Democratic Institutions and Ideals in Classical and Contemporary Greece (3cr.)
Places you will visit during the Athens program




Learn more about the O’Neill in the Athens program
V482 – Democratic Institutions and Ideals in Classical and Contemporary Greece (3cr.)
Program Director: Paul Helmke
This three-credit course explores both the development of democracy in Classical Greece and the efforts of contemporary inhabitants of Greece to strengthen democratic institutions and ideals such as freedom, equality, inclusiveness, and transparency. The first part of the course focuses on Athenian democracy in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., paying particular attention to the role of citizens and citizenship. Much of the second part of the course will focus on the limitations of the state in promoting democratic institutions and ideals in contemporary Greece and on efforts by the business and nonprofit communities to strengthen democracy by circumventing an ineffective government.
In addition to taking classes on the beautiful campus of the American College of Greece, you will also have the opportunity to meet leading figures from the Greek government as well as from Greek foundations and businesses. There will be ample opportunities to explore the historic sites of Athens and the gorgeous islands off of the mainland, both independently and with your instructors.
IU Bloomington Undergrads: See how this course counts towards your major/minor at O'Neill here.
- Visit the Acropolis (and the new Acropolis Museum), the most important ancient site in the Western world
- Take a trip to Delphi, the center of the ancient world
- Visit Nafplio, the first capital of the newly independent Greece of the 1820s
- Take numerous weekday and evening trips around Athens, visiting inspiring sites and meeting leaders of Greek society
- Join in on weekend trips to gorgeous Greek islands
Note: Your IU Bloomington Bursar account will be charged two amounts for participation in this O’Neill International program:
- O’Neill International program fee (two payments)
- IU Bloomington Tuition
For a full breakdown of estimated cost, see the Athens fee sheet.
2023 O’Neill in Athens Program Fee: $2,200
The program fee will be charged to your Bursar account in two installments:
- A $550 non-refundable pre-payment shortly after you confirm your participation in the program
- The remaining program fee balance will be charged in March, due in April
The program fee for this program includes:
- Lodging
- Medical insurance
- Some meals
- Cultural excursions
Flights are not included in the program fee
IUB Tuition – 3 credits
The tuition cost for O’Neill in Athens is based on IU Bloomington tuition. The cost of tuition you pay will vary based on your student status. For more information on the cost of summer tuition, please contact IU Student Central.
Additional Costs
You will need to pay for your flight to and from Athens, transportation to and from the airport, food that is not included in the program and other incidentals.
Scholarships
The O'Neill International Equal Opportunity Scholarship is available to help Civic Leaders, even if you are a non-O'Neill student. Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Other scholarships are available on a competitive basis.
During the application period (December 1-January 27) an "Apply Now" button will be available at the top of this page. You will need to submit the online application by 5 p.m. on January 27.
Detailed application instructions
If you have any issues throughout the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the O'Neill International Office, 812-855-7568, oio@indiana.edu.
People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them.
— Martin Yan, Chinese chef, writer, and TV host