What we teach

The teaching program at the KJBS comprises all academic degrees (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.). In our department, we offer the following study programmes:

  1. BA study programme
  2. MA follow-up study programme
  3. PhD. study programme Slavonic philology and Slavonic literature

Some basic facts about our BA study programme entitled: South East European Studies

The BA programme comprises three years of study combining a mandatory A-level language (languages at choice: Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Rumanian, Slovenian, Serbian) with a socio-cultural and economic and industrial module of the corresponding region in South East Europe. Emphasis is mainly put on the development of the area in question, especially during the 19th, 20th and the beginning of the 21st century.

The programme is designed as a study of philology covering Foreign language (s),its/their cultural background and studies of the area. It basically offers practical language, linguistics, literary science, history and socio-cultural knowledge in the framework of the area in question. The contents of the programme meet all the standards and requirements of other philological study programmes across European universities. In addition to that, significant research and teaching activities focusing on the political and socio-cultural development of the region are also taking place. All the above is then based on the detailed reading of the historical background and context of the region/s.

Candidates entering our study programme are invited to choose one A-level language (on mandatory basis) from six different languages of the area, these are: Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Rumanian, Serbian and Slovenian. Perpetual progress in mastering the language is seen as an essential requirement to work with other programme components. Language acquisition is attained via both, theoretical and practical subjects. The main (A) language in the programme is taught in accordance with modern methods for teaching of foreign languages as displayed in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (reading comprehension, writing skills, and communication). Moreover, students have the possibility to choose another optional (B) language from South East, Central or/and East Central European areas.

Study of literature and history of the region are nonetheless two other important components of the BA programme. A range of both, compulsory and optional courses is a significant part of the programme. The close relation between the areal language, literature and history actually enables a contrastive study of South East European geographically and culturally related regions, which is actually the main focus of the BA study programme we offer.

In addition to the basic study programme (mandatory and partially mandatory subjects), a range of optional courses is available. This leads to better acquisition and understanding of the subject and moreover to a comparative/contrastive study across the region. It is advisable that students choose (according to their own preferences) from several optional subjects offered by the department and outside the department within a wider framework of the Faculty of Arts and Charles University in general. Thus, students become both cooperative and responsible for the complementary subjects in combination with the compulsory study programme. We aim to prepare specialists able to merge, both theoretical knowledge and methodology to seek practical information.

Our BA graduates meet all the requirements of the job market in both, state and private regionally oriented institutions.

The division of study into two major parts, i.e. the theoretical and practical device also leads towards deepening and developing students΄ skills and their professional or/and research profile, which enables a follow-up MA programme. The programme meets all the requirements of the job market and enables to prepare highly qualified specialists who apart from their mother tongue skillfully master another regional language. Moreover, they dispose of detailed information concerning history, culture and social background of the region/s in question (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Rumania, Slovenia, Serbia; and partially also Greece).

Some basic facts about our MA follow-up study programme entitled: South East European Studies

The MA programme of South East European Studies is a follow-up to the BA programme. It is conceived as the study of philology in the following perspective:

Foreign Languages, Language Culture in a Synchronic and Diachronic Perspective and Studies of the Area

 

It combines one A-level language (at choice: Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Rumanian) with specialised focus on geography and geopolitics of the SE European area, its cultural and social development. The choice of languages has, at this point of study, been enlarged by one more language, Rumanian. (We count soon on listing Rumanian as an A-level language in the re-accreditation process).

In accordance with the BA study programme (for detailed information, see the BA study section), the follow-up MA programme comprises equally a mandatory A-level language, literature, history and socio-cultural knowledge of the region in question. In addition to that, practical language skills already acquired in the BA level are developed further. Emphasis is mainly put on theoretical background information and students are encouraged to produce and perform their own individual work.

The programme is compact and corresponds to the whole region of SE Europe, in general. In other words, it is not a separate philological study of one nation/one state only, but it displays in the context of the entire area. This illustrates especially with states whose languages are not taught in the MA programme as A-levels (such as: Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia), but that nonetheless are part of the Balkan area.

The objective of the MA follow-up programme is to deepen students´ knowledge acquired in the former BA level. More importantly, the programme guarantees a thorough development in the students´ communication skills and their orientation in the SE European region. All these factors are essential for further academic and/or professional career.

The MA study programme comprises the following parts: common basis subjects and three modules (MODULE 1 linguistics, MODULE 2 literary and historical and MODULE 3A-E another regional language – B level). Module 1 and 2 consist of subjects oriented towards the development of students´ practical skills. A significant part of the modules focuses on lectures on literature of SE European countries in a wider European framework. Lectures on language and linguistics, both in the diachronic and synchronic perspective, are also an essential part of the MA programme. Module 3A-E includes one more mandatory B- language (a four-semester course). The output competence equals the B1 level (acc. to CEFR).

All mandatory subjects can (similarly as in the BA programme) be complemented by optional courses. The combination aims to deepen and develop students´ skills, especially with regard to contrastive/comparative studies in the framework of the entire faculty and/or Charles University.

The MA follow-up study programme is at offer not only for the former BA graduates in SE European Studies, but for anyone holding a BA degree (in or outside the Czech Republic).

The conditions to be fulfilled in the entrance examination are:

    1. Advanced knowledge of one of the languages of the area in question ( at least B2 level acc. to CEFR)
    2. Detailed knowledge of social, cultural and historical background of the SE European area

Our follow-up MA graduates are beffiting candidates to work for both, private and public institutions worldwide. They have excellent knowledge of one language of the area in question (C2 level acc. to CEFR) and skilfully master one more regional language (B1 level acc. to CEFR). In addition to that, MA graduates dispose of very detailed knowledge in socio-geographic and cultural specificities of the SE European region covered by the following states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Rumanian, Moldova, Greece.

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