Program Overview
Facing History, Democracy, and Ourselves
Facing History, Democracy, and Ourselves is an interdisciplinary two-semester program exploring democracy as a dynamic and contested practice through immersive travel in Greece and Poland.
In IDH 4007, you will be guided by Design Thinking. The course integrates historical inquiry, arts-based reflection, and civic design to foster ethical responsibility, democratic imagination, and global citizenship.
In IDH 4008, you will examine the origins of democracy in ancient Greece alongside contemporary efforts to defend democratic values in Poland by engaging historical sites, museums of memory, and civic institutions.
Program Start: Wednesday, May 12, 2027
Program End: Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Application open!
The 2027 Honors Study Abroad application window opened on September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until January 8, 2027, or until all spaces are filled.
PROGRAM DETAILS
What you'll be doing
- Explore the birthplace of democracy in Athens through iconic historic and civic sites.
- Travel across Greece to experience ancient cities, archaeological sites, islands, and UNESCO landmarks.
- Connect history to civic life through walking seminars, dialogue, and observation of public spaces.
- Examine memory, human rights, and democracy in Poland through visits to Warsaw, Gdańsk, and Kraków.
- Study resistance and remembrance at sites including the Warsaw Ghetto, Treblinka, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the European Solidarity Centre.
- Experience local culture and landscapes while balancing academic activities with time for exploration.
This is a living document, meaning that scheduled Free Time may be utilized for in-person quizzes, class meetings, and/or class days. Students should always consult with their Faculty Director prior to scheduling plans during Free Time.
Cost & Aid
- 21 nights in handpicked shared accommodations
- Regional airfare within program
- Metro cards in Athens, Warsaw, and Kraków
- Coach service for Peloponnese excursion Greece and Treblinka in Poland
- Train transportation within program in Poland
- International travel medical insurance
- 24/7 support from Faculty Director
- Entrances to Ancient Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Mycenae Archaeological Site, POLIN Museum, Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, and so much more
Your Faculty Director
Dr. Angela K. Salmon is a Fulbright Global Scholar whose research and collaborative work has taken her to Colombia, Greece, and Poland. She is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Florida International University, where her work focuses on thinking and learning, global competencies, storytelling, and innovative approaches to early education. Through research, teaching, and international collaboration, she promotes authentic and meaningful learning experiences that prepare educators and students for a complex and interconnected world.
What's Next