About the Department

According to the Presidential Decree 118/24-4-2003, published in the State Gazette no. 102/5-5-2003, at the Department of Philology we teach and research the following topics in two thematic units (a. Classical Philology, b. Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology): Greek language and literature, Latin language and literature, Modern Greek language and literature, Historical and Theoretical Linguistics, and Philosophical Theories which have had a significant impact on the above.  Moreover, the Department of Philology prepares students for their academic and professional career. The Department of Philology offers postgraduate courses in relevant areas of knowledge, as well as contributing to the study of the impact of the Byzantine tradition on Greek and European civilization, in addition to examining those elements of the Modern Greek Civilization which are currently defining its international character. 

The Department of Philology aims to combine traditional courses with modern approaches which are not being taught in any Greek department of Philology at present.  For instance, some of them include the following: special teaching methods for philological courses, special teaching methods for multicultural education, special teaching methods for children with special needs, and computer-assisted software applications in philological research.

The members of the Department’s teaching staff enjoy international recognition (positive reviews, references, publications in refereed periodicals with a high impact factor, membership in Organizing Committees of international conferences and international boards, top-class papers in international conferences.  The Department, moreover, boasts of the pioneering Research Center of Byzantine Culture, the Technology Lab, in which students learn the application of technology to the humanities, as well as the Papyrology and Palaeography Center.  It should be noted that such topics as Teaching Strategies for children with special needs, Child and Teenage Psychology and Intercultural Education, Introduction to Computer Science and Computer-Assisted Language Teaching are essential in a Department of Philology.  It is remarkable that the Department of Philology at the University of the Peloponnese is the only one in this country that offers the above courses; hence, it is imperative that the Department attracts more teaching and research instructors to provide an integrated curriculum without having to rely on fixed-term instructors.

Resources

There is widespread use of technology in the university campus of Kalamata.  The Department and all peripheral units use state-of-the-art computer hardware and software.  In the University of the Peloponnese there is a Center for the Monitoring and Development of Information Technology (CMDIT), which is responsible for the smooth function of internet connections and video-conference applications, as well as monitoring phone lines, electronic mail, library services, and related information systems, etc. 

The Department aims to promote the use of information technology.  The foundation of the following Centers and Institutes in the context of the Department of Philology is a further proof that it is our first priority to apply modern technology to our teaching:

1. Research Center of the Byzantine Culture (RCBC).   This research center is situated at the Byzantine town of Mystra, Laconia, and was founded in 2007 (Decree 144/2007, State Gazette 198/23-8-2007 vol. A΄). It operates in the context of the University of the Peloponnese, and more specifically in the context of the Department of History, Archaeology and Cultural Studies and the Department of Philology.  This is the first of its kind in Greece. The Research Center of the Byzantine Culture aims (a) to research aspects of Byzantine Archaeology and Art, Byzantine History, Byzantine Philology and Philosophy, as well as the development of Sciences and Law during the Byzantine period, especially in the Laconia region and more widely in the Peloponnese, (b) to promote research at an international level and facilitate affiliations with related centers and institutes in Greece and elsewhere, (c) to offer specialized courses for postgraduate students of the Department of Philology and related Departments in Greece and elsewhere.  Moreover, the center provides top-class facilities to doctoral students wishing to complete a part of their PhD thesis in welcome surroundings (or the entire thesis, for that matter), (d) to study the demotic tradition of the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine period.

2. Technology Lab.  This laboratory aims to facilitate the teaching of modern technology applications to the humanities.  Students using the laboratory have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with important software tools (TLG – Musaios, PHI 5 for Latin texts, PHI 7 for inscriptions and papyri, Perseus Digital Library, electronic bibliographies, electronic lexica), as well as exploring the possibilities of modern pedagogical approaches such as the module on Teaching Strategies for children with special needs. The module on the application of technology to humanities is compulsory.

3. PC Lab.  This laboratory boasts of a central server and 15 personal computers, as well as printers and scanners.  Students have internet access to classics departments in Greece and abroad, electronic libraries, and international databases.

4. Library. The library boasts of a rich collection of books, periodicals and works of reference.  There is also internet access to electronic libraries and international databases.

 

 

Department