THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Institute for American Universities (IAU), an independent, free-standing institution founded in 1957 by academics and former diplomats such as Dr. Herbert Maza (who also served as its first President), Dr. Evron Kirkpatrick, Ambassadors Jeane Kirkpatrick, Dr. Max Kampelman, and others who wanted to provide a platform for American students interested in studying diplomatic relations with related interests and careers in the Foreign Service and the State Department. 

The mission of the American College of the Mediterranean is to provide excellence in international education, inspire intercultural awareness, and prepare students for success in a global community through the study of European and Mediterranean history, languages, cultures, and contemporary issues. It does so through a unique combination of courses, internships, curricula, that combine to create American-style undergraduate and graduate degree programs in an international and cross-cultural setting. 
 
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
 
IAU’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is a two-year, 60-credit program with the option to specialize in Painting or Sculpture. Conducted in English at IAU College’s Marchutz School of Fine Arts, the program combines daily studio work, seminars, museum studies, field studies throughout Europe, professional internship opportunities, and a low-residency option. Through thesis study, critical dialogue, and exhibition, candidates are invited to inform their vision and realize their historical, contemporary, and cross-cultural relevance in the MFA program.  Marchutz School Dean, Professor Alan Roberts, explains: “Located in the south of France, the school is uniquely situated to give artists the means to experiment in the studio and the landscape as well as delve into the minds and works of some of the most renowned and revered masters of painting and sculpture within the European heritage. The Marchutz School of Fine Arts graduate program is one in which a sustained effort in front of the visible world, a desire to compare and contrast the art of multiple generations and cultures, and a patient faith in one's own imagination can be supported and nourished.”

The Master of Arts in French Studies (MAFS) graduate program is a one-year, 36-credit program through IAU’s Centre d’Etudes Françaises. This program offers students the unique opportunity to earn an American MA degree in a Fr­ench-speaking environment. Situated in Aix-en-Provence, France near the Mediterranean coast, IAU’s program unites mainland French with the Francophone countries of North Africa, ensuring that students are exposed to the rich diversity of the French language and culture. The MA in French Studies prepares students for a variety of public and private careers in the international sector and provides them with a foundation to continue their education at the doctoral level. Upon completion, graduates of the program will have the capability and tools to teach French in colleges and universities or they may pursue careers in business or government agencies. Candidates for the MAFS can choose to specialize in one of the following tracks: French and International Studies, The Francophone World, Contemporary French Literature, Teaching French as a Foreign Language

The Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) graduate program is a one-year degree, 36-credit program conducted in English through IAU’s School of Business and International Relations This program incorporates the liberal arts, field studies, traveling seminars, and opportunities for research and internships. The program hinges on the IAU’s site-specificity in the Mediterranean Basin, as well as takes advantage of nearby hubs of culture, government, politics, and diversity, such as Geneva, Brussels, North Africa, and Paris, just to name a few. Students in the MAIR can choose to specialize in one of the following tracks to fit their individual interests and career goals: Mediterranean Studies, European Studies, Environmental Policy, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, or Diplomacy. The MAIR curriculum is designed to give students both depth and breadth of study in their chosen subject matter and prepare them for careers or further study in the International Relations field.   

The Master of Arts in Art History (MAAH) program is a one-year Master’s degree leveraging IAU’s strategic location in Southern France. The program builds on the American College of the Mediterranean's and IAUs' academic tradition as one of the first American institutions abroad to create a full studio art and art history curriculum founded on the rich art and art historical traditions of the south of France and, in particular, Aix-en-Provence. The founders of IAU had this in mind as they formulated a full art curriculum which grew out of a studio painting course started by Léo Marchutz in 1960. Its defining characteristic resides in the educational principle that any art-related study should combine in a holistic manner the three disciplines of art history, studio practice, and critical studies. The artistic traditions of the south of France and the Mediterranean Basin will naturally serve as the intellectual backbone of the Masters of Arts in Art History.

The Master of Arts in Media Studies (MAMS) provides students with a broad and interdisciplinary formation commencing from core training in communication theory and media research methods. The program leverages the site-specificity of its European campus with close ties to Spain and North Africa and combines theory and practice in order to prepare students for success in fields such as public relations, brand management, public affairs, nonprofit management, education, and research. The program emphasizes ethical, culturally-sensitive, and socially-responsible communication.

The Global Masters in Business Administration (GMBA) is a 46 credit-hour, one-year master’s degree leveraging ACM’s strategic location in Southern Europe. The program builds on the historic academic tradition of the Institute for American Universities, ACM’s parent organization, as one of the first American institutions abroad to prepare those aspiring to careers in international business and diplomacy.  With our principal campus in Aix-en-Provence, France and satellite campuses and programs in Spain and Morocco, ACM is well positioned to prepare students for the many challenges of the global economy today with an emphasis on Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. 


Learn more about ACM's programs, courses, and student life on our website here!