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.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Click on the course titles for syllabi.

Modern Greek Language (45 contact hours - mandatory)
Modern Greek Language Beginner  Modern Greek Language 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.

FALL SEMESTER 2010 U.S. VISITING FACULTY MEMBER COURSES

Instructor: Eric Heyne, Professor of English, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Creative Writing About Place (45 contact hours)
Reflect on your experience of Greece by writing poetry and nonfiction prose about that experience. Writing will be limited to lyric poetry and nonfiction prose as those genres presume a kind of authorial sincerity, and a particular relationship between the writer and the truth of his or her subject matter.

Greece in Contemporary Fiction (45 contact hours)
Discover how Greece has been represented in the works of some of the best contemporary fiction writers in English. Use the literature as a lens through which to examine your own first-hand experiences in Greece, and also use that experience as a framework within which to critique the literature.

SPRING SEMESTER 2011 U.S. VISITING FACULTY 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 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 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.

Summer I:  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.

Summer II: Modern Greek Language (66 contact hours)
Study Modern Greek Language, offered at levels 1 to 5.
Classes emphasize spoken Greek and include reading and written exercises, workbooks, and other materials.
Modern Greek Language Level 1  
Modern Greek Language Level 2  
Modern Greek Language Level 3  
Modern Greek Language Level 4 
Modern Greek Language Level 5

Summer III:  Poetry Writing Workshop (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.

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.


Check with your study abroad adviser for specific deadlines on your campus. Not all courses listed are offered every term. Course offerings are subject to change depending on enrollment and availability.