Czech Republic

Despite being subjected to intense assimilation policies and persecution, European Roma and Gypsy regularly re-emerge with a remarkable revitalizing power. Who are then the Roma and Gypsies, what does it mean from their point of view? Students learn the historical social adaptations of Roma and Gypsy groups in Europe, the United states, and Central European Roma. The course draws on the latest research topics such as Romani European migration, memory building, political mobilization, survival strategies, segregation, and racism. The course newly adopts a field-trip component that complements the lecture and seminar sessions. Students visit a contested memory site of Nazi persecution and participate at a commemoration ritual; travel to a Roma ghetto and study the contours of spatial segregation and its politics; attend a performance of the “theater of the oppressed” and discuss with Roma actors how theatric language helps them express their aspirations. This course challenges mono-causal explanations of Romani society and culture and stimulates students to think about Roma in a critical holistic way that brings into consideration the societies they live in.

This course focuses on the political and diplomatic history of the Habsburg Empire, from the emergence of the Habsburg dynasty to the dissolution of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I. Emphasis is put on key turning points, such as the reign of Maximilian I and his marriage policy, the figure of Charles V, the Battle of Mohacs and the birth of a Central European Empire, the Counter- Reformation, the enlightened absolutism of Maria Theresa and Joseph II, the system of Metternich, and the reign of Francis Joseph. This provides the framework for an analysis of interdisciplinary questions, such as the role of religion or the multinational Empire, focusing on the uniqueness of the culture developed in the Empire.

This course develops knowledge of Czech at the intermediate level. It provides linguistic tools to enable successful communication in many situations and to facilitate better understanding of the Czech cultural and social context. By completing this course, students acquire the following knowledge and language skills: listening: students can follow basic news, general conversation, and understand announcements; reading: students can read and understand texts on familiar topics and simple news items; speaking: students can hold conversation on known topics, can answer questions about themselves, and can ask for information; writing: students can write emails and short texts on familiar topics, including PowerPoint presentations; and vocabulary: students acquire broader and more specialized vocabulary related to specific situations and topics. This course is designed for students who meet the following requirements: 1) are able to read and comprehend a simple newspaper or magazine article; 2) are able to communicate about everyday topics; 3) are able to write one page essay on familiar topics (where they live, why they want to study the Czech language, etc.); and 4) have acquired basic vocabulary and understand fundamental principles of Czech grammar (conjugation, declension, syntax, etc.).

This combined seminar and lecture course discusses aspects of Central European visual culture from the modern era onwards. The course examines major art styles and personalities in Czech modern art from Art Nouveau's Alphonse Mucha and the pioneer of abstraction František Kupka, to contemporary provocations of David Cerný. Deep changes that occurred in architecture, from Art Nouveau decoration through Functionalist utopia, to deconstruction of Postmodernism is reviewed. All artworks are examined within their broader cultural and historical context. Students participate in excursions to Prague galleries and museums to encounter and study the originals in detail.

This course explores the contemporary host culture through the lenses of intercultural studies. It covers current cultural, societal, and political themes in the host city, compares ethnic and racial identities in the host country and the United States., and explores the experiences of diverse populations within the host country. The course examines the complexity of host culture values, beliefs, and practices and how to identify the cultural differences and similarities between the host culture and U.S. American cultures. It also discusses key intercultural communication theories, frameworks, and leadership practices in order to deepen cultural self-awareness, acquire new perspectives, and effectively communicate and interact with culturally diverse populations.