Mirror on Quebec

Students will be introduced to the history, geography and local culture of the Canadian province of Québec province through visits to various sites of interest. Through guided experiences, they will learn about modern French-Canadian culture while gaining an appreciation for the art, architecture, music and cuisine of Québec.

Students will fly from Detroit to Québec City. Following a welcome dinner, students will enjoy a walking tour of Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The following day, visits to the RAMQ, Québec's national health insurance administration, and a local hospital, will introduce students to the province's healthcare system. In the afternoon, a tour of the Augustinian Monastery will highlight Québec's history and religious heritage. The third day will focus on Québec's business environment, with visits to Le CAMP, a startup incubator hosting numerous small businesses in the hi-tech field. In the evening, enjoy a class at the Québec City Circus School and a cooking class and dinner experience at Madame Germaine Culinary School. The penultimate day will focus on Québec's political system, including a tour of the National Assembly and a visit to the Wendake First Nation, a sovereign indigenous community outside of the city. On the final day, following a farewell brunch, the group will fly together back to Michigan.

Requirements: Students must be enrolled in Oakland University's Honors College.

Course: HC 2050: Mirror into Québec (4 credits)

Through examining stories, histories, artifacts and films from Québec, students will explore the events and role that English and French-Canadian identity plays as a narrator into people’s lives. In one portion of the course, lectures and readings will provide the backdrop that will enable the students to understand and analyze the cultural, socio-demographic, and political development of Québec. The other portion of this course, about five days, is designed to provide a vivid travel experience that immerses the students into Québécois culture and encourages analysis of the province’s unique development. A journal and daily explorations as well as a term-based project will guide this understanding and analysis.

This course is a normal, full-semester fall course taught on campus at OU. The travel component to Québec City will take place from October 15-19.  

Lectures and guide will be in English with opportunities to speak French (knowledge of French is not a requirement of the course).

Students will stay in university accommodation on the campus of Université Laval in the heart of Québec City.

All breakfasts, a welcome dinner and farewell brunch, and one cooking class and dinner experience will be included in the program cost. Students will also have opportunities to try (on their own) more local and unique culinary dishes such as poutine, tarte au sucre, or French-Canadian crêpes.

Tuition: 4 Credits
You will be charged for these credits on your eBill at your normal rate of tuition.

Program Fee: $2,600
To be paid to OU on our MarketPlace payment system and includes: housing and some meals, transportation and all excursions while in Québec, and health insurance.

Additional Costs: $425
You will need additional funds for these expenses not covered by program fee. Amounts are estimated.

Meals: $150
Incidental personal expenses: $100
Passport (if you don't have one): $175

Scholarships and Financial Aid: You are able to use financial aid to cover your full cost of attendance to this program (tuition, program fee and additional costs). Scholarships are also available through your study abroad application.