, which develop important communication skills and short essays. There will also be mid-term and final exams, which take place in week 12 of the course.
In addition, there will be tutorials throughout the year in order to prepare you to write a dissertation on a topic of your choice, which is to be completed by the end of June. The final stage of the titre consists of an oral examination on the expertise in works of art, for which you will also take preparatory classes during the summer. The oral examination takes place at the beginning of September.
Course options
September and February
1) French Language (8 credits)
Taught throughout the year, we offer two levels of language tuition- beginners and advanced Beginners. By the end of the year you will have learned to converse and write in French having gained the basic language skills to enjoy visiting or living in Paris. At the same time, you will have an excellent grounding in grammar and written French if you want to go on with further studies in French. Classes are run in small groups, with exercises, weekly tests and exams to underpin your learning experience.
What happens if I speak good French?
If your level of French is at intermediate level, then we propose that you take all four of the options offered in English. However, if your French is good enough and you would like more practice, we can offer you the chance to take classes with our French students to study French art history.
2) French History and Culture (2 ECTS credits)
This intensive course explores the development of political and cultural institutions through lectures on French history, literature and culture plus visits to major historic sites in Paris. It takes place over the first month, providing essential background to the courses on art history offered on the semesters.
SEPTEMBER course options
1) French History and Culture (2 ECTS credits)
This intensive course explores the development of political and cultural institutions through lectures on French history, literature and culture plus visits to major historic sites in Paris. It takes place over the first month, providing essential background to the courses on art history offered on the semesters.
2) French Art and Architecture (8 ECTS credits)
Taking the history of art from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, this course allows students to understand the major movements in French art and appreciate how Paris rose to be the pre-eminent city for art in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
3) Art of The Avant Garde c1890-1945 (5 ECTS credits)
Concentrating on the first half of the twentieth century, this course takes a cross-disciplinary approach to investigate the new artistic movements developing in Europe. The work of artists is set in the context of the literary and cultural movements of the time.
4) Art business (5 ECTS credits)
The autumn semester concentrates on art law and marketing, with sessions on artists’ copyright, contract law and other legal issues; marketing and communication strategies.
5) Workshops (2 ECTS credits)
Workshops developing students’ research and essay-writing skills are held throughout the semester to support the main course teaching on art history.
FEBRUARY course options
1) Contemporary Art from 1945 (5 ECTS credits)
Studies cover the art of the postwar period to the present day, considering the main international movements after World War II and the developments within France. After setting the context and background, teaching covers movements such as Fluxux, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual art, Video and Performance art.
2) The History of Cinema (4 ECTS credits)
This course covers the story of how cinema was created in the early twentieth-century to what it is today, placing the main trends in their artistic and cultural context. The course covers the work of key directors, analyses their styles and technical developments so that students gain a deep insight into movie making as well as artistic direction.
3) Contemporary Creativity (5 ECTS credits)
4) Curating and Mounting Exhibitions (5 ECTS credits)
During the spring semester the course concentrates on the essential skills required to curate, organise and set up a temporary exhibition.
5) Workshops (2 ECTS credits)
Workshops developing students’ expertise and knowledge of art history.
between February and August, there will be dissertation's workshops and tutorials. From June onwards you will work on your dissertation and in September you take a viva on your expertise in French Art.
CREDITS
Tuition on each semester will bring a possible 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer Scheme) at undergraduate level. This is the equivalent of 15 US credits. All classes are taught at advanced level, except for French, which however, is taught as an accelerated language class.
- French language classes (8 ECTS credits)
- French history and culture (2 ECTS credits)
- French art and architecture (8 ECTS credits)
- Art business (5 ECTS credits)
- Art of the Avant Garde (5 ECTS credits)
- The History of Cinema (4 ECTS credits)
- Contemporary creativity (5 ECTS credits)
- Curating and mounting exhibitions (5 ECTS credits)
- Contemporary art from 1945 (5 ECTS credits)
If you wish to take the course(s) for credit, then you will need to get them approved by your own university. We can send detailed course outlines for approval, which you should indicate on the application form. Once you have completed the course, we will send IESA transcripts to you or to your university advisor.
Download application form 
