Classes

The way classes work for Masters programs is different than undergrad. I'm taking 4 classes that meet once a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. Then I'm taking a Czech class that meets twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). It sounds easy and unproductive but the amount of reading and writing I will be doing will take up a day for each individual class. And since the classes only have about 10-15 people in them, I can't skimp on the readings. Then for each class I will be preparing presentations. In one class I will have to give 4 different presentations plus my papers, exams, commentaries and doing the reading and attendance. The other classes I have to give 2 presentations at different times of the semester. Then I have to have a response to the readings prepared for each class meeting. Masters Programs are more of you teaching yourself than having an instructor follow your every move. Exams consist of 5 questions and you have a 20 page booklet to answer them (you can bring more if you think you'll need them). I will be able to take all of my exams before Christmas break and I will have some papers to send in in January.

The Making of Europe:This course introduces students to the development of Europe since the 17th century (i.e. of the so-called modern Europe) as a unique project based on very broad processes; therefore, it primarily aims at outlining the trends constituting social background of this development - nationalism, colonialism, secularisation, technological innovation and so on. At the end of the course, the students shall be familiar with social thinking and habits that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the power conflicts that constituted the bases of the modern European states, with the 19th century as a breaking point both with regard to power constellation, and to general shifts in European societies of the time, and also with both world wars of the 20th century as - in a sense - the climax of the previous processes. At the end of the course, student should be able to interpret the notion of European state system history and to explain its internal periodization. Student should be able to compose main trends of economical, societal, intellectual, and political development. Student should be able as well to compare changes of European domestic and international politics since the Peace of Westphalia till the outbreak of the Cold War.

Radicalism in Europe: The goal of the course is to introduce students to the study of radicalism in Europe. At the end of the course the students shall be capable to differentiate within the most important forms of radicalism, to trace and compare their ideological backgrounds and to characterize their organizational structures. On the other hand, students shall also be able to evaluate, criticize or compare state policies against antidemocratic and violent forms of radicalism.

Crisis Management Operations: The course provides students with the understanding of military crisis management operations of the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). On successful completion of the course, students shall be able to characterize the concept of crisis management and to compare its application by the above mentioned organizations. Students shall be able to understand and evaluate the main principles of UN, NATO and EU crisis management operations, their historical context and institutional background. Next to it, they shall be able to summarize significant crisis management operations cases and to outline the participation of the Czech Republic in crisis management operations.

International/Transnational Organizations and European Politics: Through this course, students will be able to analyze important international and transnational organizations with a specific focus on European politics. Moreover, students will be able to utilize their analytical skills in this area of research. At the end of this course, students shall be able to characterize the most important international organizations and their involvement in European matters, to outline the role of transnational actors, i.e. non-state organizations that establish cross-national relations, to examine the basic theoretical framework of international organizations, and to interpret the theoretical aspects of international organizations in general and the European Union in particular.

So while only having class 2-3 days a week sounds nice, it is a lot of sitting in the library reading, writing papers, making presentations, office hours with professors. And the fact that it's too cold to do anything outside!