Bonjour Ville Saine” (Hello Healthy City)! France has long been regarded as one of the most breathtaking places in the world. It is famous for its beautiful views, long history, art and culture, and cafés that serve delicious food. Through this course, students will learn how residents of urban and rural France are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles while still engaging with their culture. Students will compare the culture of population health in two cities in France, and Charlotte through the lens of city planning, the Healthy People 2020 initiative, and the Social Determinants of Health (SDH).

Students will visit Paris and Lyon to perform a comparative analysis of how these cities address SDH and how they are implementing Health People 2020. Visits to museums, a Siene river tour, and a bike ride through Lyon are planned. Touring these cities will allow students to observe the cultural and lifestyle differences that affect outcomes in healthy cities. Students will explore their views on the “right” forms of actions to be taken for population health and healthy cities. Upon returning to Charlotte, students will develop a proposed project to promote health in Charlotte based on information learned from their international experience and coursework.


This course is most appropriate for students interested in health, kinesiology, exercise science, nursing, public health, and sociology.

The academic course associated with this program is NUR/HLT 398 and 399: Bonjour Ville Saine for 4 total credits. Students will elect to receive NUR, or HLT credit. It will be taught by Professors Toy Stone and Susan Rucker.

SPRING course/SPRING BREAK travel

This is an OPEN program.
*all itinerary items are tentative and subject to change