During the academic year a U.S. visiting faculty member from a NCSA institution teaches one or more specialty courses. Local faculty members teach additional courses.
Three summer programs, hosted on the beautiful island of Spetses, offer you a unique and privileged artistic experience in Greece. As all programs take place at the same time, you will be part of a dynamic community of people engaged in art, poetry, and Modern Greek language. All programs include basic instruction in Modern Greek and other activities including Greek dance. Participate as a group in evening events such as poetry readings, art exhibitions and theater performances.FALL SEMESTER 2008 COURSE LISTING
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Modern Greek Language (mandatory)
Monuments of Greece (mandatory)
Modern Greek History and the Balkans
Intercultural Communications and the Greek Cultural Mosaic (mandatory)
Greek Worldviews in Words and Images
Greece: The Birthplace of Persuasion
SPRING SEMESTER 2009 COURSE LISTING
Click on the titles for course descriptions.
Modern Greek Language (mandatory)
Monuments of Greece (mandatory)
Creating Impressions of Greece
Intercultural Communications and the Greek Cultural Mosaic (mandatory)
The Athenian Acropolis: Archaeology, Art and History
The Human Figure in the Art of Archaic Greece
SUMMER 2008 COURSE LISTING
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Modern Greek Language Levels 1-4
Poetry in Greece
Art in Greece
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
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Modern Greek Language (45 contact hours - mandatory)
Beginner Intermediate
Transition into life in Athens and gain better access to Greek culture through practical language and conversation skill development offered at Beginner and Intermediate levels. Advanced-level Greek can be arranged through the Athens Centre’s comprehensive Greek language program for students with previous Greek language study, contact AHA for additional information.
Monuments of Greece (45 contact hours - mandatory)
Take full advantage of the rich archaeological heritage of Greece through guided study excursions and on-site lectures. Explore the history and culture of Greece from the Minoan civilizations of Crete and Santorini to the Hellenistic period and the conquests of Alexander the Great.
Modern Greek History and The Balkans
(45 contact hours)
Examine modern Greece from the beginning of the War of Independence through the creation of the new state and the present day. Analyze the position of Greece in the Balkan peninsula in relation to neighboring states through the ties of religion and a common Ottoman history.
Creating Impressions of Greece (45 contact hours)
Develop a strong and disciplined sense of observation by keeping a sketchbook/journal as a record of observations and impressions of Greece throughout the semester. Become familiar with contemporary Greek art through visits to galleries and museums.
Intercultural Communications and the Greek Cultural Mosaic (15 contact hours - mandatory)
Examine both the academic and experiential nature of crosscultural communications. Analyze and process your personal intercultural experience in Greece.
FALL SEMESTER 2008 U.S. VISITING FACULTY MEMBER COURSES
Instructor: Alena Ruggerio, Associate Professor of Communications, Southern Oregon University
Greek Worldviews in Words and Images
(45 contact hours)
Examine discursive and visual texts from classical to modern Greece - plays, poetry, orations, newspapers, advertisements, websites, sculptures, mythological narratives, folk tales, and more. Explore Aristotle as the first to introduce methods of rhetorical criticism. Evaluate the symbols humans exchange in the process of making meaning in Greece.
(45 contact hours)
Regardless of academic major or career, the abilities to communicate persuasively and to guard against manipulation are keys to success. Explore Aristotle’s persuasive messages in On Rhetoric, the most influential persuasion handbook in Western history. Choose a controversial issue in Greece, take a position, and create persuasive messages targeted to an audience that could address the situation. Develop timeless communication skills that will be useful for the rest of your life.
SPRING SEMESTER 2009 U.S. VISITING FACULTY MEMBER COURSES
Instructor: Jeff Hurwit, Professor of Art History, University of Oregon
The Athenian Acropolis: Archaeology, Art, and History
(45 contact hours)
Examine the art, archaeology, history, and mythology of the Athenian Acropolis from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages to the Roman period. Explore such issues as the nature of Athena (the principal goddess of the rock), the role of the Acropolis in everyday Athenian life, and the modern history of excavation and restoration on the citadel.
The Human Figure in the Art of Archaic Greece
(45 contact hours)
Investigate the role, significance, and development of the representation of the human figure in Greek sculpture and vase-painting from the end of the so-called Dark Age to the beginning of the Classical period (c. 750-480 B.C.). Discover the function and meaning of Archaic Sculpture, the nature of Black-Figure and Red-Figure vase-painting, and the social/cultural contexts for the production of Archaic art.
SUMMER PROGRAMS ON THE ISLAND OF SPETSES
All programs include basic instruction in modern Greek and other activities including Greek dance. Participate in evening events with the art, poetry, and theater programs.
Program: Art Workshop (70 contact hours)
The dramatic beauty of the Greek island landscape and the notable quality of “Greek light” have influenced artists for centuries. Discover new and exciting ways to see and interpret the landscape through drawing, watercolor, and other media. Visit artists’ studios, meet with artists, and view current work. Showcase your work in a public exhibition at the end of this three-week session.
Program: Poetry Writing Seminar (70 contact hours)
Focus on writing and appreciation of poetry in the land where western literature was born. Experience the place that has continued to inspire English-language poets through the ages, from Lord Byron and Rupert Brooke to James Merrill and Seamus Heaney. Develop your writing skills in an idyllic island setting during this three-week session.
Program: Modern Greek Language (66 contact hours)
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Study Modern Greek Language, offered at levels 1 to 5.
Classes emphasize spoken Greek and include reading and written exercises, workbooks, and other materials.
EXCURSIONS
Greece is your classroom — excursions to cultural and historical sites around the country are an integral part of your learning experience.
Past excursions include:
• The Acropolis
• The Parthenon, and local museums
• Delphi
• Crete
• Aegina Island
• The Peloponnese - Olympia, Mycanae, Epidaurus
Not all courses listed are offered every term.
Course offerings are subject to change depending on enrollment and availability.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
All courses offered in Athens are recognized and approved for academic credit by various NCSA member institutions. Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad adviser for more information.
Application deadlines