The Past
 The Present
 The Future

 Program details
 Some sample M.A.-with-internships placements and thesis topics

THE PAST

During the period 2000-2006, Middlebury College, Middlebury School in France and IFE collaborated to develop and operate an internship-based optional component to Middlebury’s Masters’ Degree in French. The goal of this program was to enhance the effectiveness of Middlebury’s renowned Masters’ degree in order to provide entry into a range of professional categories. Successful completion of this program led to a Masters’ Degree in French With Internship.
As a result of a change in direction for their MA program in French, Middlebury College no longer supports the the MA With Internship Program.

THE PRESENT

IFE continues to work with students who are able to incorporate an IFE element into their graduate education. Interested students should contact IFE directly.

THE FUTURE

IFE is available for discussion with interested institutions or students about the possibility of an M.A. With Internship in conjunction with IFE.

A “With Internship” component to a conventional Master’s degree can provide students the opportunity to partake fully in the professional field while benefiting from working with French public and parapublic institutions and private companies.
As with all IFE programs, this component would consist of the preparation necessary to take full advantage of this opportunity as well as needed framework and accompaniment throughout the experience.

In a Master’s With Internship, FE could also advise and oversee the production of the Masters’ thesis which would take the form of a field study thesis closely tied to the themes that structure the student’s worklife.

PROGRAM DETAILS

There are a number of ways that a With Internship component can be integrated into Master’s-level studies. IFE could function as the Paris-sited partner for a Master’s program seeking to add French University instruction to their curriculum, as well as the internship / field-study component.

Under the Middlebury MA model, students completed a summer term of advanced language study before coming to Paris where they participated in a three-week intensive IFE training session on contemporary France. Following this session students enrolled in selected local graduate-level courses for the Fall semester, and spent Spring semester fulfilling an internship and researching and writing a field-study type Master’s thesis in close conjunction with the themes of their professional life as an intern.

IFE would be willing to explore other models as well, to suit the needs and goals of any institution interested in building this high-value-added component into one or more of their Master’s degree programs. The program could be focused, for example, on a particular professional track.

IFE is fully equipped to handle all student hosting and logistical issues as well, from housing to computer access, institutional ties, and all other aspects of a study program based overseas.

SOME SAMPLE M.A.-WITH-INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS AND THESIS TOPICS:

Center for contemporary art and culture (2004/2005): Claire, who had already begun to specialize in African art as an undergraduate, assisted the curators of a temporary exhibition focusing on contemporary African art and artists. In particular she worked on the catalogue of the show including carrying out biographical and iconographic research. She also contributed to the texts to be displayed on information panels, while helping welcome the visiting artists to Paris. Her thesis treated the ambiguities of such shows as arising from the complicated relations between Africa and the Occident.

Ministry of Culture (2003/2004): Jessica undertook an analysis of State-funded theatres throughout France to determine which ones are also centers for creative work in the fine arts (painting, sculpture, photography). Her thesis analysed the place of France on the world art market, including interviews with artists, gallery directors, and public officials.

Editions du Château de Versailles (2003/2004): Margaret assisted the editorial director, participating in all stages of the process of publising high quality art books including following a number of different projects. Her thesis treated the changing world of French publishing and in particular the challenges faced by small, high-quality house, for which she interviewed a number of publishers and editors.

European affairs foundation and think tank (2004/2005): Priscilla acted as assistant to the Director of this organization as well as to the Head of Research, contributing in various ways to ongoing projects of research, communication, and promotion on European integration, a contribution which was highly appreciated. Her thesis took a detailed look at EU-US relations on a number of sensitive areas such as China, Saudi Arabia, and the Near East.

A museum of history (2002/2003): Esther worked with the head curator of the museum researching elements to include in an exhibit on the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, as well as communicating with both English- and Spanish-speaking partners at various other European museums. Her thesis treated the question of contemporary reaction to this historical phenomenon.

Paintings department of the Paris branch of an international auction house: Several M.A. With Internship students have held positions here, generally students with strong art history backgrounds and often some gallery experience; Their duties typically include assisting the director of the department with researching works being appraised and sold, as well as writing up the results. Thesis topics usually explore some aspect of the art market and the role of the expert appraiser in the French system.

UNESCO (2004/2005): Becky participated in the research and preparation for a colloquium marking the occasion of the first 60 years of UNESCO. She proved so effective an intern that she was hired after her internship to continue her work until the event took place. Her thesis treated the relationship of UNESCO with de-colonization during these six decades.