• TEACHERS AS MENTORS: Small class sizes make it possible
• FAMILY FEEL: A small town with a strong community
• GREEK ISLAND: Need we say more?
What makes this Athena?
• PURPOSE: Overseas school shares Athena's personalized approach
• TEACHERS: Do this for the love of learning
• LOCATION: Unique, hidden gem
HISA was one of the first schools Athena partnered with when we began, and with good reason. We share the same mission for study abroad – personalized, quality education that starts within the classroom walls and expands into the world.
Founded in 2000, HISA has prided itself on educating students who desire more than a traditional lecture format.
Class-sizes are minimized to ensure students receive individual attention, and benefit from a close working relationship with their instructors.
This is the way education is meant to be. The intentionally small nature of the program allows teachers to provide customized academic and developmental guidance for each individual student.
Courses have the following % breakdown:
COURSES | General % Offered |
---|---|
HUMANITIES | 60% |
ARTS | 35% |
SOCIAL SCIENCES | 5% |
Dr. Ioannis Georganas is a distinguished professor of prehistoric/proto-historic archaeology. He holds both an MA and a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Nottingham (UK). He has extensive teaching experience in a variety of institutions, including the University of Nottingham, Lake Forest College, and the University of St Andrews. As a long-time member of the British School at Athens and former president of the Athens-Greece Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, he has participated in a number of significant excavations and field surveys throughout Greece and the Balkans.
As HISA’s new Academic Director he brings to our program not only a wealth of knowledge and experience but a student friendly teaching style that illuminates the historical significance of ancient Greece, building thereby an intelligent and instructive bridge between the past and the present.
Each semester culminates with a Community Showcase in which students have the opportunity to exhibit their semester’s work to the island community.
Field trips are an integral component of our Paros Island program, often combining your classroom work with real life application. A sample of standard trips included for both the summer and semester package are:
Paros is a rare and unique Greek island in that it is small enough to retain the authentic Greek culture, while still having a fun and active island community.
Housing Type: Student Apartments (Single Room for semester, Double Room for summer)
Room Inclusions: Two beds, full bathroom, kitchenette, private balcony, wifi access
Housing Inclusions:
Yes! Five inter-island boat trips are included (weather permitting) for both the summer and semester programs.
If you are looking for independent travel, the semester program does have open weekends that allow for travel. For the summer programs, so much is included in the program, so there is not as much time available for independent travel. Many summer students choose to stay after the program ends if they are interested in independent travel.
A typical program will have anywhere from 8-30 students on the program. This makes for an incredibly personal and high-quality study abroad experience, things we at Athena pride ourselves on.
Delicious! Being on the Aegean Sea gives the island restaurants many seafood dish specialties. Traditional Greek dishes are also all around the island, including gyros, Greek yogurt, baklava (a delicious dessert), olives, and many more.
In general, even a picky eater should be able to find food that fits his or her palate. An adventurous eater will be very happy as there are many opportunities to explore dishes that aren’t readily available in many American restaurants.
Vegetarians: Athena’s resident vegetarian gives Paros Island an 8 out of 10 for being vegetarian friendly!
Yes! For summer programs, you can certainly request who you would like to have as your roommate. This is done after you are accepted into the program; you will note this in your housing request forms.
For the semester program, you will have your own room (unless space becomes limited, then singles go on a first-come, first serve basis). If you would still prefer to share your room with a friend, we can certainly accommodate that request.
You will fly into Athens, Greece. From there, you will stay with other Athena students in Athens for 1 or 2 nights, depending on the day you arrive.
On the morning the program begins, you and your classmates will take a ferry ride over to Paros Island, which typically takes about 4 hours. You will have an orientation and get settled into your new island life!
We have partnered with STA Travel, an incredible student-focused travel agency. The good people there will be able to help all Athena students arrange flights overseas.
My time on Paros was the best thing that has ever happened to me...The moment I stepped on the island I knew that it was where I was meant to be... Athena was INCREDIBLY helpful.
Flagler College
They don’t call it Paros-dise for nothing. Bad word play aside, this really is one of the most remarkable locations for study abroad. In the cooler months, this island is a slower-paced fishing village, where fresh catches come in daily, and life is simple.
In the warmer months, the island awakens and more people flock to this beautiful costal gem. Like two sides of a coin, both seasons are truly Paros and bring the charm to this Greek island.
CITY PERKS: On this small island, where everyone knows each other, you will find a tight-knit community that is waiting to welcome you with open arms. Hiking the island opens your eyes to its incredible beauty.
And its close proximity to the many other Greek islands will provide you with an endless supply of adventure.
For more info, please contact:
General Info – hisa@paros-island.com
Yuko Yamauchi – registrar@hisa-studyabroad.com
Greece Advisor – Ioannis Georganas, PhD – i_georganas@yahoo.com