Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Isn't the Athens Program mainly for History and Classics majors?
A: No. While the Athens Program is particularly attractive to students in these two majors, it is conducted at a more general level of interest and background preparation, and is directed at students who have a genuine interest in ancient Greek society and culture, whatever their academic background and plans. Typically, students who participate in the program are drawn from a wide range of academic areas in addition to History and Classics, including Communication Arts and Sciences, Philosophy, Psychology, Political Science, Anthropology, Art History, English, Accounting, Pre-Med, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Civil Engineering. What all these students have in common is a real interest in the world of ancient Greece and a desire to immerse themselves in the history of that world, as well as in modern Greek society as a manifestation of that history.
Q: How can course work in the Athens Program be integrated into a student's academic program here at home?
A: Of the 5 courses typically offered in the program, 4 can generally be counted for fulfilling Gen. Ed. and/or B. A. requirements in Humanities. One of them--the Archaeology of Ancient Greece--is cross-listed as an Art History course, so it could also be used to help satisfy the Arts requirement. The specialized courses offered by Penn State faculty are usually cross-listed, too, generally counting as History and CAMS (Classics) classes as well as in the faculty member's own department. For instance, the two faculty-offered courses in the 2009 program are cross-listed as PHIL (Philosophy) and CAMS (Classics and Mediterranean Studies), Thus, courses offered in the Athens Program can usually be counted toward a combination of General Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Major requirements (depending on a student's major, naturally). Otherwise, they can be counted as Electives.
Q: Are classes taught in English, or does one need to know Greek in order to take part?
A: All courses offered in the program are taught in English, although the course in "Modern Greek Language and Culture" focuses on learning conversational Greek for use while living and travelling in the country. Participants don't need to know any Greek prior to arriving in Greece.
Q: I am not a Liberal Arts student. What are the advantages to my career of spending a semester overseas?
A: The potential advantages of studying abroad involve both professional and personal factors. Professionally, in an increasingly international business, political, and educational climate, American university graduates who have experience living abroad will be in high demand as the U. S. strives to maintain its leadership position in world commerce and international relations. Graduates in all fields who have this sort of experience will be more competitive in the professional marketplace than those who do not. On a personal level, living and studying in a culture different from our own both broadens our intellectual horizons and helps us understand and appreciate more fully the society we grew up in. This experience also deepens our self-knowledge and augments our own psychological resources.
Q: I am a student at one of the CIC institutions other than Penn State. How does participating in the Athens Program work for people like me?
A: The AESOP protocol between Penn State and several other CIC institutions makes it possible for students at these schools to take part in the Athens Program without having to enroll at Penn State and/or to withdraw from their home universities. Credits and grades are automatically transferred to the students' home institutions, and tuition will be only slightly higher than for a typical semester at home. Students at non-Penn State, AESOP-participating schools should contact their own Study Abroad offices for more information.
Q: How safe is Greece as a country, and Athens as a city, as places to live, study, and travel?
A: In general, both Greece and Athens are among the safest places to visit anywhere in the world. Athens, particularly, is very safe for a large city--much safer than any American city of comparable size (the population of Athens is approaching 4 million). Murders, muggings, and assaults (including sexual assaults) are almost unheard of, and the most common crimes involve theft, purse-snatching, and the like, and even these are rare. At night, most areas of central Athens are safe to walk in (in groups--as in any American town or city, one wouldn't want to walk alone late at night except along major streets). Because we maintain a low profile during our semester (that is, we are not conspicuous about being from the U. S.), living in a normal neighborhood, holding classes in a Greek educational institution, and travelling by private, Greek-owned motorcoach, we don't typically encounter problems.
Q: How expensive is it to study in Greece for a semester?
A: This changes somewhat from one year to another, depending both on changes in program costs and on variations in the exchange rate between the dollar and the euro. The faculty and International Program staff who plan and coordinate the Athens Program work hard to keep costs as low as possible, while maintaining a high-quality program that features an extensive field-trip itinerary. For the 2007 program, anticipated costs will mean that students must be ready to spend about $3500-$4000 more than they would typically spend for a semester at Penn State (or other Big Ten campus), including airfare. A breakdown of anticipated expenses can be found elsewhere on this website.
Q: Do all students who take part in the Athens Program automatically earn a minor in Classical Studies?
A: All Penn State students who complete one of the two prerequisite courses and the five courses taught in Athens are typically eligible to receive a Classical Studies Minor, depending on the courses taught by the Penn State faculty director. In the rare case when only one of the director's courses is cross-listed with CAMS, the student can become eligible for the Minor by completing one more CAMS course at Penn State. Penn State students must complete the official application for the Minor prior to leaving for Greece. Students from other Big Ten/CIC institutions should check with their local Study Abroad Offices.
Q: Who teaches the classes in the program?
A: In most years, the Penn State faculty director teaches two classes in his/her specialty, though in semesters when two faculty direct the program the menu of Penn State course offerings is more extensive. Additionally, the Greek Archaeology class is taught by Dr. Stephen Diamant (Ph.D. U. of Pennsylvania), who has been living and teaching American students in Greece for over thirty years. The Byzantine History and Modern Greek Language and Culture classes are taught by qualified faculty at the Athens Centre.
Q: Can students have visitors during the semester?
A: Because the program's emphasis is on the educational experience during the semester, students are encouraged not to invite guests while classes are in session. However, Spring Break in Greece usually coincides with Spring Break at Penn State, and this is a great time for friends/family to visit. Also, participants in the program often invite folks to plan visits for just after the semester ends (usually late April/early May), before the "high season" of tourism begins, but when the weather is generally quite good. Because visitors are generally not permitted to stay in student apartments (owing to contractual arrangements between the Athens Centre and apartment building owners), the Athens Centre will gladly provide a list of local hotels.
Knossos Palace, Crete
The Death Mask of "Agamemnon"