summer central european studies

Quick Info

By Term

• Summer 2013 Session I
• Summer 2013 Session II
• Summer 2014 Session I
• Summer 2014 Session II
• Summer 2013 Session I, II
• Summer 2014 Session I, II

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Program Overview

Staggering architecture, rich cultural history, a turbulent past and exciting future – Prague is as fascinating a city as it is beautiful. Spend your summer exploring the rich cultural and social heritage of Prague, the Czech Republic, and Central Europe through the exploration of its art and architectural roots, local societies, and dynamic history.

Study abroad in Prague and you’ll have access to coursework, cultural excursions, activities, and flat buddies that give you the opportunity to make the city your own.

Study abroad in Prague and you will:

• Spend your summer in one of Europe’s most exciting cities, and learn about a variety of Central European issues and Czech perspectives
• Participate in experiential activities linked with coursework
• Explore the city and study in one or two three-week sessions
• Live with local students in an apartment in one of Prague’s authentic neighborhoods; get help acclimating to the city through CIEE Flat Buddies—local Charles University or FAMU students; partake in cultural activities and day/weekend excursions that augment class material

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

In addition to a survival Czech language course, you can choose from a variety of classes on Czech culture and society including history, communications, cinema, and art. You also have the option of taking courses in acting and performance at the prestigious Theater School at the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU).

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

Each session includes one weekend excursion within the Czech Republic, which provides an opportunity to visit exceptionally interesting and educationally valuable sites. Moreover, class excursions linked to academic themes are organized. Cultural activities are organized with the aid of CIEE Flat Buddies. Flat buddies, local Charles University students, are an integral part of student life. These buddies share day-to-day issues, help you better understand local cultural norms, and assist you with immersion into the Czech culture and Charles University student life. There is never a boring moment thanks to extracurricular student activities which are organized by buddies throughout summer sessions.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Summer 2013 Session I (3 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/02/2013

06/26/2013

$3,650

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, local transportation pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$2,598

Housing

$650

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$750

International Airfare *

$1,350

Local Transportation

$100

Books & Supplies

$50

Personal expenses

$400

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Summer 2013 Session II (3 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/26/2013

07/20/2013

$3,650

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, local transportation pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$2,598

Housing

$650

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$750

International Airfare *

$1,350

Local Transportation

$100

Books & Supplies

$50

Personal expenses

$400

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Summer 2014 Session I

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Summer 2014 Session II

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Summer 2013 Session I, II (7 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/02/2013

07/20/2013

$6,900

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, local transportation pass, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$5,198

Housing

$1,300

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$1,500

International Airfare *

$1,350

Local Transportation

$200

Books & Supplies

$100

Personal expenses

$800

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Summer 2014 Session I, II

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75

Recommended Credit

Course contact hours are 45 hours and recommended credit is 3-4 semester/4.5-6 quarter hours per session, unless otherwise indicated.

Program Requirements

The study abroad program is offered in two, three-week sessions. Students may participate in one or both sessions. Students choose one of the courses offered in each session. A minimum number of students is required in order to offer a course, and therefore students are advised to seek pre-approval for more than one course option from their home school advisor prior to the start of the program. In addition, students can enroll in a one-credit, optional “survival” Czech language course.

About The City

Because of its innumerable characteristic steeples, Prague is called the city of a thousand spires. This EU member is a perfect example of the steady development of a society which recently transitioned from its communist past. With a population of only 1.2 million, Prague has an unusually rich cultural life—festivals, operas, concerts, and cultural programs, many of which are accessible on a student budget. Study abroad students experience life similar to that of Czech students and make use of numerous neighborhoods in the city like native Praguers.

Meet The Staff

Jana Cemusova

Resident Director

Jana Čemusová heads the CIEE Study Center in Prague, leading study abroad programs, customized partnerships with Charles University and other educational institutions. She served as a Student Services Director from 2008 to 2011. Prior to joining CIEE in a full-time position, Jana gained extensive experience with CIEE students through her many years of teaching and leading Czech language instruction through the CIEE Study Center at Charles University.

Jana has teaching experience as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Kansas, expertise in training language teachers, and leading projects in immigrant communities. She served as a chair of Association of Czech Teachers Teaching Czech as a Foreign Language in 2003 – 2009.

Jana is a double graduate at the Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Philosophy, where she studied Theory of Culture (Anthropology) and Czech Language and Creative Studies at the Faculty of Education.

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Pavla Klimesova

Student Services Assistant

Pavla works for the CIEE Study Center in Prague as a Student Services Assistant and is primarily responsible for assisting and advising students, assistance in enrollment and student administration, extracurricular activity research and planning, foreigner police visa registration, program administration, and development of immersion opportunities.

Pavla graduated at Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, with major in Journalism.

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Veronika Tobiasova

Housing Coordinator

Veronika works for the CIEE Study Center in Prague as a Housing Coordinator and she is mainly responsible for housing management (dorm, apartments, homestay), solving student issues, Flat Buddy Program, Meet Czech Families and Friends, CIEE promotion, greening, etc.

Veronika received her Master’s degree in English and American Studies and Spanish Philology at Charles University in Prague, with specialization in American and Argentinean literature. During high school, she was an exchange student in Madison, WI for one year. She also studied at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain for a year.

Her previous working experience includes teaching both English and Spanish in different language schools and a high school in Prague. She also worked for a trade promotion agency and Peruvian Embassy.

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Eva Tomiskova

Program Coordinator

Eva Tomišková works for the CIEE Study Center in Prague as a Program Assistant and her main responsibilities involve orientation, academic trips planning, volunteering program coordination, site visit planning, catering and overall office management.

Eva is a graduate of The Technical University in Liberec, the Faculty of Education, with major in Social studies and English language.

Prior to joining CIEE, Eva gained extensive experience in human recourses and educational field not only in her home country but abroad as well.

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Where You'll Study

CIEE works closely with Charles University, the oldest university in Central Europe, to deliver courses to students at the CIEE Study Center in Prague. All CIEE courses are held at the CIEE Study Center, located at the historical site of Vyšehrad. Although the CIEE Study Center is not located in a Charles University building, CIEE courses are recognized by Charles University and taught by faculty from various Charles University faculties and institutes. Participants of DAMU theater courses will be take their classes at DAMU facilities.

Housing & Meals

Housing is included in the study abroad program fee. Each CIEE apartment houses three CIEE students as well as one Charles University student (CIEE Flat Buddy). Apartments consist of two bedrooms with shared areas including a fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom. Please note that meals and Internet fees are not included with this option. CIEE apartments are located in various neighborhoods and require a maximum 35 minute commute to CIEE.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Prague even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. CIEE’s aim for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program, and identify your objectives so that you arrive well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

An intensive mandatory on-site orientation session takes place at the beginning of the program. Orientation activities help you master the practical details of daily life in Prague. Activities include sessions on academics, cultural differences, practical matters, and safety and security, a welcome dinner, and a walking tour of downtown Prague. Ongoing support is provided by CIEE staff on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Internet connections are available for free in the dormitory. You'll have access to wireless Internet and a computer lab at the CIEE Study Center. In addition, Prague offers a good network of Internet cafés for a small fee.

Culture

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

Each session includes one weekend excursion within the Czech Republic that provides an opportunity to visit exceptionally interesting and educationally valuable sites. Moreover, class excursions, linked to academic themes, are organized. Cultural activities are organized with the aid of CIEE Flat Buddies. Flat buddies, local Charles University students are an integral part of student life. These buddies share day-to-day issues, help you better understand local cultural norms, and assist you with immersion into the Czech culture and Charles University student life. There is never a boring moment thanks to extracurricular student activities which are organized by buddies throughout summer sessions.

Session I Excursion—The weekend excursion during Session I includes visits to Terezin, a holding camp and prison where Czech Jews and intelligentsia suffered during World War II; and Litomerice, a town with the Ploskovice castle and historical structures reaching back to the 13th century. You'll also visit Northern Bohemia, rich with castles, fortresses, and beautiful scenery, and hike through the sandstone mountains.

Session II Excursion—The weekend excursion during Session II includes visits to Plzen, Karlovy Vary, and/or Jáchymov. In Jáchymov, the former Gulag work camp for political prisoners, you will visit the uranium mines with a survivor of the work camp. The excursion also provides the opportunity to visit Karlovy Vary, one of the Czech Republic’s UNESCO world heritage sites. The Plzen tour starts with a visit to Europe’s second largest synagogue and includes a trip to the monument of the Victims of Evil and a tour of the George Patton Museum.

Field trip destinations are subject to change each year and are based on individual faculty members and their course design and content.

CIEE Flat Buddies

CIEE arranges for local Charles University students to live with CIEE study abroad students in apartments. These flat buddies share day-to-day issues, help you better understand local cultural norms and standards, and assist you with immersion into the Czech culture and Charles University student life.

Academics

This program exposes students to the rich cultural, historical, and social heritage of Prague through the exploration of its art, film, architectural roots, society, and dynamic history. This journey gives students a unique opportunity to witness the force of a society that embraces its transition from a communist past to the ever-changing political and social present, along with the opportunity to learn about Prague’s development. Students choose to enroll in either one or two three-week summer sessions.

Academic Culture

There are significant differences between the U.S. educational system and the Czech system. This new academic environment is part of the challenge of studying with Charles University professors and learning about the Czech Republic. Students must be aware that a high degree of self-motivation and self-discipline is required, and that independent learning and active participation in class are necessary for achieving satisfactory academic performance. Resources such as library holdings in English and Internet access may be limited, and students may need to seek these resources outside of the CIEE Study Center in public libraries and other Charles University faculties.

Classes are focused on the Central European region, especially Prague and the Czech Republic. Professors use both the classroom as well as the city as a direct resource for their teaching. Lectures are supplemented with class excursions and guest lectures related to class topics. Students should be prepared to spend two-thirds of each weekday in class or in class-related activities.

Nature of Classes

Participants take classes with other CIEE study abroad students. CIEE summer courses take place during an exam period at Charles University and are therefore attended solely by the CIEE program participants. Courses at DAMU are attended by both local and other international students.

Grading System

The program is rigorous and demands regular preparation outside of class. Students should expect to be active participants in their course of study. Participation constitutes part of the overall assessment, and there is a strict attendance policy. In addition, each course uses a mixture of written projects, examinations, and presentations as a means of assessment.

Language of Instruction

English (Czech for optional survival Czech language course)

Faculty

All courses are taught by faculty from reputable institutions of higher education or research, including Charles University, Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Academy of Performing Arts.

Course Description

Program Blog

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