Beginning in the Fall
of 1998, the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies, in
conjunction with the European Studies Program of the Prague Collegium
Hieronymi Pragensis offered students the opportunity to spend a semester
studying in Prague, Czech Republic.
Prague is one of the best
preserved historical cities of Europe. Since the ninth century, when
it became the capital of Bohemia, Prague has passed through several
distinct transformations which have inscribed it with its unique character.
The original Romanesque city core expanded considerably in Gothic style,
especially during the reign of Charles IV, who also established a university
in Prague in 1348. The Counter-Reformation of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries added a thick Baroque layer to the physiognomy of the city.
Finally, around the turn of the century, Prague was made into a modern
European metropolis, adding many Art Nouveau elements. Prague, in the
heart of Central Europe provides students with a unique and continually
evolving viewpoint that draws from both East and West and provides insight
into the forces that are shaping the European continent.
Students participating in
the program take four courses, taught in English, which meet Monday
through Thursday. They are taught by faculty drawn from several of Prague's
major academic institutions, including the Czech Academy of Sciences,
Charles University and Central European University. All courses are
pre-approved for credit.
Subjects offered include
Economics, Folklore, History, Jewish Studies, Religious Studies, Political
Science, Sociology, Czech Literature, and Czech Language. Although Czech
Language is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that students
enroll in this course to facilitate their integration into and understanding
of their surroundings.
An orientation program provides
students with basic Czech survival skills, cultural information and
knowledge of the city. Several field trips throughout the semester expose
students to important historical sites outside Prague. An extended trip
to Krakow, Poland, is also part of the program. While in Prague, students
will live in the dormitories of Charles University, located near Prague
Castle.
Students in good academic
standing with at least two semesters of coursework completed are welcome
to apply for the program. There are no language prerequisites for the
program, however preference will be given to students who have completed
a college course with European content.
