The American College of Greece
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The program aims to develop students’ understanding of the root causes and multiple dimensions of environmental problems (ecological, social, economic and political) as well as options for effectively addressing these problems in an increasingly complex world.
The program provides students with the theoretical knowledge and skills to:
enter the professional world and pursue careers related to environmental issues
become environmentally informed and socially responsible citizens, and
undertake graduate studies in environmental fields.
What You Will Study: An Interdisciplinary Program
The program combines knowledge from different disciplines to provide students with a better understanding of the complex nature of environmental problems, examining not only their ecological, but also their social, economic and political dimensions. Courses in environmental science, general biology, ecology, chemistry and geology provide students with an understanding of the structure and functioning of natural systems and of their role in supporting life and human activities. Students also examine the relationship between the environment, society, human health, the economy and use of energy, and acquire knowledge of environmental policy issues and principles of environmental management that are essential components of problem solving. Students develop the cognitive and practical skills needed to perform research in different environmental studies fields and to provide solutions to specific environmental problems. In their senior year, they have the opportunity to select five optional courses on more specialized topics in the areas of water resource management, atmospheric science and pollution, biodiversity and conservation, sustainable food production, waste management, E.U. policy and legislation, environmental management systems, sustainable cities, and sustainable tourism management.

The curriculum will include the required pre-med courses such as Biology, Ethics, Organic and Biological Chemistry, Physics, Statistics and Calculus. In addition, there will be offerings in: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Human Genetics, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunity, as well as Select Topics in Pathophysiology, Research Methods, Environmental Burden in Neurodevelopment, Pharmacology in Health and Disease, and Healthcare Policy and Governance. Another unique aspect of the curriculum is the opportunity for an internship in hospitals, healthcare industry or in pharmaceutical companies. The culmination of the program is a capstone (thesis) project in which you will conduct independent research that may lead to a scientific publication.
The aims of the BMS program are to:
• Provide a firm knowledge basis and understanding of biomedical and health sciences by integrating knowledge not only from general modules in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, but also from advanced modules in molecular and cellular biology, human anatomy and physiology, infectious diseases and immunity, pathophysiology and pharmacology.
• Enable students to realize the relationship between health and disease, between environmental burden on gene expression and human development, as well as the interrelationships of body and brain.
• Identify the relationships among incidence, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as promote the maintenance and improvement of health in different populations and in a sustainable way.
• Enable students to integrate theories and methodologies from different fields in the quest for a holistic and interdisciplinary understanding of biomedical and health sciences; and to explore health and disease from a problem- and evidence-based perspective.
• Enable students to gain a foundation on research methods in biomedical and health sciences ranging from the study of gene expression to the cell, tissue and organ system functions.
• Enable students to obtain the necessary skills for practical work in a variety of laboratory settings in the biomedical and health sciences.
• Provide a student-centered learning environment that promotes the academic and personal development of the students and helps them become independent learners.
• Develop students’ cognitive, practical and transferable skills necessary for postgraduate study and future careers in the biomedical and health science fields.
Students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
• core concepts, principles, theories, tools and practice in biology, chemistry and physics that provide an essential foundation of knowledge in the biomedical and health sciences field.
• human physiology, as well as human genetic, metabolic and developmental processes, brain function, and the impact of environmental exposures on living functions and human health.
• appropriate methods for acquiring, analyzing and interpreting scientific data and information, as well as of the role and limitations of science.
• basic tools in mathematics, as well as of quantitative and qualitative techniques and data processing methods including use of various ICT tools to acquire, analyze and interpret information related to biomedical and health sciences.
• Specializations within the biomedical sciences (such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, health management and policy, health communication).
Cognitive Skills
Students should be able to:
• Use and correctly apply knowledge and understanding of biomedical concepts, principles and theories to problem solving.
• Explain moral and ethical issues of investigations and the need for professional codes of conduct.
• Use and analyze data and information concerning biomedical and health issues and critically evaluate their reliability, validity and significance.
• Synthesize and integrate several lines of subject-specific evidence towards a given purpose
It collaborates with the Institute of Public Health and the Center of Excellence for Sustainability (Office of Public Affairs), as well as the ACG Health and Wellness Center (Student Affairs Office).
It exposes students to state-of-the art facilities and a unique campus environment.

The Environmental Studies program is interdisciplinary by design; it includes and works for the integration of the 3 main pillars of sustainability, environmental – social – economic, in the program as a whole but also in most of its courses. Sustainability is explicitly included in the learning outcomes of the ES program.

The interdisciplinary environmental management minor prepares students to apply the principles of environmental science combined with a management perspective to address current environmental and sustainability issues.

Students that attend the Sustainable Economics and Finance Minor take the following courses:
Principles of Microeconomics
Environmental and Resource Economics
Economic Development and Sustainability
Social Economy and Entrepreneurship
Sustainable Finance and Investing
Corporate Governance and Accountability