Courses

Courses

To complete the HAS programme, students must earn 180 ECTS credits and pass the Final State Examination. The curriculum comprises compulsory courses (150 ECTS credits in total), elective courses (at least 12 ECTS credits), and optional courses (up to 18 ECTS credits).

Please refer to the complete, more detailed list of courses for this study programme in the Karolinka course catalogue. The Karolinka course list is binding and is usually the most up-to- date version. Pay attention to the prerequisite links between individual semesters and years.

The Final State Examination is composed of the defence of the bachelor’s thesis (in English), a debate on a given topic from the field of modern history (in English), and an oral exam in the Czech language consisting of reading, translating, interpreting, and discussing a selected Czech academic text (this part of the state exam is entirely in Czech).


 

Course Structure

Compulsory courses150 ECTS
Elective courses30-12 ECTS
Optional courses0-18 ECTS
Total180 ECTS

Compulsory courses

The HAS programme curriculum combines education in modern history and area studies with intensive Czech language training. The Czech language courses progress from basic grammar and vocabulary to the upper-intermediate (B2) level, which students reach by the end of their studies. The compulsory courses in modern history and area studies provide a broad overview of major topics in contemporary Central European history, culture, politics, and economics. This equips students with a solid background for more in-depth study of selected topics in elective courses. Bachelor’s thesis seminars prepare students for selecting their thesis topic and provide guidance on writing the thesis.

In total, the compulsory courses account for 150 ECTS credits.


 

First year

Knowledge-oriented CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
Academic WritingSSPass6
Introduction to HistoryWSExam6
Introduction to Area StudiesSSExam6
Introduction to Government and PoliticsSSExam6
Language CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
Czech Language IWSExam4
Czech Language IISSExam4
Receptive Language Skills IWSPass4
Receptive Language Skills IISSExam4
Productive Language Skills IWSExam4
Productive Language Skills IISSPass4

 

Second year

Knowledge-oriented CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
World History of the 20th CenturyWSExam6
International Relations since 1918WSExam6
European IntegrationSSExam6
Modern History of Central EuropeSSExam6
Central European Culture in the 20th CenturySSExam6
Introduction to International Political EconomySSExam6
Language CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
Czech Language IIIWSExam4
Czech Language IVSSExam4
Academic Czech in Humanities and Social Sciences IWSExam4
Academic Czech in Humanities and Social Sciences IISSExam4

 

Third year

Knowledge-oriented courseSemesterExaminationCredits
Current Central EuropeSSPass6
BA Thesis Seminar IWS/SSPass10
BA Thesis Seminar IIWS/SSPass10
Language CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
Czech in CommunicationWSExam4
Academic Communication in CzechSSExam4
Lexical-Stylistic SeminarWSPass4
Academic Reading in CzechWSPass6
Academic Writing in CzechSSPass6

Elective courses

You can see the most relevant elective courses in the list below. Please find the complete offer here.

Name of CourseSemesterExaminationCredits
InternshipWS/SSPass3
Introduction to Intellectual History: Approaches and MethodsWSExam6
Cultural Studies: An IntroductionWSExam6
Central European and Czech LiteratureWSExam6
Central European and Czech PoliticsWSExam6
Central European and Czech HistoryWSExam6
Czech LinguisticsSSExam6
Prague, the Metropolis of Central EuropeSSExam6

Optional Courses

Optional courses can be taken at any faculty or department of Charles University, as they allow students to broaden their horizons beyond their field of study. HAS students may earn a maximum of 18 ECTS credits from optional courses. These credits can also be used for additional elective courses or language classes. There is no minimum credit requirement in this category – in fact, all 180 credits can be earned by completing only the compulsory and elective courses listed in Karolinka.

GENERAL STUDY INFORMATION

For broader information to support your studies, please visit the Study section on the Faculty website. This section provides detailed guidance for enrolling, current, and graduating students. It includes the academic calendar, key study regulations, forms, and manuals for university systems (such as SIS and Moodle). Furthermore, you will find information on career and psychological counselling services, alongside a wide range of other academic and practical resources.