Czech Republic: Post-Communist Transition and the Arts

Coursework

Prerequisites:
None. Previous survey courses in Western civilization or European history, art history, and/or comparative literature recommended.

The interdisciplinary coursework for the Czech Republic: Post-Communist Transition and the Arts program focuses on the complex cultural history of the Czech lands and the lasting impact of communism on Czech society. Students participate in intensive language instruction and field-based activities that offer unique insight into 20th-century Czech society and culture and the challenges facing the long-celebrated Czech tradition in the visual and performing arts, film, and photography. During the final month of the semester, students leverage their field study experience and research skills to complete Independent Study Projects (ISPs) that critically examine a topic related to the program theme.

The following course descriptions may be helpful in assessing credit transfer. Learn more about credit transfer.

Post-Communist Transition and the Arts Seminar - syllabus
(EURO 3000 / 6 credits / 90 class hours)
An interdisciplinary course conducted in English examining contemporary arts in the Czech Republic as well as the role art played as an agent of social change throughout the country’s twentieth-century history. The course includes required readings and lectures, as well as discussions, film screenings, music and dance performances, and site visits to artists’ studios, theaters, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community centers. Resources utilized in the delivery of course content include the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes; arts venues in Prague such as the Alfred in the Courtyard Theatre; and NGOs in Prague working in areas such as the integration of minorities, the environment, and community development.

Intensive Language Study: Czech - syllabus
(CZEC 1000 / 4 credits / 60 class hours)
Emphasis on speaking and comprehension skills through classroom and field instruction. Students are placed in beginning classes.

Field Study Seminar - syllabus
(ANTH 3500 / 2 credits / 30 class hours)
This course explores the concepts of learning across cultures and from field experience, and also serves as an introduction to the Independent Study Project. Material includes cross-cultural adaptation and skills building; project selection and refinement; appropriate methodologies; field study ethics and the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy; developing contacts and finding resources; developing skills in observation and interviewing; gathering, organizing, and communicating data; and maintaining a work journal.

Independent Study Project - syllabus
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted in Prague or in another approved location appropriate to the project in the Czech Republic, Poland, or Slovakia. Projects may include a creative or artistic component in the visual and performing arts or creative writing. Sample topic areas: Czech cubist architecture and design; legacy of Czech underground music; Roma ethnic and cultural identity; sustainable development in North Bohemia; the former Sudetenland today.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research