Summer Programs in Greece
The Magnificent Mosaic: A Study of Contemporary Greece
- Learn about Modern Greece and earn three credits through a blend of lectures and exciting field excursions.
- Discover "the real" Greece with excursions to locations off the beaten track.
- Reflect upon the notion of Greek identity as expressed through various disciplines and traditions.
This program is not available in Summer 2010.
Program
This three-week summer program concentrates upon the often mercurial, sometimes contradictory, and always fascinating blend of culture, politics, and history that comprises contemporary Greek society.
Using the city of Athens and areas further afield as an extension of the classroom, participants will reflect upon the notion of Greek identity as expressed through various disciplines and traditions. As a result, students will discover the ways in which intellectual legacy, political change, and cultural evolution coalesce to form a modern, engaging, democratic nation.
Greeks have shared a common identity since before Isokrates commented on it in the fifth century BC, when the Hellenes were credited with the invention of democracy. Over the centuries, the geographical area known as contemporary Greece has been variously inhabited by Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and Franks … to name but a few. This diverse array of cultural influences in Greece has contributed to its religious and political history, which in turn have defined its modern character.
While the predominant religious tradition in Greece is Greek Orthodox, this affiliation coexists with vibrant and thriving Jewish and Muslim communities. In recent memory the nation has undergone tremendous political change, enduring both governmental transition and world wars. Emigration and immigration both have influenced Greek society over recent decades to a large degree. All of these areas of consideration, which form a complex and intricate mosaic, will be explored. Through carefully-selected readings, field visits and independent exploration, to sites both ancient and modern, students will gain a unique understanding of a modern society in all its myriad permutations.
Course Structure
The program commences in Athens, where you will visit some of the sites which are synonymous with Greece: the Athenian Akropolis and the ancient Athenian agora, among others. Students can also expect to take part in field excursions to locations off the beaten track: a Byzantine monastery on the slopes of Mount Hymettos; a monument to members of the Greek Resistance during the Second World War; the Greek Parliament; the Sea Turtle Protection Society in Glyfada; stations of the Attika Metro; and modern shops, ethnic restaurants, and markets.
Beyond Athens, aspects of rural economy will be considered and explored; and students will take part in field study to sites related to the Greek War of Independence.
Destinations will be discussed when you arrive in Athens, and each excursion will be tailored to relate specifically to your academic studies. These trips will inform and elucidate your understanding of present-day Greece.
Credits and Grades
You will earn the following semester hours of credit: 3 per session
Admission Requirements
GPA Requirements: 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
You must be in good academic standing and not on disciplinary probation. You need to submit a complete application including a transcript, letter of recommendation, and an advisor's form before your application will be considered.
Application Deadline
