Harvard Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic
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Nora Hampl and Jonathan Bolton
(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 10–July 21
Application deadline: The application period is now closed.
Program cost: $7,000
Deposit due: April 16
Full payment due: May 15
Located in the heart of Europe, the Harvard Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic, is a six-week intensive program in Czech language, history, literature, and culture. Based in Prague, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, the program also takes students to other cities in the Czech Republic to see everything from medieval castles to gems of modernist architecture. Students learn to read history and literature in context, understanding how authors such as Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera draw on Bohemian history and culture. Throughout, we combine our studies of Czech culture with walking tours of Prague, looking at how the frequent transfers of power in Bohemia have been inscribed on its streets, buildings, and monuments and observing the unique mingling of public and private space in Prague’s galleries and cafes. Intensive language study allows students to immerse themselves in the local fabric of everyday life, both to practice their language skills and to learn more about contemporary Czech society.
This program appeals to students who
- would like an introduction to central European history, literature, and culture
- are planning to live in Prague or another central European city after graduation
- would like to broaden their perspectives on global politics, comparative literature, or their own national histories
- would like to spend a summer getting to know one of Europe’s most beautiful cities
Course of Study
The Harvard Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic, offers an intensive introduction to both the Czech language and the history and culture of Bohemia. Students take both of the following courses.
SLAV S-132 Study Abroad in Prague, Czech
Republic: Czech Culture I—Contemporary Czech History and
Literature (31989)
Jonathan
Bolton
This course traces major themes of Czech history, culture, and literature from the medieval period to the present, paying special attention to the interaction between politics and aesthetics. We examine the ways in which Czech writers and intellectuals have helped construct a modern conception of Czech identity, and we consider the complicated negotiations between writers and the political regimes that try to control them. We begin with the medieval court of Charles IV, who turned Prague into a center of European art and architecture; the Hussite religious wars of the fifteenth century; and the bloody aftermath of the Bohemian nobles’ revolt in the seventeenth century, a time of government repression as well as baroque magnificence. We then study the creation of a Czech national identity in the nineteenth century during what is known as the national awakening and look at the vicissitudes of Czech culture in the twentieth century under Nazi occupation and Communist rule. Readings include works by Kundera, Havel, Hrabal, Capek, Kafka, and Komensky.
Prerequisites: None.
SLAV S-138 Study Abroad in Prague, Czech
Republic: Czech Culture II—Czech Language and Culture
(31990)
Nora Hampl
This course combines beginning intensive language study in the mornings with afternoon sessions in which we explore contemporary Czech culture through theater, film, concerts, visits to galleries and museums, and travel to other cities in the Czech Republic. Students build on their knowledge of history acquired in Czech Culture I in order to understand the complex cultural, religious, political, and economic forces shaping contemporary Czech society. Through language study (equivalent to a semester of university Czech), they advance their communication skills and cultural literacy by navigating Prague society and meeting Czech students, professors, and intellectuals. Integral to the course are trips to a number of sites and cities outside Prague, including baroque and renaissance castles, palaces, and monasteries.
Prerequisites: None.
Course Credit
Harvard College credit. For Harvard College students,
this course counts as two half-year courses (4 credits each) of Harvard College
degree credit. This course also satisfies the Foreign Cultures Core requirement.
Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary among schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
Nora Hampl, Preceptor in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Jonathan Bolton, Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Application
Students must submit an application form (download* form); official transcripts; a $50 nonrefundable application fee; and a supplementary statement describing their language background, travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite), and the reasons for their interest in the program to Nora Hampl, Harvard Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Barker Center 340, 12 Quincy Street, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA. Students must have official transcripts sent directly from their schools to the above address; unofficial copies of transcripts will not be accepted. Students must be 18 years of age or older. All application materials must be received by March 1.
Students are notified of admission decisions by mid-March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $7,000, plus a nonrefundable $50 application fee. In addition, students are responsible for a $120 health insurance fee (which is waived if students have US insurance coverage) and for their transportation to and from the Czech Republic. The program fee covers the following:
- tuition
- room and some meals
- course materials
- excursions (including in-country transportation)
A nonrefundable deposit of $700 must be received by April 16 to ensure the admitted student’s place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Students who do not purchase health insurance through Harvard Summer School should confirm that their insurance providers offer coverage outside the United States.
Harvard College students are eligible for financial assistance through the Harvard Office for International Programs (OIP). Students may download a study abroad scholarship information sheet on the OIP website's scholarships page or contact the office for more information. Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
While in Prague, students stay in a small hotel near Prague Castle, a short walk from museums, galleries, theaters, and cafes and near the main tram line that runs from the castle to downtown Prague. Most accommodations are in double rooms with a private bath.
Additional Information
Contact Nora Hampl, Harvard Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Barker Center 340, 12 Quincy Street, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; hampl@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 496-8161; fax (617) 496-4466. Please send faxes to the attention of Nora Hampl.
Students with disabilities should contact Joanne Eno, disability services coordinator, as soon as possible: (617) 495-0977, (617) 495-9419 (TTY), or disabilities@dcemail.harvard.edu. Request-for-accommodation forms (download* form) and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 27. More information about disability services, including request forms and guidelines for documentation, will be online by early February 2007.
Students applying for admission to Harvard's study abroad programs should understand that although the University provides reasonable assistance and support to facilitate the participation of qualified students in its programs (including students with disabilities and health impairments), some of our programs are located in parts of the world where accommodations may not be readily available. Students are encouraged to be forthcoming with the disability services coordinator about any specific needs and functional limitations so that the Summer School can collaborate with those students in a way that fosters their safe participation and allows them to fully appreciate any barriers that they may face, depending on the location and rigors of the particular program.
Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be cancelled.
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