Area Studies

Area Studies

Master's degree in Czech language

General Information

Tuition and research within the Master's degree programme Area Studies (AS) focus on North America, Europe and Eurasia / post-Soviet space. The programme is based on the concept of field studies as a multidisciplinary field in its nature, focusing on the issues of internal trends and characteristics of these regions from the 19th century up to the present time.

The programme focuses on three cross-cutting topics: history and culture, taking into account the issues of collective memory, trauma and violence; policy and international relations, taking into account the migration processes and relationship issues; society and the economy, taking into account the transformation processes in the 20th century.

The programme is divided into five specializations: Balkan, Eurasian and Central European studies (focusing on either Central Europe and the Balkans or Russia and the post-Soviet space), European Studies (focusing on the process of European integration and the European Union), German and Austrian Studies, North American Studies and Western European Studies.

The programme outline is based on a lecture block of common compulsory courses, their topics are practiced and discussed in the area-based seminars; a block of compulsory specialized courses which provide basic knowledge and orientation in the given territory; and finally a wide range of compulsory elective courses in which students can choose courses according to their specialization and beyond, the topic of diploma thesis or out of pure interest. Students also have the right to enroll in any of the courses of up to 12 ECTS points from the Charles University offer.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

The admission procedure is one-sided and includes a professional test in Czech, a written essay in a foreign language of the first choice and a language test, based on reading and understanding texts in a foreign language of the second choice; the language composition is determined by the language skills of the particular specialization.

The Doors Open Day takes place once a year in January, see more details on the website

For questions of all kinds, please always contact the authorized persons, the Academic Supervisor doc. PhDr. Luboš Švec and Programme Coordinator doc. PhDr. Jiří Vykoukal, CSc.

 

COMPETITIVENESS OF AREA STUDY PROGRAMME GRADUATES

Graduates of the Master´s degree programme Area Studies are endowed with a high-quality, internationally comparable multidisciplinary training. They are able to produce texts of a high professional and formal quality and they are be able to deliver qualified comments on the developments of states and societies of the studied regions. They are characterized by superior linguistic knowledge brought to perfection during the study abroad stays at leading foreign universities. Through practical internships, graduates of this study programme develop basic work habits for later employment already during their studies. As a result, they become highly demanded candidates and highly rated employees in state administration, diplomacy, non-governmental organizations and international institutions, in research and development, the private sphere and the media.

WHY STUDY THE AREA STUDY PROGRAMME?

1. Study in foreign languages

A large part of the courses are fully taught in foreign languages, dominated by English, followed by German, French and Russian. Students have the opportunity to bring their language skills nearly to perfection. Since the studies combine both written and spoken language and reading specialized texts, programme graduates acquire very strong language skills according to the regional focus of their specialization, always with a very good knowledge of English.

2. Studying abroad

Almost all students will at least once during their studies (unless they have done so during a Bachelor's degree) go out to gain experience at foreign universities through standard study abroad stays or internships. The most popular are the study abroad stays in and outside the ERASMUS scheme, but other stays are also available in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Russia and the whole post-Soviet space, East Asia or Australia and New Zealand. The Faculty, or more precisely the University contributes in many cases in the form of a full range of scholarships to help students bear the costs. You can see the list of relevant universities at https://fsv.cuni.cz/studium/studium-v-zahranici.

3. Lecturers

Generationally balanced and progressive staff of IMS FSV UK is one of the cornerstones of  pleasant studies. They are always willing to help students to solve all problems. Thanks to the two-sided, proper and friendly approach, students are not only acquiring new knowledge and skills but also a good sense of work in a pleasant environment.

4. Friendly environment and social activities

The institute maintains very friendly family relationships which are regularly strengthened by a wide variety of student's parties and out-of-school activities such as river excursions, weekend sightseeing tours around the Czech Republic and by trips and excursions abroad. The Student Union SIMS, which is the official partner of the Institute's management, also plays an indispensable role in this respect.

5. New skills and knowledge

As a graduate of the Master's degree programme, you will leave the IMS FSV UK endowed not only with a whole range of new knowledge, a general overview and a focused knowledge of the region you choose within your specialization, but also with extensive analytical skills, critical thinking and presentation skills, which will be of very good use in the future employment. Moreover, you also obtain considerable cultural and social capital in the form of new friends and work contacts, teamwork skills and generally very good work habits which you will utilize in the highly qualified jobs which are typical for our graduates.

WHAT WILL I DO AFTER MY STUDIES?

The job offer is quite broad and includes work in the state administration, NGOs, public and private media, and the private sector wherever the need for specialized and linguistically qualified experts on the relevant area comes into play. Some graduates of the Master´s degree programme remain at the university and continue their PhD studies completing them with a PhD degree or they decide to pursue their academic career at home or abroad.

Compulsory courses common to all specializations

In Czech language only:

Kód

Název předmětu

Garant předmětu

Semestr

Rozsah výuky

Kontrola studia

Kredity

JTM001

 Metodologický seminář

 Šír  Matějka  Kýrová

ZS

0/2

Z

6

JTM002

 Diplomový seminář I

 Švec  Šlosarčík  Kýrová

LS

0/2

Z

8

JTM003

 Diplomový seminář II

 Švec  Šlosarčík  Kýrová

ZS/LS

0/2

Z

8

JTM004

 Diplomový seminář III

 Švec  Šlosarčík  Kýrová

ZS/LS

0/2

Z

8

JTM005

 Historie a kultura

 Vykoukal

ZS

1/1

Zk

6

JTM006

 Politika a mezinárodní vztahy

 Kubát  Weiss

ZS

1/1

Zk

6

JTM007

 Společnost a ekonomika

 Fiřtová

LS

1/1

Zk

6

J#0520

 skupina "Teritoriální studia_NP_Jazyk I"

         

For more information and compulsory subjects of individual specializations, see: https://karolinka.fsv.cuni.cz/KFSV-1095.html