Dates
May 12 – June 15, 2026Subjects
Pyschology, Classics, English, Political ScienceDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Greece, a country of dramatic natural beauty and rich cultural traditions, provides students a true adventure as they learn about the ancient peoples whose literature, political ideas, philosophy, notions of health and well-being, religion, art and architecture continue to shape our lives. The 5-week program will begin in Athens and will travel to celebrated Greek cities and islands including Olympia, Mykonos, Naxos, Milos, Delphi and more. Note: Students should be aware that some excursions are physically strenuous and involve hiking over rocky terrain.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Directors
I've taught and led university study abroad programs in Italy and Greece since 1992. Since 2007, I've co-directed KIIS Summer and Winter programs in Greece. It is a joy to provide students new opportunities to learn and experience as they discover Greece.Dr. Richard King
I am a clinical psychologist and behavior analyst in my US-based academic life, and have had the privilege to teach with KIIS for the past eleven years, in over six different countries. Working with KIIS students as we learn about and love our study abroad destination is a privilege.Dr. Myra Beth Bundy
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Courses
All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1-2 courses.
No stories contain greater richness and depth, and none have been more influential, than those we call “Greek myths.” Students learn to read the manifestations of myth in sculpture and vases as well as selections from ancient texts. We visit the Athenian Acropolis, Eleusis, Delos, Argos, and Mycenae, the very settings in which the mythological episodes take place.
This class explores the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Events) as well as the impact of trauma throughout the lifespan on development of behavior, social-emotional functioning, and overall mental health. Particular interest will be paid to citizen experience in both historical and recent politically violent and socially uncertain events in Greece and other relevant locations.
Embark on a transformative study abroad experience to delve into the profound literary legacy of Greece. Encounter the timeless works of Plutarch, Apollodorus, and others and consider issues of voicelessness in these texts. Engage with modern retellings, such as Christa Wolf’s Cassandra and Oreo by Fran Ross; critical analyses, such as Elizabeth Lesser’s Cassandra Speaks: When Women are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes; and other popular culture references to voicelessness.
Explore the art of travel writing against the backdrop of the timeless beauty of Greece as you capture your own unique tour through mythic landscapes, ancient wonders, and contemporary Greek culture. Immerse yourself in a curated reading list to discern narrative/prose styles and strategies for writing effective travel texts and study persuasive, descriptive, and informative writing techniques and how to apply them to travel writing.
What are good and evil and how do these concepts shape our understanding of politics? This course examines this broad question through the lens of ancient Greek political thought and more contemporary work. Using Socrates as our main character for asking this question, we will look at why Socrates represents an inflection point between understandings of good and evil, and connect texts to the sites that we visit.
One way to attempt to understand a society’s culture and politics is through their public celebrations. This course explores the politics of ancient Greek festivals and connects this understanding to the contemporary context as well. We will connect ancient texts on sport, comedy, and drama to sites that we visit to understand the embodied experience of the festival and why these events have meaning.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
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The Islands
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Athens
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Santorini (Independent/Optional)
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Delphi and Olympia
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Nafplion
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $1,850 - $1,950
The Greece program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from Athens, Greece with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your own roundtrip airfare.
The flight to Greece is overnight arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Greece to the USA departs and arrives on the same day.Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.