Program Overview

Program Overview

The Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) offers a Foreign Study Program (FSP) in Paris, France, entitled Afro/Black Paris: The African Diaspora in the City of Light. This FSP takes students on a journey not to an actual place per se in France, but rather through a lived experience in one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world.

About the Program

The Afro/Black Paris FSP is a biennial program, with the next offering scheduled for Summer 2025. The program is designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to explore "another Paris," an adventure described by former students as "life-altering!" The program includes two courses taught in English and one French language course for beginners.

Curriculum

• French Language for Beginning and Intermediate Learners
• AAAS 68 Afro/Black Paris
• AAAS 68.20 French Museums and the African Diaspora

Prerequisites

Preference will be given to students who have taken at least one course in AAAS and with Professor Keaton. Priority will also be given to students who are interested in learning not only about Afro/Black Paris, but also, about Paris and France more broadly.

Student Life and Financial Information

Please note that details on student life and financial information can be found through the Guarini Institute for International Education.

Past Student Endorsements

The Afro/Black Paris FSP has received high praise from past participants, who describe it as a "life-changing experience" and "the best decision" they made at Dartmouth. Students have appreciated the program's emphasis on experiential learning, which includes visits to museums, jazz clubs, hip-hop workshops, culinary workshops, and walking tours. The program also provides opportunities to connect with prominent creatives and scholars in the Black Francophone world.

Program Details

• The program is led by Professor Trica Keaton, Dartmouth College, who is the Founder and Faculty Director.
• The program includes a variety of activities, such as a jazz and spoken word workshop, museum courses, and fieldtrips to other regions of France.
• Students have the opportunity to perform their poetry at a jazz club and have a portrait made of them by a well-known artist whose work focuses on the experiences of people of African descent.

Inclusivity

Dartmouth is committed to academic excellence and encourages the open exchange of ideas within a culture of mutual respect. The college values diversity and promotes inclusivity, recognizing that people with different backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives make the Dartmouth community diverse, which enhances academic excellence.