Summer: Athens, Greece

Program Dates

• June 22 - 29: Program starts at PCC 
• June 30: Group flight departs U.S. for Greece
• July 1: Group flight arrives in Athens, transfer to accommodations
• July 2: On-site orientation & sightseeing tour 
• July 3: Excursion
• July 6: Classes resume in Athens
• July 29: End of program. Group flight departs Athens for the U.S.

Program Fees

$5,670 (airfare included)

Excludes airline taxes & PCC tuition. Based on a minimum enrollment of 20 students.

Program Fee Includes:

• Roundtrip airfare between Los Angeles (LAX) and Athens (ATH) 
• Roundtrip transfers in Athens between airport and student housing
• Accommodation in shared, self-catering aparthotel units 
• Welcome & farewell meals; additional meals during some activities and excursions
• Athenacard for unlimited travel on the underground, metro & buses in central Athens 
• Pre-departure & on-site orientation program
• Introductory walking tour of the local area
• Athens sightseeing tour
• Guided visits to select Athens cultural sites & museums
• Greek cooking class & market walk 
• Full-day cruise with sightseeing stops at three islands    
• Half-day excursion to Sounion 
• 4-day/3-night excursion to Delphi & Meteora
• On-site faculty, student support staff, and 24-hour emergency contact service
• Medical insurance policy
• Liability insurance

Program fee does not include:

• Mandatory U.S. government and airline-imposed departure taxes, fees and fuel surcharges of $620 (subject to change)
• Meals other than those listed
• Optional trip to Crete ($990)
• Optional Extra Protection Insurance Coverage, including increased medical insurance 
• Optional trip interruption or cancellation insurance 
• Passport and visa fees, if applicable
• PCC course registration fees
• Textbooks
• Personal expenses

Item:	Fee:	Deadline:
Enrollment Deposit	$450.00	Due immediately upon acceptance into program
Remaining Balance of Fees	$5,220.00	May 5, 2026
Airline Taxes (estimate)	$620.00	May 5, 2026
Total	$6,290.00
Optional Components:	Fee:	Deadline:
Trip Interruption or Cancellation Insurance	varies	Within 21 days after deposit is paid
Extra Protection Insurance Coverage	$65.00	May 5, 2026
Optional trip to Crete	$990.00	TBA

All students must submit a $450 deposit upon acceptance into the program and when completing the online enrollment form.

Program fee payments, including the deposit, will be made directly to our partner American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). Program fees will not be collected by the Pasadena City College Study Abroad Office or by program faculty.

Payments may be made by check or credit card. Checks should be payable to “AIFS”. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Please note: A $35 returned check fee will be charged on all checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds.  

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Group Airfare Package

The group airfare package includes round-trip airfare between Los Angeles (LAX) and Athens (ATH) in economy/standard class, and round-trip transfers in Athens between the airport and student housing, on the regularly scheduled program dates. 

AIFS will book flights only on the dates indicated for this program.

Participants wishing to purchase the airfare package (which is included in the program fee, excluding airline taxes) must select this option on the online enrollment form. AIFS cannot arrange airline tickets for students after April 3, 2026. Land-only packages, without airfare, may be offered to students accepted into the program after April 3, 2026.

Tickets are exclusively on scheduled airlines (not charters). They are not endorsable to another carrier. Flights are not necessarily direct or non-stop, they cannot be rerouted, and frequent flyer miles are not applicable. No refunds are available for any unused portion of the ticket. Once airline tickets have been issued to students, they can only be changed directly with the issuing agent - agent and airline-imposed penalties apply. 

A minimum of 10 participants is required for the group airfare package to be offered.

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AIFS Refund Policy

If a participant withdraws on or before Friday, April 3, 2026, they will receive a refund for all fees paid less a $150 processing fee.  

If a participant withdraws after Friday, April 3, 2026, but on or before Tuesday, May 5, 2026, they will receive a refund for all fees paid less the $450 deposit and any non-refundable deposits paid by the student or by AIFS on the student's behalf.

If a participant withdraws after Tuesday, May 5, 2026, they will receive no refund and the total program fee is due.

After the final payment deadline the full program fee is due to AIFS even if an individual has not yet paid and no longer plans to participate in the program.

Non-refundable financial commitments have been made to secure your spot. If a participants withdrawals once the program has begun, there is no refund.

This refund policy applies whether a participant pays AIFS Abroad directly for all, part, or no program fees. 

Course Offerings

Participants must enroll in both program courses for a total of 6 units. If you have already completed one or both of these courses at PCC, email studyabroad@pasadena.edu for further guidance.

Course No.	Course Name	Units
COMM C1000	Introduction to Public Speaking	3
PSYC C1000	Introduction to Psychology	3

* Both courses are CSU/UC transferable
* Honors Program credit for those who qualify

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COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking empowers students to learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking  - an activity with ties to ancient Greece. A substantial part of the course will be student presentations embedded in cultural, historic, and social settings across our host country. The course is sensitive to students with apprehension about speaking. Many students end the course saying it was actually a lot of fun - and also very rewarding and applicable in their lives.

PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology: This course is an introduction to psychology, the science of behavior and mental processes. By the end of this course, you should have a basic understanding of significant theories, concepts, and issues in the field of psychology. We will use our time together in class to discuss aspects of Greek society relative to the other cultures we are participants in. I welcome you to share your personal roles in these discussions. Topics we will cover include early psychology, food culture, the lingering table, conversation and debate, nonverbal behavior, collectivist culture, present-time perspective, philotimia, and extended family homes. 

Program Faculty

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Julie Kiotas, Ph.D, Professor/Chair, Psychology 

Professor Kiotas is a faculty member in the Social Sciences Division and the Chair of the Psychology Department. She has taught at PCC for over 25 years. Her academic interests include culture, status, power, and equity. She is particularly passionate about data-driven decision-making at the community college. 

Dr. Kiotas was born in Greece and has travelled there extensively. She is a big fan of Greek music, culture, and food. She considers Greece to be an ideal location to study psychology and learn about a unique collectivist culture that prides itself in “philotimo,” which loosely defined is the love of honor and duty. She is very excited to share her first home country with students. 

• Email: ajkiotas@pasadena.edu
• Phone: 626-585-7498
• Office: C-411
• Spring 2026 Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:00 am - 9:15 am
  • Please email me for a link or to schedule other meeting times.  

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Liesel Reinhart, Ed.D, Instructor, Mass Communication & TVR

Dr. Liesel Reinhart teaches courses in all facets of communication and media studies. She is a former television development executive and was the coach of eight national championship collegiate speech and debate teams. She wrote and directed several nationally touring theater productions and works with social justice organizations to support youth and the arts. 

Dr. Reinhart has traveled extensively with student groups throughout her teaching career and has seen how travel experiences build confidence in students and also develop better global citizens. 

• Email: lreinhart1@pasadena.edu 
• Phone: 626-585-3286
• Office: CA-107
• Spring 2026 Office Hours: TBA 

Meals & Accommodations

Accommodations are provided in a tourist-class, self-catering aparthotel located within a 30-minute commute of the classroom. Two students will share a one-bedroom unit, which includes two twin beds, linens, towels, free Wi-Fi, and a small kitchenette for meal preparation. An Athenacard will be provided for unlimited travel on the underground, metro, and buses in central Athens. 

If available, students may choose a private studio instead of sharing a unit. Studios may be located in a separate building from the other apartments, a short walking distance away. Private studios are not guaranteed and will only be offered on a space-available basis for an additional supplement of $1,200.

Welcome & farewell celebratory meals will be provided, along with additional meals during some activities and excursions.

Excursions & Activities

Orientation Program

• A series of pre-departure orientations covering topics such as "To Do" action items, banking, cell-phone options, adaptors, what to pack, airport security, customs & immigration, and more.
• On-site orientation upon arrival covering topics such as general acclimation to Athens, safety and security issues, cultural differences, travel, and cultural activities.
• Local area walking tour covering housing and classroom location and local amenities.

Activities

• Half-day sightseeing tour of Athens with a local guide, including a tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.
• Guided tour of the Ancient Agora.
• Visits to a variety of cultural sites and museums in Athens. 
• Greek cooking class, market walk, and a traditional meal. 
• Welcome & farewell meals, and more!

Excursions

• Full-day cruise with sightseeing stops at three islands, onboard entertainment, and lunch.
• Half-day excursion to Sounion with a visit to the Temple of Poseidon.
• Four-day/three-night excursion to Delphi and Meteora, with transportation by private bus and sightseeing stops en route. Accommodations are in multi-bedded hotel rooms, and breakfast is included.

Optional Long Weekend Trip to Crete ($990)

A four-night excursion to Crete by overnight ferry. The trip includes two nights in interior ferry cabins with twin bunk beds and two nights in a Heraklion hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The excursion features a full-day island tour by private bus with a professional guide, including visits to the traditional village of Kritsa, the town of Agios Nikolaos, and a traditional olive oil grove.