Description

Transatlantic Studies is a two-year Master's programme that is fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. The English-language audience can appreciate the Central European perspectives on transatlantic relations. The course can challenge the individual student to consider the political, social, cultural, and economic changes associated with the new global reality. Students will gain an overview of the history and the current state of transatlantic relations. Prague and the Czech Republic provide a perfect example of post-Cold War Europe.

Students will take a number of core courses designed to provide them with a general understanding of the issues involved. However, the generous selection of elective courses should help each individual student gain an area of specialization, which, in turn, will result in a scholarly Master's thesis, which can then be published if it meets the standards of our institute. Opportunities will be provided for students to make brief research trips to research centers in Europe and North America if their thesis topic warrants it. Successful graduates of the programme might like to consider a number of the doctoral programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Highlights

This programme's focus is to provide English-speaking students with deep, interdisciplinary knowledge of transatlantic relations since 1945. After all, the security commitments entered into by the United States after the Second World War represented a turning point in American history because, from its founding in 1776, the United States carefully avoided entering into so-called "entangling alliances." The post-1945 changes also deeply impacted the political and cultural relations of the United States and the rest of the world. Close attention is paid to history, politics, and diplomacy, so that students can understand the changing nature of transatlantic relations during the different phases of the Cold War and afterward. As our faculty have various areas of specialization, the student should gain a balanced, well-rounded appreciation of the complex nature of transatlantic studies. Prague is an excellent place to study the issue because the Czechs underwent a transformation from being a nation subjugated by the Soviet Union during the Cold War to one that is a full member of NATO and the European Union.

The end of the Cold War has resulted in dramatic changes in the form and substance of transatlantic relations. The main organization symbolizing transatlantic relations is NATO. Though NATO has survived as a political and military alliance, its goals have been transformed in line with new challenges and threats to peace and stability in the world. The impact of the end of the Cold War on political, cultural, and economic relations has been substantial. In fact, as many questions have been raised as problems solved. What is the goal of NATO now? Has eastern expansion of the alliance been successful and productive? How have the mutual perceptions of North Americans and Europeans of the other changed?

After completion of the Transatlantic Studies programme, students will have a number of career options open to them. Some might like to pursue a doctorate and an academic career, but others will surely wish to enter employment straight away. Opportunities include diplomacy or civil service in their home country, employment at international organizations, the private sector, and, of course, the growing NGO (non-governmental organization) sector.

Minimum Education

Bachelors

Subject Areas

• History
• International Relations
• Political Science/politics

Cost in US$:

Euro 6,000 per year

Program Fees Include:

The tuition fee for the TS programme in the school year 2012/2013 is Euro 6,000 per year. Although we have no immediate plans to increase our fees in the near future, we reserve the right to do so, should circumstances warrant it. Students will be given advance notice of any changes. There will be no application fee. Please note that the fees will cover only the cost of instruction and examinations, and that students will be responsible for paying their own living expenses (food, lodging, etc.). Charles University does not have any scholarships for students of this programme, nor is it in a position to offer a waiver of school fees for this program. However, if you will be applying for a scholarship elsewhere, we will be happy to support your application.

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Dormitory
• Guest House
• Independent living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Scholarships are Available

Please see our website for more information.

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Letters of Reference
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

One month

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences's Mission Statement

Charles University in Prague (CU) was founded in 1348 by the Holy Emperor Charles IV. It is the oldest and also the largest university in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, it counts among the oldest and largest universities in the world. Originally, it had only four faculties, while today it has 17 faculties in three different cities (14 faculties are located in Prague, two in Hradec Kralove and one in Plzen), three university institutes, six further centres for educational, scientific, research, development and other activities or for provision of information services, five university-wide special facilities. The Faculty of Social Sciences is the second youngest faculty, founded in 1990. The university as a whole has more than 7,500 employees, half of which are academics and research staff. Almost 52,000 students are studying at CU. They are enrolled in more than 300 accredited degree programmes and 660 study disciplines. Over 150 academic programmes are taught in a foreign language, mainly English but also German or French. In 2008, almost 2,000 foreign students were enrolled in one of these programmes. Altogether, more than 18,000 are studying in bachelor's programmes, 25,000 in master's programmes and more than 7,000 in doctoral programmes. In 2008, over 6,500 students were from abroad, and this number is constantly growing. Various courses in lifelong learning programmes organised by CU attract more than 15,000 people each year. The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) was created in 1990 through a fundamental reorganisation of the former Faculty of Journalism. It is the second youngest faculty of Charles University in Prague. The Faculty's mission is the propagation of learning and the protection of knowledge, the cultivation of free thought, independent academic research and original artistic creation and the support, in every way, of the creative spirit of human society. Its main goal is to develop teaching and research in those aspects of the social sciences, which (directly or indirectly) relate to the public administration, or to the economic and cultural life of society. Today the Faculty has more than 3000 full-time students, plus a floating population of about 300 visiting students per year. In addition, we continue to enrol a number of foreign nationals in our full-time degree programmes, both Czech and English.

Year Founded

1348