École du Louvre

Infobox_University
name = École du Louvre


motto =
established = 1882
type = Public
endowment =
dean = Philippe Durey
undergrad = 1200
postgrad = 400
staff =
city = Paris
state =
country = France
campus =
free =
nickname =
mascot =
website = [http://www.ecoledulouvre.fr/index2.html www.ecoledulouvre.fr]

The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École dedicated to the study of Archaeology, History of Art, Anthropology and Epigraphy.

It is located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.

Admission is subject to a competitive entrance exam straight after high school, but many candidates apply after one or two years of university studiescite web|url=http://www.ecoledulouvre.fr/index2.html |accessdate=2008-04-06 |title=Ecole du Louvre : enseignement, recherche et publications en histoire de l'art |date=2004-11-15] . Currently (2007), the school offers an undergraduate program, a master's program and a doctoral program as well as a preparation class for civil service entrance exams [cite web|url=http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/dmf-etabliss.htm |accessdate=2008-04-06 |title=Ministère de la culture et de la communication : Direction des musées de France, Administration centrale - Etablissements publics et statuts particuliers |date=2002-10-03] .

History

The École du Louvre was created in 1882 with the mission to "extract from the collections the knowledge they contain, and to train curators, missionaries and excavators". The school was originally dedicated to Archaeology, but soon expanded to related disciplines, such as History of Art, Anthropology or Ancient Languages.

The school was created in a context of expansion of higher education in Europe, and in France in particular. This was reflected in the fact that the school did not only provide education to its students, but also held specific lectures for a wider public. This specificity continues to this day with lectures and conferences aimed at fee-paying "auditors", as well as a summer school. Many other prestigious institutions were created around the same time, such as the Institut d'études politiques de Paris ("Sciences-Po") or the École des Hautes Études Commerciales ("HEC").

In 1920, the school established its General Art History course (known as "HGA"), the cornerstone of its teaching, up to the present. In 1927, it created the first chair of museology in the world. This course would develop into the current graduate program over the following years.

In 1998, following the development of the "Grand Louvre", the school moved to its present location in the Aile de Flore, the river-facing wing of the museum.

Teaching

Since 2006, the École du Louvre complies with the Bologna process and offers an undergraduate degree in three years ("Premier Cycle"), a master's degree in two years ("Deuxième cycle") and a research degree in three years ("Troisième Cycle"). It also provides preparation classes for some civil service exams as well as conferences for a wider public. Altogether, there are about 700 teaching staff.

A uniqueness of the École du Louvre is that selectivity is not limited to the initial competitive entrance exam to the undergraduate program. There is a strong selection between the first and second years, with many students unable to carry on and complete the degree. However, this is not to be equated with a drop-out rate in American or British universities. Rather, it is a manifestation of the French conception of selection towards excellence in higher education.

Premier cycle

During their three years at the École du Louvre, undergraduate students, known as "EdLien", follow a core course called "HGA". While lectures take place in an amphitheatre, tutorials take place in various museums and provide a "hands-on" experience with the material studied.

The first year is dedicated to Archaeology, with an emphasis on Classical and Oriental Archaeology.

The second year is centred on the History of Art and Archaeology of the non-Western world, as well as the study of the Renaissance.

The final year focuses on the History of Art in modern times, and on Anthropology.

In addition to the core course, students choose a specialisation area during their first year for the entire duration of the degree, known as "cours organiques" or "spé". There are currently 31 specialisations (or "cours organiques") to choose from, ranging from Iconography or Greek Archaeology to European Anthropology or the History of Cinema.

Moreover, students have the faculty to follow courses in Epigraphy, Numismatics or Modern Languages.

Deuxième cycle

The master's program is composed of two years. During the first year, students are taught museology and research methods. At the end of the second year, students have to submit a thesis based on research and work experience.

Troisième cycle

Although the research program is not formally a doctoral program (delivering a "diplôme de recherche approfondie" instead), the three -or more- years are spent doing extensive academic research under the direction of a supervisor from the École du Louvre.

Academic partnerships

The École du Louvre has exchange agreements with the University of Montréal in Québec, the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti in Venice, Italy and the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

Library and publications

The École du Louvre possesses one of the largest Art History and Archeology collections, which is made available to academics and students.

The École du Louvre regularly publishes books, manuals and academic research; often in conjunction with an external publishing house.

References

External links

* [http://www.ecoledulouvre.fr/ Official website]
* [http://81.255.41.1/artexpos_guide/document.html?pid=13323204801s Article (in French) by the newsmagazine "Le Point"]
* [http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/press/news/news06/press479_e.html Academic exchange agreement with Heidelberg]