The Isles of Greece! will introduce you to a variety of aspects of life in Greece over the five millennia from the Bronze Age to our own time. Topics include history, literature, geology, religion, philosophy, ethnography, marine biology, archaeology, and cultural resources management. Sailing and hiking, lectures and readings, snorkeling and diving, visits to sites and museums, conversations with faculty and fellow students, student reports, encounters with our Greek hosts, and travel diaries will provide opportunities for you to acquire information and reflect on your experience. In particular, the nautical life will give you a sense of the Greek islands as the Greeks saw them in an age before mechanized travel: from the sea in sailing vessels. You will learn to sail and to live aboard a sailboat.

This program requires an extensive amount of walking on cobblestone and uneven pavement, riding trains and buses, and walking up and down stairs. Certified divers will have the option of participating in at least four dives. Non­-divers will be snorkeling.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the general outline of the history of Greece from Bronze age to present.
• Become familiar with modern Greek culture and society through personal experience and modern literature.
• Develop an understanding of how ancient Greece has influenced the development of western civilization, and
  how it influences modern society.
• Learn to integrate course materials and personal experiences.
• Learn skills of sailing and develop an appreciation for witnessing the world as it was encountered in ancient
  times.

Travel Dates:

Travel Dates are TBD.
Approximately May 15 - June 6, 2022

Course(s):

SUST 492/592 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits (syllabus)

Cross-listings:

• ANTH 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• ARTH 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• CLHU 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• ENGL 493/593 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• HIST 492/592 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• PHIL 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• POLS 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• REL 492 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits
• UHON 390 The Isles of Greece!, 3 credits

NOTE: It is possible to enroll in this program for either 3 or 6 credits. For the 6 credit option, you will enroll in one of the courses above plus either CLHU or HIST 492.

Prerequisite(s):

None.

Registration

After admission to this program, The Gallagher Center will process Banner permissions for you to self-register in the course you indicate on the Course Registration Form in your application. You will need to register to this course yourself through Banner once the permission is granted.

Participants will stay in shared hotel accommodations in Athens and the Peloponnese and shared accommodations aboard yachts while at sea. Accommodations will be arranged by the program.

Program Expenses

Wondering how much it's going to cost? See Budget Sheet for information about total program costs, payment schedule, and the withdrawal and refund policy.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

How am I going to pay for it? See our Financial Assistance page for a list of USD and external scholarships.

To inquire about using federal financial aid to help toward the expense of this program, contact the Office of Financial Aid as early as possible (non-USD students should contact the financial aid office at their home institution). NOTE: To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits during the summer or 12 credits during fall/spring semester.

Application Instructions

Applications—including all required pre-decision materials and recommendations—must be submitted online by the deadline specified in the Dates/Deadlines section on this page. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. To start an application, click the Apply Now button on this page. If the Apply Now button does not appear, applications are either not open yet, or it is past the deadline.

If you have started an application already, use the LOGIN (USD applicants) or NON-USD LOGIN (non-USD applicants) link on this site to return to the materials.

Eligibility Requirements

This program is open to students of all majors.

This program is open to applicants from any institution, although preference will be given to USD students.

All applicants must be in good academic and judicial standing at their home institution. For other eligibility requirements, including minimum GPA and any language prerequisites, refer to the Fact Sheet on this page.

Faculty Leaders

Clayton Lehmann teaches ancient history at the University of South Dakota and has lived, traveled, and taught in Greece for some 35 years. An avid sailor, he has chartered yachts in various Greek waters. He will lecture in Greek history, religion, and archaeology and captain one of the boats.

Nelson Stone retired from Mount Marty College after teaching philosophy and religion for 13 years. He has sailed his whole life. He joined Lehmann for a sailing and diving tour of the Cyclades in June 2003, when the two of them conceived the idea of teaching this course. He will lecture on philosophy and religion, provide sailing instruction, and captain one of the boats. A PADI SCUBA instructor, Professor Stone will also serve as dive master.

Brennan Jordan teaches about minerals and the origin of volcanoes at the University of South Dakota. He has led student groups all around the western United States and directed research expeditions in Iceland and Mongolia. He will lecture on the geology and landforms of Greece, and direct students in observation and interpretation of geologic features encountered during the program. He joined the course faculty in 2009 and serves as the program's administrative contact. All three faculty are ASA certified bare-boat captains.

Contact Us

For general inquiries, contact the faculty director (Clayton.Lehmann@usd.edu) or the Gallagher Center for Experiential Learning and Education Abroad (theworld@usd.edu).

To learn more about the program, view photos from past years, and read student testimonials, visit The Isles of Greece! website.

Professors Lehmann and Stone wrote an article about this program, "Greece from the Sea: An Interdisciplinary, Intercollegiate Adventure in Teaching and Learning," The Classical Journal 105.2 (2009/10) 163-73.

For information about immunizations and health precautions, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After you have been admitted to this program, you will be required to complete a travel physical with a healthcare provider such as Sanford Vermillion.