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GREECE

Deeper, More Meaningful Study Abroad

The IPSL program in Greece is a unique opportunity to really get involved in hands-on learning on a campus that operates as a real working farm.  Our partner, the American Farm School/Perrotis College has a long history of experiential-learning and sustainable-living and utilizes a blend of theory and practical experiences in outdoor classrooms, dairies, poultry farms, vineyards, fruit and olive orchards, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, field crop acreage and state-of-the-art science laboratories. The goal is to give each student a hands-on education like no other and create a dynamic the fusion of theory and practice in it's agricultural, life science, business and animal welfare programs.

 

The college offers programs of study in more than just humanities and liberal arts. Students interested in agriculture, animal husbandry, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, horticulture, food science technology, environmental systems management and international agribusiness would benefit greatly from the experience to study and volunteer doing real, hands-on work in these fields. Humanities students will also find a variety of courses available, including the Greek Cultural Experience class and Zeus to Byzantium (Greek Mythology & the Early Christian Legacy) Business majors will also find area of interest with Entrepreneurship and Social Corporate Responsibility courses. 

 

Thessaloniki, the second-largest city and capital of Central Macedonia, is a 2,300 year-old city still playing a vital and active role as an integral international trading city for much of Southern Europe.  Thessaloniki has been called Greece’s ‘cultural capital.’ Those interested in Grecian history will adore Thessaloniki’s unique history as a symbol of the Byzantine Empire, a free state under Roman rule, captured during Ottoman rule, and the city where the Young Turk Revolution began.

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Experience Greece like a local...not a tourist.

Imagine living, working and learning on a campus of unique rural acreage just outside of the bustling urban center of Thessaloniki. Expereince the best of rural and urban settings in a land brimming with natural beauty and history.

 

Program Highlights

Language of Instruction: English

Affiliated institution: American Farm School / Perrotis College

 

Courses and  Credits - Semester

Required

  • The Greek Cultural Experience

  • Greek Institutions in Society (the IPSL Service-Learning course)

  • Introduction to COSA

 

Electives that MAY be available:

  • Agro-tourism Principles & Practices 

  • Principles of Food Science

  • The Greek Palate (Greek Cuisine)

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Electives Typically Fall ONLY

  • Entrepreneurship 

  • Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Principles of Plant Pathology and Plant Protection 

  • Biochemistry 

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Electives Typically Spring ONLY

  • Environmental Business Management 

  • Food Accommodation Management

  • Animal Welfare 

  • Management of Livestock Production  

  • Processing Technology

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Other courses that MAY be available include

  • Mountain Environment Sports

  • Wilderness Travel: Hiking

  • Principles of Precision Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability

  • Introduction to Livestock Science

  • Environmental Soil Science

  • Sustainable Rural Development

  • Nutrition and Contemporary Feeding Systems

  • Management of Livestock and Production

  • Food, Taste and Society

  • Creating the Agro-tourism Experience

  • Dairy Technology

  • Contemporary Nutrition

  • Nutrition and the Consumer

  • Current Issues (covering topics such as  GMOs, Euro Union; Corporate Responsibility; New Systems of Olive Production, Culinary Tourism)

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Courses and  Credits - Summer

Required

  • The Greek Cultural Experience

  • Greek Institutions in Society 

 

Service Opportunities

  • Refugee Work

  • English Tutoring

  • Domestic and endangered species animal care

  • Agricultural/Greenhouse/Horticultural/Farming/Agronomics

  • Sustainable Agricultural Research Projects 

  • Ecological Conservation education

  • Environmental Education for children

  • Agricultural products production, marketing and selling

  • Supporting homeless and at-risk youth

  • Working with disadvantaged preschool and primary school children

 

Housing

Students will live in a homestay on Perrotis campus with Greek families of faculty and staff or off campus with local Greek families. All IPSL host families are carefully selected and experienced with hosting students. Living with local residents is part of the immersion experience. Instead of being a tourist, an IPSL student gets to know what it's like to be a "Thessalonikian."

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Why IPSL?

  • We're really nice and support you in your journey!

  • We're the most experienced group in the field of International Service-Learning

  • You can make a real difference to people in need

  • You can FINALLY learn that language

  • You can dive deep into another culture!

  • To support our service organizations in a SUSTAINABLE way

  • GROW - expand your horizons and challenge your assumptions!

 

Program Director: Victoria Georgouvela

 

Eligibility

The program welcomes students of any nation who have a high school diploma or equivalent credential. TOEFL equivalent 550. No Greek language requirement

 

What's Included

Tuition and academic fees; academic transcript; administrative fees; on-site and on-line orientation and pre-departure materials; homestay housing, breakfast and dinner 7 days per week; service placement and supervision; airport transfers (arrival and departure) if arriving/departing between 9AM and 9PM; health insurance.

 

What's typically NOT Included

Passport; visa (should you decide to get one); vaccine fees; international airfare; books; lunches; meals on excursions; personal spending money; local personal transportation; local transportation to service site; personal spending money; local cell phone and independent travel.

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