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EMU Liberation of Paris (Outgoing Program) Print  Save  Share
Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Fall Break 2026 03/01/2026 04/01/2026 10/16/2026 10/25/2026
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Language of Instruction: English Click here for a definition of this term Program Type: Faculty-Led Abroad
Field of Study: All majors are welcome, History
Program Description:

Liberation of Paris
Omaha Beach

Term:  Winter Intersession 
Course(s): HIST 479 or 592
Credits: Three
Eligibility: Open to all EMU majors in good academic standing and guest students. Must be at least 18 years old at the time of travel.
Program Fee: See budget 
 
Program Overview

This course replaces conventional classroom education with onsite first-person experience in the history of the Second World War, specifically the events beginning with Operation OVERLORD, the D-Day landing in Normandy in June 1944 and culminating with the liberation of Paris (the ultimate objective of OVERLORD) from Nazi occupation in August 1944.  While the course concentrates on operational elements of World War II in Europe, students receive a wide range of experiences that lead to a broader view of what the average Second World War soldier and civilian experienced.

Wars are never fought in a vacuum.  Soldiers fight each other, and often civilians find themselves in the crossfire.  A well-documented instance of this unfortunate consequence is the experience of soldier and civilians in the ninety-day campaign between the D-Day landings and the liberation of Paris.  In the course activities that highlight the major clashes between Allied and German armies in northern France, the course will underscore the human cost among the civilians in the path of both armies, whether they be the accidental casualties of Allied bombing, the victims of Nazi brutality, or those who rose up to fight the Germans to liberate Paris.  To that end, the course includes visits to several battlefields, historical sites, and museums, as well as a research trip to the American Library in Paris.


Program Highlights
  • Tour the Normandy beaches
  • Visit the Liberation and Army Museums
  • See local sites including the Eiffel Tower and Catacombs
Instructor Information
Steven Ramold, Ph.D., a Professor in the History and Philosophy department, teaches a range of courses at EMU including U.S. Military History, History of World War II, History of American Sports, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. He has taken students on various study abroad and U.S. Travel courses. Dr. Ramold was also recently voted Washtenaw County's best professor! 

Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and many EMU scholarships may be applied to the tuition and fees for this approved program. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for more information on how to use your financial aid and scholarships to help cover the costs of studying abroad.

Find information on national and EMU scholarships specifically for students that wish to study abroad at https://www.emich.edu/study-abroad/students/prospective-students/aid-scholarships.php