College Year in Athens

Following St. Paul’s footsteps across the Mediterranean 👣

Our “The Geography of Faith: Paul and the Emergence of Christianity in Greece” summer course traces the evolution of religion throughout the ancient Greco-Roman world.

Visiting Meteora’s monasteries and other sacred sites, students explore how early Christianity spread to cities like Philippi, Thessaloniki, and Corinth, transforming an empire!

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/the-geography-of-faith/

Separating fact from fiction: Sparta edition ⚔️

Students in our “Sparta Uncovered” summer course are examining the sources and archaeological sites that shape our understanding of Athens’ greatest rival. They’re investigating the REAL Sparta: its military system, its surprisingly powerful women, and its pivotal role in the ancient Greek world.

Sparta’s mythos endures even today, and now students know the truth behind the city-state that has captivated storytellers for centuries!

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/sparta-uncovered-war-gender-and-politics-in-ancient-greece/

CYA’s Board of Trustees recently met in Greece for our annual summer board meeting on the island of Poros. The retreat brought together long-standing trustees and five newly welcomed members who are strengthening our leadership and vision.

Beyond strategic discussions centered on the future of CYA, board members experienced firsthand the beauty and cultural richness that defines our mission. Enjoying the serene Aegean setting, the gathering reinforced why experiential learning in Greece remains at the heart of who we are.

Step into the world of the first physicians! 🩺🌿

Students in our “Healing in Ancient Greece” summer course are discovering how the Hellenes navigated health and sickness through archaeological remains, medical texts, and sacred sanctuaries.

From the Sotiria Museum (Μουσείο Σωτηρία) in Athens to the healing sites of Epidaurus and Kos, they’re tracing the legacy of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, across Greece!

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/healing-in-ancient-greece-athens-epidaurus-kos/

Think all ancient Greeks were alike? Think again! 🏛️

Students in our “The Strangeness of Ancient Greece” summer course are traveling across the Peloponnese to learn about regional diversity in the Panhellenic world.

At sites like Delphi, Olympia, and Mycenae, they’re examining how different Greek city-states developed their own distinct cultures, politics, and religions.

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/the-strangeness-of-ancient-greece/

Tracing trade, culture, and conquest through Bronze Age Greece 🗺️

Students in our “Civilizations in Contact: The Aegean World and Its Neighbors” summer course are examining the ancient networks and exchanges that connected the Eastern Mediterranean region.

From the volcanic ruins of Akrotiri on Santorini to the palace of Knossos in Crete, they’re exploring how Minoan, Mycenaean, Egyptian, and Cypriot cultures shaped each other’s art, architecture, and everyday life.

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/civilizations-in-contact-the-aegean-world-and-its-neighbors/

Science and service on the Athenian shoreline! 🌊

Students in our “Conservation Issues Confronting the Mediterranean Sea and Sustainable Solutions” summer course transformed Kavouri beach into a living laboratory, collecting litter while generating valuable environmental data through the Trash2Treasure citizen science initiative.

This week, they’re embarking on a 5-day journey aboard a research boat with Archipelagos - Institute of Marine Conservation, where they’ll learn how microplastic pollution is affecting Mediterranean marine life. 🐢

Learn more about this course: https://cyathens.org/course/conservation-issues-confronting-the-mediterranean-sea-and-sustainable-solutions-an-intrdisciplinary-project-based-approach-athens-samos/

On June 3, 2026, College Year in Athens (CYA) had the honor of hosting a distinguished diplomatic event in collaboration with the U.S. EMBASSY ATHENS and the Embajada de España en Atenas - Πρεσβεία Ισπανίας στην Αθήνα. The lecture, “Spain and the Independence of the United States of America,” featured welcoming remarks by Alexis Phylactopoulos, Executive Chair of CYA’s Board of Trustees, and opening addresses from U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq.

Guests were privileged to hear from renowned historian Dr. Quintero Saravia, a leading scholar of Spain’s role in the American Revolution and author of the acclaimed works “Spain and the American Revolution” and “Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution.” The event highlighted the enduring historical connections between Spain, the United States, and the broader transatlantic world.

Summer Session I is officially underway!

Many of our students spent their first week abroad exploring Athens’ iconic sites, and are now heading to islands and other scenic destinations.

CYA offers two four-week sessions each summer, turning all of Greece into a classroom. These intensive courses provide unique, hands-on learning experiences in subjects ranging from archaeological excavations and history to religion and biology.

Members of our team spent the week at the NAFSA Association of International Educators 2026 Annual Conference in Orlando, engaging with the theme “Global by Design.” We connected with partners, both new and established, and explored collaborations that will shape the future of our programs.

CYA has navigated changes in Greece’s educational landscape for more than 60 years to deliver transformative study abroad experiences for students – we welcome its continuing evolution. 🇬🇷