Sixth in Provence
Aix-en-Provence, France
Why you should go
Come join us Provence and explore the French Riviera! Provence is a spectacular city with ancient roots in close proximity to many museums, Lavender fields and French wine country. This Global Seminar is the perfect opportunity to explore a region through food and narrative, reflecting on taste as sites where culture, immigration, family, globalization, and more meet. Provence is an incredible site to explore these questions with its local markets, Paul Cezanne’s studio, food, and drinks and deep history as part of a border region. We will get to travel around the French Riviera and to Cannes, exploring museums, food cultures, and the site of the famous French film festival.The course will take us on eating and walking tours throughout the region, as we reflect and contextualize our experiences through the readings and screenings!
Courses
- CAT 125GS: Travel Narratives: Immigration & Leisure
- LTCS 172GS: Special Topics in Screening Race/Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality
Faculty Leader
Phoebe Bronstein
pbronstein@ucsd.edu
Dr. Bronstein is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Sixth’s Culture, Art, & Technology Program. Her research and teaching focus on media history–which means she loves watching and talking and writing about television and film. She watches everything from British murder mysteries to primetime soaps (like Scandal!), French thrillers like Lupin and romance/sci- fi like My Lady Jane. She has published on historical television shows like Andy Griffith and Nat King Cole’s variety show and currently is writing about representations of mothering in contemporary Netflix shows. On campus, you might find her teaching CAT courses and first-year seminars on topics ranging from Hollywood History to narratives of outer space and climate change rhetoric.
Dr. Bronstein grew up in a French American school in the Bay Area, which inspired a love of languages and travel. She is especially excited to return to France and blend her interests in French culture with her background in media studies!
Who should go
Anyone with an interest in France, French Culture, Media! There are no prerequisites for either course and both meet Sixth College requirements. This Global Seminar will meet both major and Sixth College requirements. For Sixth, you can fulfill your CAT 125 requirement (Upper Division writing) and either your experiential learning requirement or one of your Narrative, Aesthetic, and Historical reasoning GEs! Consult your academic advisor to determine officially how the courses will apply to your graduation requirements.
Information Sessions
- General (choose one):
- Tuesday, Sept. 30th, 3:00-4:00pm PST (zoom)
- Tuesday, Oct. 28th, 3:30-4:30pm PST (in-person)
- Program: Tuesday, November 4, 12:30-1:30 pm PST (zoom)
- Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.
Dates
| Departure from U.S.: | Sat., June 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Arrival: | Sun., June 28, 2026 |
| Mandatory Orientation: | Mon., June 29, 2026 |
| First Day of Class: | Tues., June 30, 2026 |
| Last Day of Class: | Fri., July 31, 2026 |
| Departure for the U.S. (or personal travel): |
Sat., August 1, 2026 |
Flight Information
- You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
- Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.
Global Seminar Fees
All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.
| UCSD | Other UC | Non-UC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Cost: (includes $500 administrative fee) |
TBD | ||
| Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees: |
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| Total: (not including airfare or personal expenses) |
Budget Sheet
- Aix budget sheet (TBD)
Funding Options
See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.
Local Site Visits
- Aix market and city walking tour
- Provencal cooking class
- Local Aix interactive activity
- Visit to ACM-IAU vineyard, wine lecture and wine tasting
- Guided city tour
Day Trips
- 1 day trip to Marseille, to include:
- Round-trip transportation on navette bus
- Visit to MUCEM
- Boat ride through the Calanques
- 1 day trip to Arles and Chateau les Baux Provence, to include:
- Round-trip transportation
- Associated excursion entrances
Overnight Excursion to French Riviera (3 days/2 nights)
- Roundtrip transportation
- Hotel accommodation
- Guided city tour
- Stop in Cassis on return: tour of Cassis vineyard and tasting
Guest Speakers
- There will be guest speakers throughout program speaking on topics such as wine, film, and the Cannes film festival
Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.
Housing
- Students will stay in shared studios in a student residence (2 to 3 per room).
- Linens and towels will be provided.
- There is a large communal kitchen for preparing self-catered meals.
- Kitchen is furnished with pots/pans/dishes/cutlery/etc.
- Wireless internet is included.
- The housing is centrally located and within walking distance of the classroom space.
- Housing arrangements are subject to change based on local circumstances without prior notice. No price adjustments are possible.
Included Meals
- Welcome dinner upon arrival
- Farewell dinner at end of program
Classroom and Computer Access
- Classroom facilities will be located at a designated meeting center in central Wellington.
- There is no computer lab available - plan to bring a laptop.
- Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions. No refunds or price adjustments are possible.
Transportation
- Transportation by private bus to and from Marseille Provence Airport to the student housing is included in the program. Two different pick-up times will be arranged based on the most common flight arrival times.
- The local partner will provide everyone with a local transit pass. If students wish to travel further than the central city, the local partner will advise you about the best transport options.
- Transportation for all out of town excursions
Phones
- Information about how to obtain a local SIM card will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.
- Students will be responsible to purchase their own calling time/minutes.
Insurance, Health, and Safety
- Comprehensive insurance package with Company
- An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures.
- Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours.
- All students will be registered for UC travel insurance This is free coverage, but registration is required prior to departure.
