Learning Abroad Center
colorful buildings on a Greek island in front of the sea

Greek Agriculture & Gastronomy: A Taste of the Mediterranean

Europe
Waitlist

Gain firsthand experience with Greek food industry, agricultural traditions, and their impacts and benefits on Greek life and culture.

This program is administered by the College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences' Office of International Programs. Applications are processed by the Learning Abroad Center.

Program Details

Location
Location
Thessaloniki, Multiple Locations, Greece
Term
Term
May Session (Spring semester on campus)
Housing
Housing
Dormitory
Hotel
Languages Taught In
Languages Taught In
English
Sponsor
Sponsor
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences

Program Eligibility

Student Type
Student Type
UofM Students
Non UofM Students
Student Year
Student Year
Freshmen
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
GPA
2.5

About

Embark on a hands-on educational odyssey beginning at the Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment, and Life Sciences. Located in Thessaloniki, a city founded nearly 2,500 years ago on the shores of the Aegean Sea, its location offers a combination of the best of modern Greece, its agriculture ties, and rich ancient history. 

Diet comes from the ancient Greek word, “diaita”, which means “a way of living.” While in Greece, you will not only get to enjoy the fresh ingredients of the Mediterranean diet but also learn how it is a strategy for the prevention of disease and overall well-being. Through visits to industry sites including vineyards and an agricultural cooperative, as well as interactive lectures on topics from olive oil, to European dairy regulations and cheese production, to how Perrotis College was the first to introduce precision agriculture to the Greek economy, you will gain firsthand experience with the Greek food industry and agricultural traditions and their impacts and benefits on Greek life and culture.

Excursions will allow you to learn more about Greek culture and tradition and will expand on the program coursework. Excursions will take place in Thessaloniki, Athens, Meteora, and coastal Halkidiki. Excursions in the Thessaloniki area will include industry visits, city tours, a Greek cooking class, a Greek dance lesson, and visits to local cultural and archaeological sites, including a monastery.

For more information, view the sample program itinerary. Activities are subject to change.

Learn more about this program at our upcoming information sessions:

Wednesday, October 4–1:00 p.m.Zoom
Monday, October 16–11:00 a.m.Zoom
Monday, October 30–3:00 p.m.125 Coffey Hall

Program Model

Embedded
Experiential Learning
Instructor-Led

Housing & Meals

You will stay at hotels and dorms on this program. Some meals will be provided; details will be provided in the cost of participation.

Application Deadline

Due to the high level of interest, this CFANS program is currently full and not accepting applications. The waitlist will be used to fill spots as they open. This will be based on when you complete your application for review and are admitted. You will be notified of your waitlist placement and if any status changes via email.

Program Dates

Depart from Minneapolis-Saint Paul: May 10, 2024 
Arrive in Greece: May 11, 2024 
Depart from Greece: May 27, 2024

These dates are tentative.

Academics

You will earn 3 credits for CFAN 3523. In this course, you will:

  • have the opportunity to examine Greek agriculture, food, and culture;
  • have hands-on experiences learning about the impact that Greek cuisine has on the rural development of the country, and how Greeks work to conserve many of their cultural traditions.

This course fulfills the Global Perspectives liberal education requirement, as well as completes part of the elective requirement for the Nutrition major in the Nutrition Studies track.

This is an embedded course with on-campus class time during the Spring semester; you will travel abroad during the May term. You must register for this course and complete the study abroad application. Registration costs/financial aid are tied to the Spring semester.

Program Leader

Tommy Van Norman is the CFANS Land-Grant Legacy Scholars Program Coordinator. He conducted a site visit to the Perrotis College of Agriculture Environment and Life Sciences in July 2018 and is excited about the opportunities students will have through hands-on learning and cultural excursions while in Greece. He has previously led programs abroad to Spain and Morocco focused on global leadership. Feel free to contact Tommy with any questions at [email protected].

Excursions

Excursions will allow students to learn more about Greek culture and tradition, and will expand on the program coursework. Excursions will take place in Thessaloniki and throughout Greece. Excursions may include: industry visits, city tours, a Greek cooking class, a Greek dance lesson, and visits to local cultural and archaeological sites, including a monastery.

More Information

Contact Shelly Fisher from the CFANS Office of International Programs with your questions.

Nicholas Seitzer participated in the 2022 program. He is happy to speak to students who are interested in hearing about the program from a student perspective.

Program Fee

May 2024 Cost of Participation

Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. The program fee generally includes tuition, group flight airfare, airport transfers, in-country program-related transportation, housing, some meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, and international health insurance. Generally, the program fee ranges from $6,500–$7,500. You must also budget for passport and passport photos, some meals, textbooks, independent travel, and miscellaneous living expenses.

If a student is required to isolate during the program dates, due to Covid-19, there may be an additional cost for the isolation period. Additional housing costs might also be covered by the onsite partner's insurance plan. In some cases, with agreement by students and prior approval from the university, roommates, apartment-mates or students who are in close contact with each other and who both test positive, may share a room in quarantine housing, in accordance with local regulations. This information is subject to change and will be updated accordingly.

If you are registered for less than 13 credits, or if you are a non-UofM student or a UofM graduate student, you will be charged tuition for this course in addition to the program fee. Notify the Learning Abroad Center if this applies to you.

Billing & Payments

The application fee, deposit, and program fee are charged to the student's UofM account.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences offers grants for study abroad programs. Students can also learn about financial aid and scholarships through the Learning Abroad Center.

Cancellation Policy

All applicants are charged a $50 non-refundable application fee by the Learning Abroad Center. Students who confirm their participation in the program will have charged to their student account a $775 non-refundable deposit. Confirmed students who cancel their application before February 15, 2024 are responsible for the non-refundable deposit. Confirmed students who cancel their application on February 15, 2024 or later are responsible for the non-refundable deposit and any non-recoverable fees.

In the event that the CFANS Office of International Programs (OIP) is forced to cancel this entire program, meaning both the on-campus portion and abroad portion, accepted and confirmed students will receive a full refund of their application fee and deposit. In the event that students have started the on-campus portion of the program, but international conditions do not allow students to travel, as per University of Minnesota policy, students will be provided with the ability to complete the course and recoverable fees will be returned to students.

Students have the option to appeal the CFANS OIP cancellation policy when canceling from a program for extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Learning Abroad Center's refund appeal process for details and the form to submit. The review and decision will be made by CFANS OIP, not the LAC refund appeal committee.

In the near future COVID vaccine requirements may be instituted by specific countries and/or airlines without advance notice. Vaccination gives you the best chance for participation in a program and will keep open the most travel options.

The inability to participate in a program because of local, national, or airline restrictions if you are not vaccinated but are eligible to be vaccinated will not be considered a valid reason for a refund.

May 2024

Greek Agriculture & Gastronomy: A Taste of the Mediterranean

May Session 2024 (Spring on campus course)

Program Fee

  • UofM students pay program fee instead of on-campus tuition & fees while abroad
  • Billed through UofM account
Non-refundable deposit $775
Tuition and educational costs $3,009
International health insurance $36
Housing and/or meals $1,011
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) $2,475
Total Program Fee $7,306
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable $0
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable $7,306

Estimated Additional Expenses

  • Financial aid-eligible but not included in program fee
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad.
Transportation to and from program site $0
Passport/photos $150
Visa/required documents $8
Travel clinic/immunizations* $0
Housing deposit $0
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure $158
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country
Texts/materials $0
Housing and/or meals not included in program fee373 $0
Essential daily living expenses $169
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country $169

Total Estimated Cost of Participation

  • UofM students—compare this to your estimated on campus cost of attendance
Total Estimated Cost of Participation $7,633
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation $500
Additional Notes & Information
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage.

Prepare

Complete pre-application advising.

Current US passport processing times are longer than normal. If you do not have a passport, or your passport expires less than 6 months after your return date from your time abroad, apply for a new passport now.

Apply

This program is full and no longer accepting applications. Students looking for a similar experience should consider the following programs:

Climate Resilience in Agriculture: Exploring Diverse Regions and Empowering Youth in Morocco

From Farm to Fork: Terroir, Food Systems, & Value Chains of France

Complete

When you submit your online application, you will be assigned an application checklist that includes:

  • First Step session

Additional Required Application Materials

Due to the high level of interest in this program, this CFANS program is currently full and not accepting applications. The waitlist will be used to fill spots as they open. This will be based on when you complete your application for review and are admitted. You will be notified of your waitlist placement and if any status changes via email.

Next Steps

  1. After you complete all required application checklist items, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application is ready to be reviewed.
  2. Your completed application will be reviewed by the program leader in the sponsoring college/department.
  3. If admitted, the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form will be added to your checklist. Complete this form to secure your spot on the program. By submitting the form, you also give your approval for the program deposit to be billed to your UofM student account.
  4. Complete the confirmation checklist, which include the following items in additional to program-specific forms:
    • Passport Information
    • Emergency Contacts
    • Health Information Form
    • Online Health & Safety Orientation
    • Release & Waiver
  5. You will receive information about additional steps from the sponsoring college/department.