Historical Sciences – History (Bc.)

The english equivalent of the czech bachelor’s degree (Bc.) is B.A.

The BA programme in History at the Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts is being taught mainly under supervision of the Institute of Czech history, Institute of Economic and Social History and Institute of World history.

The BA programme is designed to give the students knowledge and basic skills needed for independent and critical study of history.

The courses offer a comprehensive training in political, economic, social and cultural history of human societies from medieval to contemporary times, thereby building a broad intellectual foundation and helping students in acquiring theoretical and practical skills. The students learn to work with historical sources, to apply a critical approach to scholarly literature, and to develop creative thinking in their work with historical facts and processes.

The programme prepares the students for professional careers in institutions that are devoted to historical and broadly cultural issues.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates possess the basic knowledge essential for an understanding of historical processes in Europe and the world from medieval times to the present and they are able to identify and critically evaluate these processes. They are also familiar with the basic and advanced methodologies of the historian and their applications. They have also acquired the requisite practical skills for critical information processing, including techniques of analysing specialist publications and source material. They are qualified for employment in the mass media or in the civil service or the diplomatic service.

Historical Sciences – History – Economic and Social History (Mgr.)

The english equivalent of the czech master’s degree (Mgr.) is M.A.

The MA programme offers a comprehensive study of Economic and Social History based on sound methodological basis and the knowledge of facts.

Economic History is the study of the way in which economies develop, why that development differs between countries and over time, and how individuals, households and communities contribute to, and are affected by, economic change.

Social History is concerned with how people have lived their lives and how and why their experiences and behaviour have changed over time, asking a wide range of questions about social behaviour, organisations and identities in the past.

The MA Programme is aimed at the graduates of the BA History programmes. The instruction takes mainly the form of seminars, so that students not only deal with historical sources, but also with modern information technology.

They are trained to read specialized literature critically and to adopt a creative mode of thinking on historical facts and processes.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates possess the basic knowledge essential for an understanding of historical processes in Europe and the world from medieval times to the present and they are able to identify and critically evaluate these processes. They are also familiar with the basic and advanced methodologies of the historian and their applications. They have also acquired the requisite practical skills for critical information processing, including techniques of analysing specialist publications and source material. They are qualified for employment in the mass media or in the civil service or the diplomatic service.

Final Rigorous Examination – Historical Sciences – History – Economic and Social History (PhDr.)

The english equivalent of the czech degree of “Doctor of Philosophy” (PhDr.) doesn’t exist. According to Bologna-Classification are graduates after successfully passed rigorous exam still on the 2nd level of higher education (M. A.). This degree is accepted as “branch doctorate” mainly in the Czech republic and some other countries in the Central and East Central Europe.

In the czech educational system represents rigorous exam special type of the state’s final examination. For students of humanities and social sciences is rigorosum 2nd final state examination. After final state examination may graduates of master’s degree programmes, who have received the academic title “Master” (Mgr.), sit for a final rigorous examination (“rigorosum”) in their field of specialisation (the same or related subject area as the one they had studied), which includes the professional discourse on the subject of rigorous thesis (“defence of rigorous thesis”). After successfully passing the exam, they are awarded the academic title of “Doctor of Philosophy” (abbreviated to PhDr. and used in front of the name).

Participants in rigorosum proceedings do not have university student status; the fee for the proceedings is to be paid at the time of application submission.

Historical Sciences – Modern Economic and Social History (Ph.D.)

The programme teaches the student the principles of scientific work, the ability to apply theoretical and methodological inspiration and the skill of persuasive argumentation.

It emphasises the relation to current social issues, i.e. the interlinking of the studied historical phenomena with an analysis of present-day society, hermeneutic interpretation of modern economic and social history, the ability to participate in team work and a multidisciplinary approach to problems.

The student is expected to study for a part of his/her degree abroad. The graduate receives training leading to professions in research, tertiary education, or specialised work in the public sphere.