Let's go to PRAGUE this summer

June 16-August 1, 2008 (doc format)

Situated on seven hills and divided by the river Vltava, Prague
is one of the oldest and most architecturally diverse cities in Central Europe. For six centuries it has remained nearly untouched by natural disaster or war, leaving intact stunning examples of the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Art Nouveau architectural styles. Today the cement block buildings of communism share Prague's cobbled streets with Baroque masterpieces. Communism has become another layer in the Czech past, sharing space in the nation's collective memory with its historical role as the keystone to Central Europe. This makes Prague the ideal location from which to explore the complex relationships and contradictions that comprise the history and culture of the region.

Academic Calendar
Summer 2007

Students' arrival:         June 16, 2008
Orientation :                    June 17, 2008
Opening dinner:   June 17, 2008
First day of classes:       June 18, 2008
Last day of classes:        July 29, 2008
End of the program:       August 30, 2008
Departure:                    July 31- August 1, 2008

Why should you join us?

Prague is a city of unusual beauty. After your clasees, you can mellow out in a park, take in the city's fantastic historical sights, or escape the heat and quench your thirst in a traditional Czech cafes and pubs-- during summer, any idea is a good idea in Prague.

Its prime location in the heart of Europe allows you to easy access to other oarts of Europe.

Prague summers are gorgeous.

All classes are in English-- there are no language requirements!!

Your studies will be complimented with lots of study tours.

Enroll in two of the following courses:

Elementary Czech: SLAVIC 106-z
Elementary Czech is designed to give students the ability to handle everyday situations in Czech. Emphasis is on listening and reading comprehension, speaking, beginning writing skills, and an introduction to Czech grammar.

Modern Czech Film: History on Screen: SLAVIC 267-z
The course will provide deeper insight into the problems of modern Czechoslovak history and socio-cultural developments as documented by both major feature films and documentaries by leading Czech and Slovak directors (including Academy Award Laureates Milos Forman and Jirí Menzel). Films will cover World War II, the Stalinist Fifties, the period of the political and cultural thaw in the Sixties, as well as the most significant works of the post-1968 Soviet invasion years. Students will also have an opportunity to learn more about post-1989 Velvet Revolution trends and controversies in Czech film art as viewed against the general backdrop of key historical events. Participants will gain more intimate knowledge and understanding of the unique modern Central European experience as interpreted by famous film makers, many of whom helped create the phenomenon of the Czech New Wave that is recognized all over the world as one of the major contributions to the art of film.

Democratic Transitions: POLITICAL SCIENCE 361-z
The course explores processes of transition from authoritarian rule to democracy in Europe, and the aftermath of such a transition. The course is comparative by its nature and presents general issues based on case studies from Western, Central and Eastern Europe. The material is presented in two perspectives: that of a political scientist and that of a leading protagonist of the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe. We will begin with a discussion of Europe as a geopolitical entity and identify its main divisions. We will characterize European non-democratic regimes of the past and turn towards dissident activities of Central and Eastern Europe, and deal with theories of transition as well as specific instances of such a transition. Fundamental challenges to democratization - nationalism, legacy of the past - are discussed at the conclusion of the course.

Milestones of Czech History and Civilization: HISTORY 391-z
The course provides an introduction to cultural aspects of Czech and Central European environment in a broader sense. It concentrates on major historical events and processes that have shaped future developments in the area and contributed to various aspects of the Czech national identity. Cultural awareness is initiated through readings and lectures, and is followed by discussions. Visits to historically important sites in Prague and the Czech Republic are an integral part of the course. Participants are expected to gain background knowledge of the region's history and civilization, to understand and examine issues of social changes and their effects on the social fabric of the nation. The course is complemented with reading and analysis of important fiction of respective époques.

Television Across Europe. The course gets students acquainted with the specific nature of European media, namely television. Despite globalization processes the mass media are still primarily a local phenomenon determined by lan­guage, culture, history, and last but not least by the size of media markets. Europe has a long tradition of state or public service broadcasting. The monopoly of these ser­vices came to the end in the eighties and nineties of the last cen­tury, when public broadcasting became part of the dual system consisting in the co-exis­tence of public ser­vice and commercial broadcasting. The development towards the dual system in Eu­rope was finalized after the 1989, when the Central and Eastern Europe countries fol­lowed suit and implemented several media policy recommenda­tions of the Council of Europe and the European Union. The course will deal also with the Euro­pean dimension of television broad­casting represented by the Directive EU “Television without Frontiers”.

Study tours

Students will visit Prague Castle, the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov in Southern Bohemia, the gothic monastery of Zlata Koruna, the 14th century silver mining town of Kutna Hora, the concentration camp at Terezin, an overnight trip to Southern Moraviafor, a boat trip through the Punkva caves, and wine tasting in a private wine cellar.

Logistics

Housing and Meals
Students will stay at university dormitories called Dum Jeronyma Prazskeho (Jerome House), a newly renovated dormitory located in the center of Prague. Accommodations will be in single or double bedroom suites, with shared bathrooms and kitchen space. All rooms are equipped with phones and computer outlets. Daily breakfasts are included in the cost of the program. Students should budget extra for lunches and dinners.

Flight Arrangement
Students must make their own travel arrangements to arrive in Prague, Czech Republic on Monday, June 16, 2008. Following the program's completion, students are free to remain in Europe and return to the U.S. from a different city.

Program cost for summer 2008 is $ 7,000.
This fee covers tuition for two courses, Prague housing in double rooms, breakfast, access to all university facilities, on-site transportation, excursions and orientations.

Financial Aid

Northwestern students receiving financial aid during the academic year may be eligible for summer aid. For more info., contact the Assistant Director of Financial Services, Sue Kwan, at 847.491.7400 or by email at: s-kwan@northwestern.edu.

Non-Northwestern students should contact the Financial Aid office at their home institution.

For more information and application

Rita Koryan
Roberta Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies
1902 Sheridan Road #102
Evanston, IL 60208-4005
Tel: 847/467-1152, Fax: 847/467-1996
e-mail: r-koryan@.northwestern.edu