An EPIC WEEK with Homer on UChicago’s Storied Hyde Park Campus
Take a journey of intellectual and life enrichment by immersing yourself in the timeless texts of Homer.
Join UChicago faculty and fellow lifelong learners by delving into the works of Homer, the legendary poet of antiquity, and meaningfully engage with the fundamental questions of human existence. This is your opportunity to spend a week immersed in the vibrant intellectual atmosphere of the University of Chicago and embark on a transformative voyage of discovery.
This seminar will offer you the unique opportunity to navigate the depths of Homer’s Odyssey while engaging in respectful, Socratic dialogue. You will explore this seminal work, regarded as canonical and foundational through the ages. You will also visit the University’s Regenstein library to see its world-renowned Homer collection.
This seminar will provide an immersive experience that extends far beyond the confines of traditional classroom learning. As you explore some of the vast array of responses to and transformations of Homer’s strange and wondrous tales in painting, cinema, and other arts, you will forge connections with fellow classmates and build a community bound by a shared passion for exploration and inquiry. Together, we will unravel the mysteries of Homer’s epics, embarking on a journey that transcends time to uncover the enduring relevance of these texts in today’s world.
I think studying the liberal arts and studying the classics is a window to new ways of seeing the world, new ways of interacting with each other, new ways of turning inward with ourselves.
Jennifer Lind, Graham School Council Member
Experience UChicago’s Unparalleled Classroom
When you attend this residential seminar, you’ll enjoy the historic buildings, intellectual atmosphere, and cultural richness of UChicago’s beautiful campus firsthand. You’ll have ample opportunities to build meaningful relationships, beginning when you meet with your peers for an opening reception dinner, as well as explore the diverse and historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Most importantly, you’ll have illuminating conversations and discover valuable insights in an immersive one-week course.
Each day, there will be both morning and afternoon class sessions. These classes follow the same Socratic seminar format, emphasizing open, respectful dialogue in response to assigned texts.
Co-curricular Experiences
Alongside the core seminar, you will enjoy:
- A visit to the Regenstein library to see its unparalleled Homer collection.
- Lunches with eminent scholars from other disciplines of the University, ranging from social scientists to natural scientists.
- A guided tour of the University.
- Opening and closing dinners.
- Exploration of the diverse and historic Hyde Park neighborhood around the University.
Faculty member
David Wray is an associate professor in the Department of Classics, the Department of Comparative Literature, and the College at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Catullus and the Poetics of Roman Manhood (Cambridge 2001), a coeditor of Seneca and the Self (Cambridge 2009), and is currently writing Ovid at the Tragic Core of Modernity. His research and teaching interests include Hellenistic and Roman poetry (especially Apollonius Rhodius, Catullus, Lucretius, Virgil, Tibullus, Ovid, Seneca, Lucan, and Statius); Greek epic and tragedy; Roman philosophy; ancient and modern relations between literature and philosophy; gender; theory and practice of literary translation; and the reception of Greco-Roman thought and literature, from Shakespeare and Corneille to Pound and Zukofsky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are scholarships available for those interested in the seminar?
We are committed to reducing financial barriers for those looking to explore these conversations with us. Scholarships are available, please contact us to request financial assistance.
What is the cost of the seminar?
We offer the Residential Seminar as a non-credit course for $2,495. Scholarships are available for those who need financial support. We have also arranged a discounted rate for learners who desire to reside on campus at the Study Hotel.
Registration for the program requires a deposit of $500. Balances will be due by August 15, 2026.
Can this seminar be taken for credit?
Students in UChicago’s Master of Liberal Arts may complete this seminar as a for-credit course (with assignments and grades). Reach out to Tim Murphy, MLA Program Director, at timmurphy@uchicago.edu to learn more.
Is this seminar offered online, or in-person?
This is a weeklong, immersive, in-person-only experience that takes place on UChicago’s Hyde Park campus in Chicago.
Are accommodations available?
Learners wishing to stay in Hyde Park are encouraged to consider The Study at the University of Chicago which is adjacent to campus. A discount code for reservations at the Study will be provided to learners after registration to the seminar.
Do I need to submit an application?
The Residential Seminar is open to lifelong learners seeking a rigorous learning experience, including Graham School students, UChicago alumni, and friends of the University.
When does the seminar start?
The seminar will begin with an opening dinner gathering on the evening on Sunday, September 13, and continue through midday on Friday, September 18.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
A $500 per person, nonrefundable deposit is required upon registration to hold your spot. The balance of the fee is due no later than August 15, 2026. All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing and will be subject to the loss of the deposit. No refunds will be given for cancellations received after August 22, 2026. In the event of the cancellation of the program by the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, a full refund of tuition will be given.
The University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies have no responsibility in whole or in part for any loss, death, damage, or injury to person or property or accident, mechanical defect, failure or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodation, transportation, or other services. The right is retained to decline to accept or retain any person as a Seminar member should such person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity, or attitude jeopardize the operation of the Seminar or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants.
About the University of Chicago
For more than 125 years, the University of Chicago has forged its own path. This has led to new schools of thought and a transformative education for students, and laid the groundwork for breakthroughs across the sciences, medicine, economics, law, business, history, culture, the arts, and humanistic inquiry.
We shape and define fields
UChicago scholars are driven by intellectual debate and a search for new evidence.
We believe freedom of expression is fundamental
Free and open discourse is the foundation of a transformative education and world-changing research.
We tackle the world’s most pressing issues
Through research, discovery, and community partnerships, UChicago scholars and students are tackling complex problems—from solving crime at scale to combating climate change.
About the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies
The Graham School brings the best of what the University of Chicago offers together in one place for accomplished professionals and ambitious lifelong learners. We offer a seamless learning experience that combines flexibility with rigor. The programs and courses engage learners from all walks of life and from all around the world in UChicago’s distinctive educational experience.