Hellenic Studies (BA)

Department Website

Program Description

The Alexander S. Onassis Program in Hellenic Studies provides students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the language, literature, history, and politics of Greece. Through a wide range of courses, students are exposed to a polyphony of viewpoints that help elucidate the historical and political experiences of Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Greece; the ways in which Greece has borne its several pasts and translated them into the modern era; Greece and its relations to Western Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Mediterranean cultures; and the distinguished literary and artistic traditions of a country that many regard as the birthplace of Western civilization, even as these traditions exhibit their multicultural contexts.

The Arts and Science summer program in Athens combines classroom study of the language, history, and culture of Greece with extracurricular activities and excursions that introduce students to all aspects of Greek life. The program offers a wide range of courses on such subjects as the Greek language, Greek literature and photography, Greek drama, Greek political history, the city of Athens, and the archaeology of Greece. Classes are held at our new facility in Athens, conveniently located in Kolonaki neighborhood and the historical center of Athens. Activities include walking tours of Athens, visits to monuments and museums, and evening outings to dramatic and musical performances. Weekend excursions include trips to several Greek islands and to important historical and archaeological sites. Relevant courses taken in this summer program count toward the major or minor as regular courses.

Honors Program

A degree in Hellenic studies is awarded with honors to students who complete nine courses (36 credits) of graded work while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.65 and an average in the major of 3.65 and who successfully complete a program of original research leading to an honors thesis. Honors students are required to enroll in both HEL-UA 997 Independent Study and HEL-UA 999 Senior Honors Seminar.

The thesis topic and the faculty adviser are chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. The average length of the paper is 40-60 pages. Honors students are encouraged, but not required, to take at least one appropriate graduate course in Hellenic studies.

Prizes and Scholarships

The Rae Dalven Prize

The Rae Dalven Prize is a monetary prize awarded annually for the best term paper in the field of Hellenic studies. Submissions are not limited to Hellenic studies majors or minors.

The Panayotis Chris Theotocatos Memorial Scholarship

This annual award provides tuition assistance to a student who demonstrates financial need and academic merit while declaring their Hellenic Studies major. Students must declare Hellenic Studies as their primary undergraduate major, meet all necessary undergraduate Program requirements in their respective track, and maintain their top academic standing.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU.  For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply