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 Languages

12 ECTS

Electives (from a list)

Min. 12 ECTS

Optional (out of a list)

Max. 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

Introduction to Research Design

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

Exam

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

Exam

3

Greek Language IV

SS

Exam

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.

You can see only a small sample of elective courses below. Please find the complete offer of more than 80 electives for this study programme here.

 

Name of Course

Semester

Examination

Credits

Postcommunist transition in East Central Europe

SS

Exam

6

Economic Transformations in the post-Soviet Area

SS

Exam

6
Oil and Gas in the Post Soviet Area SS Exam 6

Ethnic Issues and Territories in Eastern, East Central and Southeastern Europe

WS

Exam

6

Human Rights in post-Soviet Space

WS

Exam

6

Society and Culture in Central Eurasia

SS

Exam

6

Theorizing Memory: Social and Cultural Remembering

SS

Exam

6

Russia after 1991

WS

Exam

6

Russia's Aggression against Ukraine: Implications for European Security

SS

Exam

6
Post-Soviet Ukraine: from an "Unexpected Nation" to the Unwarranted War SS Exam 6
Migrations in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st Centuries WS Exam 6
Russian-Turkish Rivalry over the Balkan and Caucasus Areas SS Exam 6
Czech Republic in the European Union - actors and interests SS Exam 6
The Foreign Policy of Central European Countries Towards Israel SS Exam 6
Transnational Politics, Complicity, and Victims of the Holocaust WS Exam 6
Internship for BECES WS/SS Pass 3

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).