Courses
Courses
In order to accomplish BECES, students must obtain 120 ECTS credits and pass a state exam. The curriculum is composed of seven compulsory courses (60 ECTS credits in total), compulsory courses for the specialization (24 ECTS), languages (12 ECTS), elective courses (at least 12 ECTS credits in total), and optional courses (maximum 12 ECTS credits).
A state exam comprises defence of the master’s thesis and academic debate on a selected topic (beyond the thesis focus) with respect to Central Europe and the Balkans (for Balkan and Central European Studies) or with respect to Russia and the post-Soviet Area (for Russian and Eurasian Studies).
Course structure
|
Compulsory courses (common) |
60 ECTS |
|
Compulsory courses for Balkan and Central European Studies |
24 ECTS |
|
Compulsory courses for Russian and Eurasian Studies |
24 ECTS |
|
Foreign Language |
12 ECTS |
|
Electives (from a list) |
12 ECTS |
|
Optional (out of a list) |
12 ECTS |
|
Total |
120 ECTS |
Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses (common)
Compulsory core courses introduce the students to the quantitative and qualitative methods in social sciences as well as to academic writing. The core courses are intended to provide the students with the analytical skills, thus, to give a solid ground for further studies of specialized elective courses.
In total, the core courses give 60 ECTS credits.
|
Name of Course |
Semester |
Examination |
Credits |
|
Academic Writing |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Qualitative Methods in Social Sciences |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Area Studies: Theory and Methodology |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Comparative and Conceptual History |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
M.A. Thesis Seminar for BECES I |
WS/SS |
Pass |
15 |
|
M.A. Thesis Seminar for BECES II |
WS/SS |
Pass |
15 |
Compulsory courses for Balkan and Central European Studies
|
Name of Course |
Semester |
Examination |
Credits |
|
Introduction to the History, Politics and Society of East-Central and South-Eastern Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Political Systems of East-Central European Countries |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Concepts and Interpretations of East-Central European History |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Concepts and Interpretations of Balkan History |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
Compulsory courses Russian and Eurasian Studies
|
Name of Course |
Semester |
Examination |
Credits |
|
Introduction to the History, Politics and Society of Russia and Eastern Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Concepts and Interpretations of Russian History |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Nationalism and Historiography in Central Eurasia |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Problems of the Post-Soviet Space |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
Languages
Language courses constitute an integral part of BECES. Students are expected to master a language that will allow them to analyse and understand the development of their region of interest at a basic level at least. Students may choose from a range of language courses offered at Charles University. Alternatively, students may find a course externally if the language is not available at the university. The choice of the course is, however, subject to the approval of the programme director.
In total, the language courses must give at least 12 ECTS credits.
|
Name of Course |
Semester |
Examination |
Credits |
|
Czech as a Foreign Language I |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Czech as a Foreign Language II |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Czech as a Foreign Language III |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Czech as a Foreign Language IV |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russian Language I |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russian Language II |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russian Language III |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russian Language IV |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Polish I |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Polish II |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Polish III |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Polish IV |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Greek Language I |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Greek Language II |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Greek Language III |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Greek Language IV |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Foreign Language I* |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Foreign Language II* |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Foreign Language III* |
WS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Foreign Language IV* |
SS |
Pass |
3 |
* Students who find the language course externally must discuss the choice with the programme director. The programme director will then specify the course completion requirements.
Electives
Elective courses cover a wide range of specific areas which allows the students to specialize in the field of their interest.
In total, the elective courses must give at least 12 ECTS credits.
|
Name of Course |
Semester |
Examination |
Credits |
|
Russian and Post-Soviet Security |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Economic transformation in East-Central and South-Eastern Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Cold War in Documents (1945-1962) |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Cold War in Documents (1963-1991) |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Splendor and Misery of Détente |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Economic Transformations in the Post-Soviet Area |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Cohesion Policy of the EU in Central and East European Countries |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Internship for BECES |
WS/SS |
Pass |
3 |
|
Images and Stereotypes of the Balkans |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Central European Cinema |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Cultural Legacies and Developments in the Balkans: Modern and Traditional Entanglements |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Economy and Politics in 20th Century Eastern Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russian-Turkish Rivalry over the Balkan and Caucasus Areas |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Ethnic Conflicts in Central and Eastern Europe |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Ethno-Political Conflicts in the Caucasus |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Ethnic Issues and Territories in Easter, East Central and Southeastern Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Israel: Politics and Society |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Small States in the EU |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Cultural History of Communist Europe |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Legal Framework of the European Union |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Central Europe: Ideologies and Politics (1700’-present) |
WS/SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Theorizing Memory: Social and Cultural Remembering |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
History and Present in South-east European Cinema |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
The Foreign Policy of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia towards Israel |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Central European Academy – European and National Revolutions (1989-2019) |
SS |
Course credit |
4 |
|
U.S.-Czechoslovak Economic and Cultural Relations in the Cold War |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Oil and Gas in the Post-Soviet Area |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Post-Soviet Central Eurasia |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russia after 1991 |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Russia's Aggression against Ukraine: Implications for European Security |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Ukraine after 1991 |
SS |
Pass |
6 |
|
Who Controls the Past, Controls the Future? |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Social Exclusion and the Roma in Central Europe |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Doing Business in Central Europe |
SS |
Exam |
6 |
|
Putin´s Russia |
WS |
Exam |
6 |
Optional Courses
Off-field optional courses can be taken at any department of Charles University. Students may take a maximum of 12 ECTS credits of optional course. These credits can also be used to follow elective courses or languages. There is no minimum number of credits to be taken in this category of course (that is, all 120 credits can be gained by taking only compulsory and elective courses from the list above).
