Program Overview

Hellenic Studies Summer School (HSSS)

The Hellenic Studies Summer School (HSSS) is an intensive and diverse academic experience that engages students in a critical exploration of Hellenic culture from ancient to modern times.

Description

Choosing from courses in literature, language, history, art, philosophy, mythology, international relations, theater, dance, and music, students explore connections between Greece's past and present, as well as the significance of Hellenic culture in the world today. The program integrates coursework with active, experiential learning and meta-cognitive practices to foster cultural immersion and critical thinking.

Aim and Objectives

The Hellenic Studies Summer School (HSSS) is addressed to college students from all over the world who wish to develop a (better) understanding of the significance of Greek culture in the modern world. It aims to engage students in an investigation of Greek history and culture that spans over 3,000 years, with a focus on how salient aspects of contemporary Greek (and much other modern) culture relate to their earlier antecedents.

Objectives

• Develop a sense of how cultural, historical, and political events of the past have translated into Greece of the modern era and the contemporary western tradition (and beyond)
• Trace the development of Greek history and culture across traditionally-drawn boundaries
• Gain a better appreciation of Greece and its people
• Learn experientially through field trips and on-site teaching
• Immerse themselves in language and culture
• Function successfully in a different speech/culture community thereby developing empathy and a heightened knowledge of effective approaches to intercultural communication
• Develop a heightened appreciation of the importance of individual and social responsibility as well as personal and civic values

Special Features of the Program

• Tradition of academic excellence: ACG's 150-year legacy of academic excellence and its location in Athens afford students the singular benefit of studying in a living laboratory that bridges the ancient and contemporary realities of Greece while receiving credit through a leading U.S. accrediting body (NECHE).
• Exceptional campus and facilities: The Aghia Paraskevi campus offers a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside in a park-like setting, with many kilometers of wooded mountain trails easily accessible by foot from campus.
• Housing: The American College of Greece operates a modern Residence Complex just a short walk from campus, providing students with a safe, clean, residential environment.
• Diverse curriculum: The HSSS offers courses that explore diverse topics relating to salient aspects of Hellenic culture.
• In-the-field instruction and study trips: Cultural activities, field trips, and on-site teaching provide students with a "hands-on" experience and maximize their learning potential.
• Extensive cultural immersion: Through experiential learning employed in the courses, direct contact with members of the host community, and various co-curricular activities, participants have a rich cultural immersion experience.
• Critical Reflection: Students are frequently engaged in critical reflection, including both written reflections and discussions through which students and faculty collectively draw meaning from their learning and experiences in Greece.

HSSS Study Abroad Comprehensive Fee

The comprehensive study abroad fee includes tuition up to 15 credits for semesters and up to 6 credits for sessions, as well as housing in the Aghia Paraskevi residence apartments.

Curriculum

HSSS students take two 3-credit courses and may earn up to six transferable college credits. Courses offered include:

• CL 1004: Myth in the Ancient Greek and Roman World
• PH 2020: Greek Philosophy
• IR 4140: Greece and the World
• GR 1000: Modern Greek I
• GR 1101: Modern Greek II
• AH 2027: Aspects of Greek Art in Athens
• DR 2033: Athens Theatre Festivals: 'Then and Now'
• DA 2019: Ancient Greek Themes in Modern & Contemporary Dance
• MU 3061: Music Theatre Workshop I - focused on Ancient Greek drama
• MU 4167: Music Theatre Workshop II - focused on Ancient Greek drama
• HY 3060: Greece: The Birth of a Modern Nation

Extra- and Co-curricular Activities

Extra- and co-curricular activities may include pre-departure activities, visits to museums, field trips to cultural sites, lecture/seminars on course-relevant topics, and Athens Festival events/performances.