6 Cultural Studies and Area Studies PhD Degree Programs in Czech Republic

The doctoral study program Area Studies focuses on various aspects of the contemporary (since 1990) development of Europe and North America, as well as on theoretical and methodological issues in the field of Area Studies.

Graduates are highly qualified specialists in literary and cultural studies focused on English-speaking countries, especially the literature and cultures on the British Isles and in North America. They have a good command of theoretical and methodological approaches, are able to conduct independent research and to teach literary and cultural histories of the United Kingdom, USA, Ireland and other English-speaking countries, and related literary and cultural courses, at tertiary level. They can participate in team research projects and work in international research teams. Czech graduates have a good command of the terminology and style of the discipline in their mother tongue and possess basic knowledge of the reception of Anglophone literature in Czech culture.

Graduates possess a general knowledge of the problems of Latin America in relation to its historical development and characteristic culture that has evolved since the late 16th century, on the basis of pre-Colombian communities and immigration from colonial metropolises and Africa. Graduates have a knowledge of the basic facts of Latin American history, and the ability to learn new facts, being helped by the knowledge of the theory and methodology of the discipline. Graduates are familiar with the development of opinions on the basic problems of the region’s history, and the discipline’s institutions, personalities, periodicals, and key works. They have developed language skills in Spanish and English enabling them to study specialized literature and engage in discussions within the international scientific community.

The graduate of Germanic and Nordic Languages and Literatures is a highly educated expert who is qualified for research in his/her field, i. e., in Germanic and Nordic linguistics or literature. He/she is ready for scholarly work and further growth in the academic area. He/she is able to manage language and literary problems where language skills and philological work are required, or where the theory and history of individual literature in all its linguistic and historical-cultural contexts are needed.

Graduates of the doctoral program in Asian History and Culture are highly qualified specialists in the area of their specialization. Their excellent command of a selected Asian language enables them to work critically with primary sources, and they have a solid grounding in secondary literature and contemporary research. Their excellent level of erudition enables them to pursue careers in the academia (universities, research centers, etc.); they can, moreover, seek employment in cultural institutions, diplomacy, mass media, specialized think-tanks, etc.

The PhD study of the field Africa Studies or Latin American Studies aims at the preparation of qualified specialists in area studies with a primary focus on those two regions.