Penn-in-Prague, Czech Republic

• Program Intro
• Events
• Calendar
• About Prague
• Course Information
• Housing
• Costs
• Travel Notes
• Contact
• APPLY

Program Introduction

Penn-in-Prague is designed for students interested in Central European culture and politics, the history of Europe, Jewish studies, the European Union and international relations. Penn-In-Prague is affiliated with the Charles University in Prague. Situated amidst the fairy-tale beauty of the city, this program offers insights into the rich history and urgent contemporary challenges of the region. While non-language courses are taught in English, Penn-in-Prague is an excellent opportunity to learn beginning Czech.

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Upcoming Events

Information Sessions

Join us at any of the following sessions to learn more. Click on the dates for details.

• Thursday, November 5, 2009. 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 21, 2010. 5:00 p.m.

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Program Calendar:

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About Prague

An inspiring place for students to broaden their horizons, Prague has emerged as one of Europe’s premiere locations. It is also one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Since the 9th century, when it became the capital of Bohemia, Prague has passed through several distinct architectural transformations — Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau — which have created its unique character.With a population of about 1.2 million, Prague is truly the center of the region. Prague offers richly diverse cultural resources including theater, opera, concerts, art galleries, museums, cafes, discos and sporting events. Easily accessible by train or bus, the surrounding Bohemian and Moravian countryside is dotted with castles and medieval towns and villages, which are among the highlights of the region.

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Course Information

Students register for a total of two course units (CU). Course preferences are made on the application and are subject to approval by the program director. Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll in the program and submit required pre-departure documents.

Note for Visiting Students: One CU is generally considered to be equivalent to three semester hours when Penn coursework is transferred to another institution.

Courses:

Slavic 530: Elementary Czech
Taught by Alena Macurova, Charles University
Syllabus (pdf from 2009)

The course introduces the student to spoken and written Czech. It is designed to provide a first insight into the basics of Czech grammatical structure and to facilitate elementary communicative competence in Czech. The course will cover core chapters of Czech morphology and syntax and the most frequent topics of everyday communication, which students will be able to practice outside the classroom. (1 CU)

Slavic 109: Central European Civilization
Taught by Peter Steiner, University of Pennsylvania
Syllabus (pdf from 2009)

The reappearance of the concept of Central Europe is one of the most fascinating results of the collapse of the Soviet empire. The course will provide an introduction to the study of this region based on the commonalities and differences among Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Germany. The topics will include the history of art, music, and literature, as well as broader cultural patterns characteristic of this part of Europe. The course is taught in English. (1 CU)

Political Science 298: European Union: The Politics of the European Integration
The course will focus on several topics relevant to the development of post-communist Central Europe: economic transition to market economy; political transition to standard democracy; and European integration. Attention will be paid to the recent political and economic history of the Czech Republic and other Central European countries; to the basic problems of economic transformation; development of political systems; history and development of European economic integration and its forms, such as customs union, common market, economic and monetary union. Institutional reforms in the EU, costs and benefits of enlargement, and different accession scenarios will also be discussed. The course is taught in English. (1 CU)

Jewish Studies 298/Folklore 298: Jewish Culture in Prague
Taught by Michaela Sidenberg, Jewish Museum in Prague
Syllabus (pdf from 2009)

The focus of this course is on Jewish social and cultural history in the Czech lands with a special emphasis on Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic with one of the oldest Jewish communities in Central Europe. The course will give equal attention to building theoretical knowledge on the over millennium-long presence of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia and to providing hands-on experience by working with historical material and visiting historical sites. Each of the 12 classes is devoted to a specific topic divided into two parts: a morning classroom session and an afternoon field trip. The Jewish Museum in Prague has graciously opened its doors to the students to allow them to study in situ their collection of Judaica (textiles, silver, books, headstones, and visual art produced by Central European craftsmen and artists) and synagogue architecture. This is truly an unique opportunity since the JMP stands alongside The Jewish Museum in New York and The Israel Museum in Jerusalem as the most important institutions of their kind in the world. 

The main goal of the course is twofold:
a) To offer an alternative to the prevailing narrative of Central European civilization and the history of the Czech lands from the perspective of the "Jewish experience."
b) To teach the methods of interpreting cultural and social phenomena by the students' having maximum contact with authentic material and historical landmarks. In this sense, the JMP's depositories and library as well as the entire Jewish Quarter are an extension of the classroom, a lab that serves to stimulate critical and independent thinking in this field of study.

Students will be required to attend and participate in classes and field trips, to study the prepared readers and recommended literature, and to complete a final independent project that focuses on a chosen topic, which will allow them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills.
The course is taught in English. (1 CU)

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Housing

Students are housed in double rooms at the Hotel Prokopka. Breakfast and laundry facilities are provided.

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Costs

Note: All tuition charges and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and may change without notice.

Tuition: $5,866 (2009 rate)
$2,933 per course unit (CU). Students are required to enroll for two CUs.

Program Fee: $2,300 (2009 rate)
Includes accommodation, cultural activities and program excursions. 

The tuition and program fee are billed to the student’s Penn account according to the Summer Sessions billing schedule.

Other Expenses: Students are responsible for other direct expenses including:  

• roundtrip air ticket to Prague
• course materials
• local transportation
• meals
• personal expenses and entertainment

William A. Levi Travel Fellowship

Financial Aid
Penn Summer Abroad programs may be supported by financial aid. Penn students seeking financial aid for a program abroad should contact Student Financial Services (www.sfs.upenn.edu) and complete the undergraduate financial aid application for the summer term. Visiting students apply for financial aid from their home institution.

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Travel Notes

Passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the end date of the program. If you do not already have a passport or need to renew it, you should begin the process immediately. Passport application forms and instructions can be obtained at the U.S. Post Office or at http://travel.state.gov/.

Visa: The Czech Republic does not require an entry visa for U.S. Citizens for visits of up to 90 days. Citizens from other countries should confirm with the Czech Embassy whether or not a visa is required. If so, you will need to apply several months in advance.  Contact the Penn Summer Abroad office for assistance in obtaining required documents for the visa.

Air Tickets: Penn Summer Abroad does not organize travel overseas. Start researching flights early. There are many possibilities and a large variation in prices. You will receive the list of all students in your program. Contact the ones who are likely to travel from the same airport. You may be able to travel together.

Immunizations:Make sure you receive all appropriate inoculations.Consult with your physician and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which provides information on vaccines and immunizations for travel abroad. http://www.cdc.gov/.

Additional information will be provided in the acceptance packet and in pre-departure orientations that will take place in the spring.

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Contact Information 

Program Director
for details about the program, courses, or location including academic advising, travel dates, housing and orientation

Peter Steiner (profile)
Professor, Slavic Languages and Literature
University of Pennsylvania
E-mail: psteiner@sas.upenn.edu
Tel: 215-898-6234

Penn Summer Abroad Office
for assistance with application, financial questions, pre-departure, or other general information

Penn Summer Abroad
College of Liberal & Professional Studies (LPS)
University of Pennsylvania
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335
Tel: 215-573-7537
Fax: 215-573-2053
E-mail: summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu

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