International Studies Seminar: France - History, Culture, and Deaf Studies

Experience Deaf culture in France - a country that shaped American Deaf education.

Highlights

• Explore the history of Deaf education and the origins of Deaf culture through the people and places that shaped it.
• Learn about French Deaf culture and gain an introduction to LSF (French Sign Language) while engaging with local Deaf communities.
• Visit the historic St. Jacques Deaf School, where Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet met Laurent Clerc before bringing him to the United States.
• Experience three distinct regions of France as you explore Paris, Toulouse, and Marseille while experiencing world-famous landmarks through Deaf-led tours that provide insights few travelers have the opportunity to experience.

Study the history of Deaf education and French Deaf culture during a spring semester course at RIT before traveling to France in May. Through class discussions and historical context, you'll explore the connections between French and American Deaf communities, learn about the development of French Sign Language (LSF), and examine the individuals and events that shaped Deaf education on both sides of the Atlantic. The course prepares you to connect what you learn in Rochester with the places, people, and experiences you'll encounter during your travel to France.

France is the birthplace of many of the ideas and institutions that influenced Deaf education in the United States, making it an ideal destination for this program. Visit historic landmarks such as the St. Jacques Deaf School, where Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet met Laurent Clerc, whose partnership helped establish American Deaf education. Along the way, you'll engage with local Deaf guides and organizations, experience French Deaf culture firsthand, and explore world-renowned cultural sites including the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Marseille, gaining a deeper understanding of France's lasting impact on Deaf history and culture.

Upcoming Student Info. Meetings

• Friday, Sept. 11th, 2-3 pm, Student Development Center (SDC), 2102
• Friday, Sept. 25th, 2-3 pm, Student Development Center (SDC), 2102

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to France in early Summer
Summer 2027 Travel Dates: May 15-May 29, 2027 (estimated)
Credits: 3

Course Details:

• NTID-NDLS 280: International Studies Seminar (undergraduate)
• MSDE 780: Global Education Seminar (graduate)
  Students will be enrolled in a spring course at RIT and travel to France in early summer.

No course prerequisites. Note that the course is taught in ASL, so participants must know ASL.

Open to all undergraduate and graduate majors, all year levels, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above.

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 18th, 2026

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available here soon.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

• Additional Scholarships
  RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Make sure you check scholarship eligibility requirements and note scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “NTID France” to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs. Video is captioned in YouTube.

Contact

Lisa Johnston
Principal Lecturer, ASL and Interpreting Education
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
ljjnss@rit.edu

Christopher Kurz
Professor, Deaf Education
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
caknsp@rit.edu