Take an In-Depth Dive Into Specialized Study with Hands-On Experiences
Webster University is offering new thematic Study Abroad sessions at four international campuses: Athens, Geneva, Leiden and Vienna.
Two back-to-back sessions — Summer 1 (June 8–July 3) and Summer 2 (July 6–31) — will be offered at each of these vibrant locations. Each four-week session will host thematic programs comprised of a three-credit core course and a one-credit experiential learning course.
Immersive Courses in the Cradle of Western Civilization
Greece — Athens in particular — has remained the foundation of Western civilization since ancient times. The courses provide an overview covering the core elements of the Hellenic culture’s perpetual dialogue between its past and present.
Webster Athens offers the unique opportunity for students to fully immerse themselves in the study and exploration of an expertly woven combination of unique thematic courses: Battlefield Studies: Marathon and Salamina, and The Genius of Ancient Greeks: Invention Heritage and Modern World.
Study in the Heart of Classical Thought this Summer at Webster Athens
At Webster Athens students can apply ancient wisdom and knowledge to contemporary life, set goals and discover clarity of purpose.
This is a place where the Academy, an ancient university and the most important educational institute in history, was founded by Plato, Socrates’s most famous student. For centuries young people have gathered here to see wonderful creations in arts, hear the words of great orators, thinkers and educators.
- Summer Session 1 offers Battlefield Studies: Marathon and Salamina.
- Summer Session 2 offers The Genius of Ancient Greeks: Invention Heritage and Modern World.
Read more about the course offerings in each session below.
Study for four or eight weeks in Athens or pair four weeks in Athens with four weeks in Geneva, Leiden or Vienna.
Summer 1: June 8–July 3
Battlefield Studies: Marathon and Salamina
The ancient battlefields of Marathon and Salamina represent two of the most pivotal moments in Western history, deciding the fate of European civilization. This offering provides a unique opportunity for students to not only study these legendary conflicts but to walk the ground where history was made. By examining strategy, leadership and the aftermath of these wars, students gain enduring lessons on the nature of conflict, its societal impact and its relevance to contemporary geopolitical challenges.
Course Fee: $200
This course explores some of the most important battles in ancient Greek history. The students will examine such topics as: historical context of these battles, the commander’s role and armies that fought the battles, importance of the strategy and tactics used, and results of wars. The course analyses the effects of the battles on the society, culture and later historical nature of warfare in ancient Greece and in the West. The relevance of ancient war battles insights to contemporary era highlights the enduring lessons of history.
The experiential component combines classroom learning with direct on-site investigation to deepen understanding. Students will gain a tangible sense of the history studied in the core course through guided visits to the Archaeological Museum of Salamina and the War Museum in Athens.
Archaeological Museum of Salamina: Acquire knowledge of the island’s historical past and the decisive Battle of Salamis, considered one of history’s most important naval battles. Archeological evidence found here provides insight into the engagement between the vastly outnumbered Greek forces and the Persian fleet.
War Museum in Athens: Examine a broader scope of Greek military history, with exhibits covering battle throughout both the ancient and modern periods, connecting the lessons of Marathon and Salamina to later conflicts.
Summer 2: July 6–31
The Genius of Ancient Greeks: Invention Heritage and Modern World
Ancient Greece was not only the birthplace of democracy and philosophy but also a hotbed of technological innovation. This course offers an in-depth investigation into the brilliant engineering, scientific breakthroughs and revolutionary ideas of the ancient Greeks. By exploring everything from Democritus's atomic theory to the Antikythera Mechanism, students will understand how these foundational inventions and concepts continue to shape modern Western thought, technology and daily life.
Course Fee: $180
Course is cross-listed so students may choose one option from the following list:
- ANSO 3100 Topics in Anthropology and Sociology: The Genius of Ancient Greeks
- HIST 3000 Ideas in History: The Genius of Ancient Greeks
This course investigates the ancient Greek inventions that fundamentally transformed daily life and the character of warfare. Topics include the work of brilliant engineers and scientists who created technology that is surprisingly relevant to the modern world. Students will examine key breakthroughs like Democritus's atomic theory (c. 400 BC), Aristotle’s physics and the Antikythera Mechanism (a bronze analogue computer), demonstrating how the ancient Greeks asked and answered fundamental questions that dominate Western thought today.
This component combines classroom study with hands-on engagement, providing an up-close look at the tangible heritage of Greek innovation through visits to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens and the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology.
National Archaeological Museum in Athens: Witness the Antikythera Mechanism, the world's very first analogue computer. This complex bronze device was recovered by sponge divers from a shipwreck in 1901. Dating back to around 87 BS, this clockwork mechanism with about thirty bronze gears was used to calculate astronomical positions and eclipses and serves as a powerful testament to ancient computational genius.
Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Gain a unique perspective on Greek culture through the exhibition “The Hi-Tech Inventions of Ancient Greece — The origins of our modern technology.” This includes approximately 100 fully-reconstructed inventions — from the robot-servant and automatic theater of Heron to the Hydraulic Clock of Ktesibios — along with an exhibition of 42 functional, reassembled ancient Greek musical instruments.
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Webster WINS Partner Schools
Is your school a Webster WINS partner? If so, you may be eligible for a scholarship for up to $500 toward your airfare. Check to see if your school is already a partner!
Other Questions?
Email worldview@webster.edu or call 314-968-6988.