TEACHING is the first, essential component of our mission. Through a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, we aim to provide a broad, liberal arts education for undergraduates and research training for graduate students. Our courses explore the Greek world from late antiquity to the present, with special emphasis on Greek society of the past two hundred years. We offer classes in Greek on language, literature, and culture; classes in English introducing students to Greek culture, travel literature about Greece, Greek literature in translation, and diaspora experiences including the Greek American, all of which fulfill distribution requirements for undergraduate degrees; and graduate courses in a variety of fields. The Program draws on the valuable expertise of distinguished affiliated faculty. An active commitment to comparative, interdisciplinary and methodological inquiry is evident in course offering and graduate supervision.
RESEARCH is the second component. When it comes to the comprehensive study of Hellenism in all its length and variety, the University of Michigan faculty excel. We pursue our own scholarly research, actively participate in conferences, serve as editors and on editorial boards of journals, and regularly publish our work. We are also committed to bringing to the University of Michigan eminent scholars from other institutions who are active in the field, so that they can present to the academic community the results of their research.
EVENTS are the third component. Each year we organize or cosponsor some thirty lectures, conferences, roundtable discussions, film screenings, concerts, and readings of Greek literature in a variety of venues, including; amphitheaters, libraries, concert halls, museums, and bookstores. Our audiences include not just students and faculty, but people of all ages from the surrounding community and neighboring states. A major exhibit, “Cavafy’s World” opened in 2002 in three campus locations. It combined the poet’s manuscripts with rare editions, original artworks, old photographs and ancient artifacts in a rich presentation of the world that inspired his work. We also make a point of visiting groups and communities in the area, to share our work and exchange ideas.
COLLECTIONS are the fourth component. The University Library has budgeted a significant amount of money annually for purchasing books and other materials to develop a collection of modern Greek sources and add to an already rich collection of English language books on Greek society, history, and the arts. Other recent donations have included rare books, magazines, records, cassettes, and posters.
