Program Overview
Greek Studies on Site is a center for the study of Classical literature, philosophy, and culture. It offers 3-week intensive summer programs, as well as a semester program of studies in Athens, Greece.
All our programs are open to students of Classics, Philosophy, History, and related disciplines, as well as adult learners with an interest in Ancient Greek culture.
Intensive Summer Programs:
Programs meet for 3 hours of instruction, 6 days a week. Courses are taught by Ph.D.s in Classics and Philosophy. Field study includes visits to all the major archaeological sites and museums in Athens, as well as day-trips to Sounion, Mycenae, Delphi, or the island of Aegina. The program also includes optional activities, such as traditional dance classes and local hikes.
Semester Program:
Greek Studies on Site has partnered with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, to offer a semester-long study-abroad program.
All UIUC students receive academic credit through their home institution for the classes they take in Athens. If you are a University of Illinois student interested in attending the Illinois in Athens program, please contact Mr. Kyle Schmude at kschmud2@illinois.edu.
All other applicants accepted to the semester program participate in the same courses but they are not eligible to receive academic credit through the University of Illinois. These students may explore the possibility of receiving academic credit through their home institutions.
Summer Programs
Ancient Greek Mythology
June 9-29, 2025
Read some of the most important mythological narratives while immersed in their material and social context.
This class surveys the central stories, gods, and heroes of Greek myth. We will study a variety of ancient literary and mythographical sources and interpret them in their cultural context. Many of the readings relate directly to the sites that we will visit.
View the complete syllabus here.
Ancient Greek Philosophy:
A Seminar on Aristotle's Metaphysics
June 9-29, 2025
This year's philosophy seminar focuses on Aristotle's Metaphysics. It is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in Classics and Philosophy.
Through visits to archeological sites and museums, students will have the rare opportunity to take a contextual approach to the study of philosophy.
View the complete syllabus here.
Spring Semester 2025
SEMESTER PROGRAM
February 17-May 31, 2025
During the spring semester, we shall offer the following courses:
*Athens through the Ages
(3-5 hours of instruction/week)
This class offers the rare opportunity to explore in detail Greek history and art at a leisurely pace and at their very birthplace. All sessions, save two which are indoor lectures, take place within archaeological sites and museums in Athens and beyond, including four day trips (to Mycenae-Argos-Nafplion, Sounion, Eleusis, and Olympia or Delphi). View the complete syllabus here.
*Modern Greek for Beginners
(5 hours/week)
This seminar covers levels A1 and A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). By the end of the semester, participants will be able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment, and to discuss aspects of their background and environment.
View the complete syllabus here.
New Courses!
THE GREAT BOOKS PROGRAM
February 17-May 31, 2025
In this class, we will discuss many of the major philosophical works of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, starting with St. Augustine in the 5th century, making our way through Classical Arabic philosophy, and ending with St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.
View the complete syllabus here.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING
scheduled for 2026; currently accepting expressions of interest
What does it mean to live (and to travel) in a sustainable way? What's a sustainable diet? What are sustainable ways of cultivating the land for the purpose of food production? This class explores these questions both theoretically and in practice - for example, as we learn how to grow micro-greens and edible flowers.
Custom Seminars
Are you a teacher interested in bringing your students to Greece? Are you a group of students interested in the Classical world? Greek Studies on Site offers custom seminars for groups of travelers, which may be organized year-round.
In the past, we have designed courses on Homer, Greek Drama, Athenian Democracy, Plato's Republic, Greek Symposia, and Animals in Antiquity.
Contact us to design a seminar that meets your needs.