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Program dates: January 2026, exact dates coming soon.

Application Deadline: TBA

Deposit Deadline: TBA

You can :

• Under "Categories" select "Student Travel Deposit: College of the Arts".
• Under "Items" select "Paris: City of Empire - Art, Faculty-Led Study Abroad Deposit for Winter Break 2026".
• From there, you can add the item to your cart and complete the payment.

Withdrawal Deadline: TBA

Final Program Fee Deadline: The remainder of the program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline aligns with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's summer due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2026 due date.

Mandatory pre-trip class meeting: TBA

Course Information

Course Name and CRN:

• CRN 10682 (ARTH - 42089 – 001), or
• CRN 10687 (ARTH - 52089 – 001)

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: Art

Course Description:

Students will benefit enormously via the observation and study of works of art firsthand, in addition to the presentation and discussion of historical and contextual factors.

Through your visits and subsequent assignments, we will explore the legacy of imperialism, its imprint on art and culture, and its effect on contemporary issues in Parisian society.

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Faculty Contact Information

Program Contact Name: Joseph Underwood

Title: Associate Professor

Email: junder18@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-3824

Eligibility

• You must be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.
• Open to undergraduate and graduate students.

This program is designed to take place every other year over Winter Break.

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence, sites, and departure city are subject to changes in availability and cost.

Day 1: Travel Day

• Depart CLE for Paris, arrive at CDG airport, settle in to hostel, get your metro pass.

Day 2: Paris City Tour

• Morning and afternoon: Guided city tour of Paris to introduce it as a whole, passing by many of its historical and cultural landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Champs-Élysées, and more.
• Evening: Free time to explore the city or participate in optional activities.

Day 3: Louvre Museum and Musée d'Orsay

• Morning: Explore the Louvre's Department of Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, which showcase artworks from various cultures impacted by colonization.
• Afternoon: Visit the Musée d'Orsay, which houses an extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, including works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Cézanne.

Day 4: Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration and Musée Carnavalet

• Morning: Visit the Musée de l'histoire de l'immigration, dedicated to the history and contributions of immigrants in France.
• Afternoon: Visit the Musée Carnavalet, a historic museum in neighboring mansions with Paris art and history exhibits focused on 16th & 17th centuries.

Day 5: Free Day I

• Full day for students to explore Paris independently, visit additional museums, or engage in personal activities of their choice.
• Suggestions include Musée Rodin, Picasso Museum, or exploring neighborhoods like Montmartre or Le Marais.
• Suggested excursion to the Palace of Versailles, a symbol of the absolute monarchy of France, known for its stunning architecture, gardens, and Hall of Mirrors.
• Suggested visit to the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, a historic park with beautiful gardens, sculptures, and views of Paris.

Day 6: Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac and Musée de la Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine

• Morning: Visit the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, dedicated to indigenous art and cultures from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
• Afternoon: Explore the Musée de la Cité de l'Architecture, offering insight into French architecture, including replicas of significant historical buildings.

Day 7: Panthéon and Musée de l'Armée

• Morning: Visit the Panthéon, a mausoleum dedicated to honoring notable French citizens, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie.
• Afternoon: Explore the Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides, which displays a vast collection of military artifacts, including the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Day 8: Free Day II

• Full day for students to explore Paris independently, visit additional museums, or engage in personal activities of their choice.

Day 9: Musée de l’homme, Musée Guimet, and Palais de Tokyo

• Morning: Visit sites related to the historic Expositions Universelles (World Fairs).
• Afternoon: Visit Palais de Tokyo, one of the leading contemporary art spaces.

Day 10: Musée du Louvre Part II and Centre Pompidou

• Morning: Visit the collection to address the legacy of race in European artworks.
• Afternoon: Explore the Centre Pompidou, a modern and contemporary art museum housing works by artists such as Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky, and Warhol.

Day 11: Departure from Paris

• Check out of the hostel.
• Take RER to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, fly home.

Paris, France

One of the most visited cities in the world, Paris is an architecturally robust location with world-renowned cuisine and illustrious art.

• Explore the city as you walk along the same streets that some of the most prolific writers and artists have walked.
• You can also take boat tours along the canals for an even more unique view of the aesthetics of Paris.
• The cosmopolitan city has multiple landmarks to visit, including the Louvre, the National Museum of Natural History, and the highly successful Paris Shakespeare & Company.

Paris is more than just a tourist destination. It is a site bursting with culture and education.

• Visit the bookshops known not only for their selection of books but also for their timeless architecture.
• You can also walk through the Latin Quarter, which dates back to the Middle Ages, where students would attend the Sorbonne and learn Latin.
• What's more, Paris offers a unique cuisine that combines both tradition and innovation. You can explore new flavors in an international city that provides an energetic city life.

Transportation

Airports

Flights to and from Cleveland (CLE) are included in the course fee (traveling between CLE and CDG: Charles De Gaulle International Airport ).

Local Transit

Students will purchase an RER (train ticket) from the airport to the city, and back.

Students will purchase a Metro pass upon arrival in downtown Paris. This pass allows use of the metro, bus, and trams within Paris and will be used to travel between class sites, but can also be used for personal travel in the evenings and on self-guided days.

Note that these transit passes will not cover all RER zones (outside of downtown Paris). You may need to purchase additional fare to ride transport outside the immediate city zone (for example, to Versailles).

Housing is in a student-friendly hostel with a shared room of up to four (4) people. Each room will have access to a private or shared bathroom and shower facility. The hostel provides sheets, a pillow, and a towel. Students may opt to bring additional bedding or towels, if desired.

Please note that meals are not included in the course fee. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse culinary scene that Paris has to offer. You can also get produce and meals from the various markets in Paris. Students can expect to spend about 45 Euros daily for meals and snacks, for a total of about $500.