Experiential courses are offered as simulations rather than lectures in the classroom. Students learn through active participation, by doing and from experience, and they explore knowing as a practical and continuous activity.

Independent study courses are offered in the form of an end-of-term assignment or project, supervised by the professor in charge.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Introduction to Modern Greek and Balkan History, 1804-1950

(Dimitrios Livanios, Asst. Prof.)

More details: http://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/140005657

The Balkan region has been traditionally perceived as an area of “ancient hatreds” and indiscriminate violence. This class will offer a broad introduction to the history of Greece and the Balkans in the 19th and 20th centuries and will attempt to deconstruct some misleading views and stereotypes of the area that resist to die a natural death. Within this framework, the class will examine the Ottoman rule in the Balkans, the emergence of the nation-states of Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania, the role of the Great Powers in the region (mainly Russia and Britain) and the role of nationalism as an agent of violence and dislocation. The class will be based on discussion and debate and will seek to use the Balkans as a case study for the analysis of wider issues, such as the centrality of nationalism in modern history, the role of Christianity and Islam in the construction of collective identities, and the “ideological use of history” for the promotion of political and nationalistic projects.

Travel Journalism and Communication

(Dr. Fani Galatsopoulou, Instructor)

More details: http://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/140005664

The course explores Travel as a constituent of the journalistic and communication process of public information, knowledge and engagement and as a civic awareness and social development issue. It focuses on the broadcast and print travel journalism and examines:

• Travel Writing Genres and Types of Travel Articles
• Foreign Language Travel Publications in Greece
• Modes of Public Communication of Travel and Effective Communication Strategies and
• The role of Travel Journalist and Communicator with the new communication tools (Social Media)

This course is ideal for students who would like to acquire knowledge of journalism and communication applied to travel.

Going beyond the standard travel and journalistic writing class, the course combines a robust curriculum with experiential exercises, the praxis of applied workshops, and field visits – work – experiences. During the course participants will be given the opportunity to explore and research Greece’s and Thessaloniki’s culture, history, everyday life and will be asked to communicate their pragmatic knowledge and empirical involvement and engagement by writing travelogues, taking photos, recording real experiences and file their own true stories and testimonials from Thessaloniki.

The language of Propaganda in the Media

(Dr. Despoina Kazana, Instructor)

More details: https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600126189

This course analyses the specific language used for purposes of propaganda throughout the twentieth century, focusing on the use of modern mass communication and technology. The class will be structured around a number of theoretical issues related to propaganda, which help shed light on its emergence. Particular attention will be given to understanding the language of propaganda relying on linguistic discourse analysis; this will involve the detailed study of syntax, focusing on specific grammatical structures, the lexicon and its hidden meanings and the tonal style adopted. Finally, the language of propaganda will be analysed in relation to argumentation and persuasion. Key themes covered throughout the course include:

• The main concept of propaganda and its theoretical background. 
• Discourse analysis of propaganda focusing on the linguistic perspective, identifying the characteristic language used in propaganda.
• Propaganda and its relation to argumentation and persuasion.
• Discussion and analysis of specific case studies.

During lectures, students will be exposed to relevant primary source material.