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 courses | 150 ECTS |
| Elective courses | 30-12 ECTS |
| Optional courses | 0-18 ECTS |
| Total | 180 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 Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Academic Writing | SS | Pass | 6 |
| Introduction to History | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Introduction to Area Studies | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Introduction to Government and Politics | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Language Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Czech Language I | WS | Exam | 4 |
| Czech Language II | SS | Exam | 4 |
| Receptive Language Skills I | WS | Pass | 4 |
| Receptive Language Skills II | SS | Exam | 4 |
| Productive Language Skills I | WS | Exam | 4 |
| Productive Language Skills II | SS | Pass | 4 |
Second year
| Knowledge-oriented Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| World History of the 20th Century | WS | Exam | 6 |
| International Relations since 1918 | WS | Exam | 6 |
| European Integration | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Modern History of Central Europe | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Central European Culture in the 20th Century | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Introduction to International Political Economy | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Language Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Czech Language III | WS | Exam | 4 |
| Czech Language IV | SS | Exam | 4 |
| Academic Czech in Humanities and Social Sciences I | WS | Exam | 4 |
| Academic Czech in Humanities and Social Sciences II | SS | Exam | 4 |
Third year
| Knowledge-oriented course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Current Central Europe | SS | Pass | 6 |
| BA Thesis Seminar I | WS/SS | Pass | 10 |
| BA Thesis Seminar II | WS/SS | Pass | 10 |
| Language Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Czech in Communication | WS | Exam | 4 |
| Academic Communication in Czech | SS | Exam | 4 |
| Lexical-Stylistic Seminar | WS | Pass | 4 |
| Academic Reading in Czech | WS | Pass | 6 |
| Academic Writing in Czech | SS | Pass | 6 |
Elective courses
You can see the most relevant elective courses in the list below. Please find the complete offer here.
| Name of Course | Semester | Examination | Credits |
| Internship | WS/SS | Pass | 3 |
| Introduction to Intellectual History: Approaches and Methods | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Cultural Studies: An Introduction | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Central European and Czech Literature | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Central European and Czech Politics | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Central European and Czech History | WS | Exam | 6 |
| Czech Linguistics | SS | Exam | 6 |
| Prague, the Metropolis of Central Europe | SS | Exam | 6 |
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.