Description

The amazing islands of Greece, filled to the brim with pristine beauty and fascinating history, impact greatly on the history and people of the country. An Arcadia summer study abroad experience allows you to get in touch with the culture and people. In Greece, you'll study at an international center, have an orientation program to introduce you to the history, culture, and current affairs of the country, and participate in excursions that provide for further exploration of the land and its people. You'll experience all of this when you arrive in the beautiful country.

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.

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.

Highlights

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.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Architecture
• Art History

Cost in US$:

Please visit website

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript

Arcadia University: The College of Global Studies's Mission Statement

The College of Global Studies at Arcadia University advances the University's mission to prepare students for life in a rapidly changing global society. Because international learning is an essential component of an effective undergraduate education, Arcadia is committed to providing high-quality, academically sound and experientially rich study abroad programs and support services to a wide range of students and institutions. Aspects of this mission have existed throughout the history of The College of Global Studies at Arcadia University and today the mission is at the core of everything we do. One of the ways we apply it to our programs is through the Arcadia Commitment.

Year Founded

1853