From the Parthenon to the Olympics to the Oracle at Delphi to the ruins of Delos and Santorini, the wonders of ancient Greece have inspired countless generations.
In a new collaboration, the College of Humanities and Department of Religious Studies & Classics are partnering with Study Abroad and Fraternity & Sorority Programs to offer a multi-city study abroad trip designed for students in the Greek Life system.
Greek Life in Greece runs from May 19 to June 6, visiting mainland Greece as well as island sites. Students will earn three credits for the course CLAS 315: 7 Wonders of Ancient Greece. Rob Groves, Associate Professor of Practice in Classics, will lead the trip.
“Greece itself will be our classroom and we will learn on the road, as we visit the bronze Age fortress of Mycenae, the healing sanctuary of Epidaurus and walk the path to consult the Oracle at Delphi,” Groves said. “We will run on the racecourse of the Ancient Olympics, and in Athens, climb past the birthplace of Tragedy in the theater of Dionysus, up to the Parthenon on the Acropolis, and down again to the agora of Ancient Athens, where democracy thrived and Socrates argued. When we leave to the islands, we’ll walk the holy island of Delos, see the famous windmills of Mykonos and tour the city on the edge of a volcanic island that gave birth to the myth of Atlantis.”
While learning about Greece's historical trajectory and fundamental cultural institutions, students will reflect on what lessons the Ancient Greeks could share about how to live healthy full lives, how to lead, serve and give to others, how to create and support a culture of innovation, and how to contribute to effective self-governance and a shared sense of humanity.
“The Greek Life in Greece study abroad program is a one-of-a-kind experience that unites members of the fraternity and sorority community, offering immersive academic and cultural engagement with the rich heritage and history of Greece,” said Marcos Guzman, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Programs and Associate Dean of Students.
The program is open to students in any major. Students with a major in the College of Humanities are eligible for the Fearless Inquiries Abroad Scholarship, which awards $2,000 scholarships to 30 students each year.