Location:

Montreal, Canada

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

The program is set in cosmopolitan Montréal, the second largest Francophone city in the world. Participants explore how history, language, and immigration have shaped the development of Québec’s marketing practices. Together with government officials, business leaders, and local artisans, students examine how globalization impacts cultural identity and how Québec markets have adapted to these challenges. Coursework and site visits are conducted in French. Students examine firsthand the effects of the politique linguistique through case studies and site visits to companies and marketing agencies. Excursions to Montréal’s world famous museums, markets, and performing arts venues showcase how the city presents itself to its more than 7 million yearly visitors. The program also includes one week at the UNESCO World heritage site of Québec City to study how artisans have preserved their cultural products through the development of agrotourism and économusées.

During the first week, students examine the political and linguistic history of Québec and of Montréal. In addition to texts, films, and expositions about Québec, we will examine internal policies, including the politique linguistique and its recent initiatives. We will work closely with members of the Office québécois de la langue française and the Chambre de Commerce de Montréal, shadowing them as they put policy into practice. Site visits are designed to familiarize you with the city, and include a bike tour of the fashionable Outremont and Mile End districts, a visit to the old port, and concerts at the Montréal Jazz Festival. In week two, the group travels to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Québec City. The focus of week two is Quebec’s agro-tourism industry, and students examine how this industry has positioned itself both to locals and to tourist markets. The group takes a guided tour of the Musée de l’Amérique française, which gives an important historical overview of the French language presence in North America that helps historicize Québec identity. From Québec City, participants travel to meet with local artisans and craftsmen. We will round out this week with an amazing whale-watching trip on the St. Lawrence - on a Zodiac boat! In weeks three and four, the group returns to Montréal to take a more in-depth look at how the arts and tourism industries market themselves. We will make numerous site visits to Montréal’s top marketing agencies, meeting with company presidents and creative directors. On the arts front, we will take a back-stage tour of the Cirque du soleil’s headquarters, visit the gaming company Ubisoft, meet with the Quebec Film Commissioner, and attend the Just for Laughs festival.

Setting Description:

In Montréal, students will be housed in university residence halls, which are rented out during the summer as hotel rooms. Students will be grouped into “multi-3” and “multi-4 apartments” within the residence. Each room within the apartment has an internet connection, a double bed, a desk, and closet space. Students within each apartment share a bathroom, shower, and kitchen. Laundry facilities are located on the ground floor, as well as a public area with large television, billiards, and vending machines. In Québec City, where students will reside for one week, students will stay in a university residence or hotel.

Cost:

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