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Summer 2026 in Paris

Study Abroad in Paris, France

USG Goes Global Paris Summer 2026 Study Abroad Program

Paris, one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in the world, has fired the imagination of artists, writers, and students for centuries. La “Ville Lumière,” Paris is home to countless museums, cafés, and medieval streets that wind around contemporary architecture. A city à decouvrir, Paris is an invitation to experience all the world’s cultures while maintaining a proud and distinctly French feeling. Picture yourself spending a summer studying in the “City of Light,” the “museum without walls,” immersed in history and surrounded by some of the world’s finest art, architecture, and music. As a participant in the Paris Study Abroad Program, you won’t have to imagine these things—you can live them. The “Capital of the World” is your classroom as you study history where it was made, attend theater and music performances by world-renowned companies and ensembles, write in parks and cafés where Fitzgerald and Hemingway wrote, and learn French immersed in the language. Paris offers all of this and more as part of the study abroad program.

Study geography with Dr. McDaniel and other subjects with other faculty abroad in Paris, France, in the USG Goes Global Paris Summer 2026 Study Abroad Program (please visit the official program site for full program details, costs, and application instructions)! 

Program Details

All USG Goes Global students are expected to enroll in TWO courses for a total of six credit hours. Course options are listed below (KSU course number equivalancies coming soon!). 

Choose one morning course (3 credit hours):

  • GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography: Shining a Light on the World from the City of Light

    Instructor: Dr. Paul McDaniel, Kennesaw State University. At KSU, this lower-division course is GEOG 1101: Introduction to Human Geography, and satisfies a Social Science general education requirement. Description: We live in a dynamic world! Geography and Geospatial Sciences equip us with the perspectives, skills, and tools to apply knowledge to better understand the world and its many diverse physical and human processes, and to contribute to sound decision-making about those processes, from the local to the global scale. Geography and maps are a fundamental language for understanding the world. They provide a framework for organizing and communicating our knowledge. Increasingly geography is used in virtually every field of human endeavor, providing a universal language for understanding, communicating ideas, and providing insights. Geography asks the big questions—Where? How? Why? What if?—and gives you the perspective to answer them with advanced technology and a solid knowledge of the world in which we all live. Through this human geography course, we’ll explore global geographic patterns of resources, population, culture, economic, political, and urban systems and their local level impacts while being immersed in a foreign culture and landscape. We will explore defining concepts in geography by focusing on the stories of real people, global trends, topics that transcend borders, and how these patterns affect local places. In essence, how do global patterns shape local lives, near and far? While in France, we’ll observe broader concepts as they occur on the Parisian and French landscape, allowing us to compare and contrast these patterns with our home culture. GEOG 1101 satisfies a Social Science general education requirement.

  • Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: An American/French Transnational Approach

    Instructor: Dr. Dana Wiggins, Georgia State University. Lower-division course. Description: This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Throughout the course we will examine gender, sexuality, and expressions of power that structure both American and French society. Topics include American/French sexism, racism, imperialism, homophobia, classism, dis/ability, nationality, and intersectionality.

  • Feminist Theories: An American/French Transnational Approach

    Instructor: Dr. Dana Wiggins, Georgia State University. Upper-division course. Description: Introduction to critical questions and contemporary debates in U.S. feminist theories, including the interrelations between increasing globalization and theorizing gender/sexuality. This interdisciplinary course will examine gender, sexuality, and expressions of power that structure both American and French society. Topics include American/French sexism, racism, imperialism, homophobia, classism, dis/ability, nationality, and intersectionality.

  • Visual Journalism: Creating Images of Paris

    Instructor: Dr. Ted Geltner, Valdosta State University. Upper-division course. Description: This course will introduce students to the world of visual journalism, specifically what goes into creating moving images of life in the 21st century on the planet Earth. This course is built upon the philosophy that the photographer or videographer has a goal to document real life as it happens. We will learn how to create images that are suitable for publication, as well as how to produce excellent feature photography, portraits, photo essays and video content. Above all, we will learn that photojournalists are indeed journalists and should aim to tell an accurate and interesting story with their images and work with writers and editors to give readers the best possible account of subject they are covering.

Choose one afternoon course (3 credit hours):

  • GEOG 4300 Urban Geography: Exploring Cities and Urban Life in Paris

    Instructor: Dr. Paul McDaniel, Kennesaw State University. At KSU, this upper-division course is GEOG 4300: Urban Geography. No prerequisites. Description: Cities are dynamic landscapes! Urban geography explores the origins and development of cities, uncovers the excitement and diversity of cities, and examines urban challenges and opportunities. While in Paris, we’ll examine Paris through the lenses of physical and historical geography, urban economic geography, urban cultural and social geography, and urban political geography. Additionally, we’ll observe examples of global urban dynamics and local level impacts. We’ll witness how broader urban concepts occur on Paris’ historical and contemporary urban landscapes, allowing us to compare and contrast with the urban structure of our own familiar cities and towns in the U.S. GEOG 4300 satisfies an upper division related studies requirement for many majors.

  • Pairs Noir: Introduction to African and African American History

    Instructor: Dr. Dana Wiggins, Georgia State University. Lower-division course that satisfies a general education requirement. Description: An introductory survey of African-American History that provides engagement with significant topics, themes and issues in the African American experience from pre-colonial Africa, through enslavement in North America to the present. Since our class is in Paris we will pay particular attention to global issues that impact African American History; however, the class will not exclude US-related topics. The class presents a minor focus on French involvement in African American history, both in the United States and in France itself. Topics include, but are not limited to, French colonization; the French and Indian War; Haitian slave rebellion; WWI and WWII; Josephine Baker; the Harlem Renaissance in Paris; James Baldwin; Algeria and Black Power; and African Americans and the French student uprising (1968).

  • Travel Writing: Telling Stories in the Heart of France

    Instructor: Dr. Ted Geltner, Valdosta State University. Upper-division course. Description: The course will cover all areas of knowledge and skills needed for students to report, write and produce outstanding travel stories. Since our class takes place in Paris, France, we will use the city as our canvas and develop narratives and features that grow out of our exploration of our environment. Through this experience we will develop our journalistic and media skills, including interviewing, writing techniques, descriptive writing, story development, rewriting, structure, visual media skills, and more. In addition, we will discuss the various genres associated with travel and feature writing, including profiles, trend stories, event previews and coverage, travel diaries, and others.

  • Intro to Media Writing: Telling Stories in the City of Light

    Instructor: Dr. Ted Geltner, Valdosta State University. Lower-division course. Description: The course will cover all areas of knowledge and skills needed for students to report, write and produce outstanding travel stories. Since our class takes place in Paris, France, we will use the city as our canvas and develop narratives and features that grow out of our exploration of our environment. Through this experience we will develop our journalistic and media skills, including interviewing, writing techniques, descriptive writing, story development, rewriting, structure, visual media skills, and more. In addition, we will discuss the various genres associated with travel and feature writing, including profiles, trend stories, event previews and coverage, travel diaries, and others.

How to apply for this program?

Please visit the official USG Goes Global Paris Summer 2026 Study Abroad Program page for full program details (including program costs, what's included, travel information, full course details, etc.) and application instructions.

Why go?

In addition to completing courses in an amazing location, this is your opportunity to visit many famous bucket list sights and places not only in Paris, but in France and Europe more broadly. You'll also have free time to explore on your own! You might choose to remain in Paris, explore some of the other nearby towns and countryside of France, or travel further afield to places such as Normandy, Provence, Alsace, Loire Valley, French Alps, French Riviera, or visit another European city or country, and much, much more! 

Why Should I Participate in an Education Abroad Program?

  • Enhance your global awareness
  • Enhance your academic learning
  • Develop your leadership skills
  • Advance your career
  • Experience personal growth
  • Learn another language
  • Immerse yourself in a new culture
  • Learn through experience while earning credit hours
  • Explore the actual geographic landscapes you're learning about in class
  • Experience first-hand masterpieces of art, architecture, and great historic venues
  • Build your resume
  • Make new friends
  • The opportunity to study abroad is a life-changing experience! Check out these testimonials from KSU students who have participated in previous education abroad programs! 
  • For even more reasons, see Why Should I Participate in an Education Abroad Program from the KSU Education Abroad Office

Where is Paris?

  • Check out this Google Map (be sure to view the accompanying photos and also zoom in on the map) and Google Earth link!

More Information about Paris and France

Videos about Paris and the Surrounding Region

The following are episodes about Paris and other regions of France from Rick Steves' Europe. 

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