What does a week of learning, exploring, and connecting in Southern France actually look like?

Below is the full syllabus* for Art & Art de Vivre in Montpellier, featuring five days of Field Seminars led by Dr. Armelle Cassanas. Armelle holds a PhD in sociolinguistics, and her background in language and meaning shapes the way she guides participants to observe, question, and connect across disciplines. She’s also deeply connected to Montpellier’s thriving arts community, where she lives and works.

This course explores how art de vivre in Southern France has been shaped by centuries of artistic expression—from Roman ideals of grandeur to classical refinement to today’s contemporary experimentation. Montpellier itself, layered with visible traces from each of these periods, becomes both the subject and the setting for inquiry.

All of the students in our recent session of Women in Paris had been to the City of Light before. They’d strolled along the Seine, stood beneath the Eiffel Tower, and visited the major museums more than once.

Taking this class allowed them to see Paris differently—as a place shaped by the women who have lived in, created in, and contributed to the city across centuries. Through readings, discussions, walking tours, and intimate conversations with artists, writers, and designers, the cohort came to know a Paris that most visitors never encounter.

Every Elective course is shaped by the local expert who leads it. Armelle Cassanas is a longtime Montpellier resident with strong ties to the city’s arts community and an academic background that brings rigor and depth to every discussion. 

As the Instructor for Art & Art de Vivre in Montpellier, she shares her perspective and creativity, along with a sunny spirit that reflects the city itself.

This fall, Elective will offer four distinct courses in locations where the subject matter is woven into the fabric of the place.

Each Elective is structured as a short, intensive exploration of a single topic—grounded in discussion, field seminars, and curated readings—and designed to foster hands-on learning in a setting that becomes a living classroom.

Read on to discover what makes each destination a great place to study abroad. To get more information about any of these courses or to learn more about how Elective works, sign up for our video info session on June 8 at 3pm Eastern / Noon Pacific.

We’re delighted to introduce our newest course: Art & Art de Vivre in Montpellier—an immersive exploration of southern France’s artistic heritage and daily rituals of beauty.

In our inaugural Elective, a small cohort explored the architecture and cuisine of Andalusia through expert-led sessions, personal discovery, and shared insight—setting the tone for everything to come.