CREDO in Crete

FOR INFORMATION ON CREDO IN CRETE 2008 CLICK HERE

For highly motivated, high-ability students, Concordia offers a unique opportunity to explore the ideas that shaped Western civilization. Students and two faculty spend spring semester studying on the Mediterranean island of Crete.

CREDO in Crete is a capstone academic experience for students who have been invited to participate in Concordia’s intellectually rigorous honors program because of their academic achievement. Outstanding professors, stimulating discussions and the development of intellectual and social relationships distinguish the CREDO in Crete program.

This optional semester abroad is designed for third-year CREDO students, who live in a resort hotel in Iraklion, the island’s major city. Students and faculty travel to important archaeological sites that may include mainland Greece, Turkey and Italy, depending on program goals and prevailing political situations.

From January to early May, students study the works of ancient and modern Greek philosophers and get a taste of the modern Greek language and customs. They also study Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Professors team-teach the courses, which include elements of supervised independent study, Mediterranean culture and modern Greek culture. The informal, relaxed setting stimulates discussion, reflection and writing. CREDO students additionally benefit from living in the country and culture they are studying. They visit some of western civilization’s birthplaces like Aristotle’s lyceum in Athens, the sacred Greek sanctuary at Delphi, the fabled Minoan ruins at Knossos, or the early Christian community of Ephesus, Turkey. The program collaborates with professors from the University of Crete, and with portable laptop computers, students use the World Wide Web, Internet and e-mail to do research and keep in touch with friends and relatives.

Crete has many cultural influences, and is known for its affordability, safety and it’s unspoiled and unchanged characteristics. There are examples of nearly every period of history on Crete, including Minoan, Roman, Greek, Islamic and Ottoman-Turk. Crete is at a crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, in addition to being a meeting place of world religions. It was a stop on the Apostle Paul’s journeys in founding the Christian church. Today Crete is a popular destination for European tourists who enjoy the pristine beaches and sunny skies.

At their hotel campus, students are a short bus ride away from a modern city with full amenities, first-rate medical facilities (where English is spoken by American-educated doctors), and opportunities for tutoring in special areas of interest students may wish to pursue on their own. To be eligible for the semester in Crete, students must have completed three of the four CREDO courses.

For more information on this program, including the most recent cost information, please contact the Office of International Education at 299-3927 or inted@cord.edu.