Faculty of Arts and Philosophy East and Central European Studies Program (ECES)
The ECES program at Charles University offers courses in English designed for international university students. Courses are taught by University faculty. Students have access to libraries, cafeterias and other facilities and activities of the University. The classrooms, offices, libraries and cafeterias are located in the historical center of Prague.
Grades: No AIFS Student is permitted to take a course without receiving a letter grade. Pass/Fail grade options are not available.
Transcripts are issued by Charles University.
Course descriptions
The University recommends students take one or two courses (3 or 6 credits). Instruction is in English. A minimum enrollment of 10 students is required for each course offered. The first course number is the American system. The second number is the ECES code. Classes are held five days per week for four weeks (totaling 20 class days). Each class meets for two academic hours (45 minutes per academic hour) per day. Instruction, excursions and written work total 45 academic hours for each course, equivalent to 3 semester credits per course.
| Summer study abroad courses | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Art History 301/ECES 8 (3) |
| Course Title: | Czech Art and Architecture |
| Course Description: | |
| Survey of artistic and architectural periods, styles and trends. Focus on fine arts and architecture in Prague and Bohemia against the background of European influences. Students visit museums, art galleries and architectural sites with the professor. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Czech 101/ECES 2 (3) |
| Course Title: | Czech Language for Everyday Use |
| Course Description: | |
| Focuses on the acquisition of basic communication skills in the Czech language, both written and spoken. Introduction to the system of nouns, verbs and syntax in Czech. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Film Studies 305/ECES 3 (3) |
| Course Title: | Czech Film: One Hundred Years of Czech Cinema |
| Course Description: | |
| The main tendencies in the development of Czech national cinematography from its origins to the present. International influences, original Czech styles and art and politics in film. Films are shown throughout the course. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | History 308/ECES 4 (3) |
| Course Title: | Modern Czech History |
| Course Description: | |
| History of Czech lands from the primeval era to the present, including the medieval Czech State, Habsburg Monarchy, Czechoslovakia, and the Czech Republic. History of the peoples on the Czech territory, including ancient cultures, Celts, Germanic tribes, Slavonic tribes, Czechs, Germans, Jews, Slovaks and minorities. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Political Science 311/ECES 11 (3) |
| Course Title: | Contemporary Czech Politics |
| Course Description: | |
| Main turning points of the former Czechoslovak and Czech political history on the one hand, and similarities and differences of such developments across Central Europe on the other, in an attempt to understand both Czech and Central European developments since 1989. | |