MAS course structure
What will your studies look like if you decide for Master in Area Studies? In this article we will show you the structure of the program and courses you can take.
In this two-year Master’s program, you have obtain 120 ECTS credits. This means 60 credits per year and 30 per semester in average.
You can compile your own curriculum that reflects your personal interests and future career plans. You may either build an individualized thematic and territorial profile or choose one of the following optional study tracks by the end of the first semester: The US and Global Affairs, Transition and Integration in Europe, and Israel and the Middle East. The study track requires a minimum of 30 ECTS credits obtained from elective courses designated for the specific study track. Your Master’s thesis also have to fall within the scope of the chosen study track. Upon completing the study track, in addition to the diploma, you will receive a Certificate of Completion of the Study Track.
Course types
- Compulsory courses (60 ECTS credits in total): Compulsory core courses introduce you to key concepts in area studies, qualitative and quantitative methods in the social sciences, as well as academic writing. The core courses are intended to provide you with a conceptual toolbox and analytical skills, thus giving a solid foundation for further studies in specialized elective courses.
- Languages (12 ECTS credits in total): Language courses constitute an integral part of MAS. You are expected to master a language that will allow you to analyze and understand the development of your region of interest at a basic level at least. You can choose from a wide range of language courses. Some are offered specifically for MAS by your home institute, others by your faculty, and additional options may be available through other faculties at Charles University. If a particular language is not available within the university, you may also enroll in external courses.
- Elective courses (at least 36 ECTS credits in total): Elective courses cover a wide range of specific areas and issues which allows you to specialize in the field of your interest. You may choose from almost all courses taught at the Institute of International Studies. You can also earn credits for internships or volunteer work related to your field of study.
- Optional courses (up to 12 ECTS credits): Off-field optional courses can be taken at any department of Charles University. You may take a maximum of 12 ECTS credits of optional courses. These credits can also be used to follow elective courses or languages. There is no minimum number of credits to be taken in this category of courses (that is, all 120 credits can be gained by taking only compulsory and elective courses).
To sucessfully graduate, you have to write your MA thesis and pass a state exam. The state exam comprises a defence of the Master’s thesis and an academic debate on a selected topic from within the specialization created throughout the studies (beyond the thesis focus).
Detailed course structure
Compulsory courses
- Academic Writing
- Introduction to Research Design
- Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences
- Area Studies: Theory and Methodology
- Comparative and Conceptual History
- MA Thesis Seminar I
- MA Thesis Seminar II
Languages
These languages are provided directly for MAS:
- Czech as a Foreign Language I-IV
- Russian Language I-IV
- Polish Language I-IV
- Greek Language I-IV
Widely spoken languages such as German, French, Spanish, and Italian are offered at the Faculty of Social Sciences, while many other languages can be taken at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University.
Elective courses
Below is only a sample of elective courses. You can find the full list of over 130 electives for this study program here.
The US and Global Affairs study track
This track introduces students to the skills essential for analysing US foreign policy, its structural underpinnings, and their impact across the globe and in various policy fields.
- Government in the United States
- Major Problems of Political Economy in North American Context
- U.S. Legal Culture
- Migration in North American Context
- U.S. Foreign Policy
- U.S. Military Power
- The Transatlantic Link: Understanding America from Europe
- Critical Issues in U.S. – Chinese Relations
- U.S. and the Global South
- Geopolitics of the Climate Crisis
Transition and Integration in Europe study track
This track focuses on the study of the latest developments in post-Communist European countries, particularly with respect to their transition from communist society and integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
- Postcommunist transition in East Central Europe
- Political Systems of East Central European Countries
- European Culture and Society
- Grand Debates of European Integration
- Internal and External Security Policy in the EU
- EU Institutions
- European Economic Integration
- Cohesion Policy of the EU in Central and East European Countries
- Problems of the post-Soviet Space
- Post-Conflict Societies of the Western Balkans
Israel and the Middle East study track
The track helps students understand the politics and societies in Israel and the Middle East, with a focus on the pressing conflicts and disputes in the region.
- Israel: Politics and Society
- The Israeli-Arab/Palestinian Conflict
- Israel’s Foreign Policy
- Foreign Policy of the Gulf Countries
- Geopolitics of the Middle East
- Radicalization and Deradicalization
- Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
- Territoriality of Radical Islamist Groups
- Energy Security in Israel and the Middle East
- The European origins of Zionist ideologies and their evolution: from East Europe to Israel
Examples of free electives
- Political Geography
- Theorizing Memory: Social and Cultural Remembering
- Concepts and Interpretations of Central European History
- Germany and Central Europe: Geopolitics of an Uneasy Relationship
- Contemporary Mediterranean
- Migrations in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Russian-Turkish Rivalry over the Balkan and Caucasus Areas
- Russia after 1991
- Society and Culture in Central Eurasia
- Security Issues in Japan and the Far East Asia
Optional courses
The offer of optional courses is practically limitless, as you can choose from courses taught at your faculty or across the university. You may select any course offered at any department of the university, provided it is open to students from other fields beyond the one for which it was originally designed. Alternatively, you may choose to focus on your core field by selecting MAS electives or language courses, if the broader offer does not appeal to you.
Optional supplementary certificates
Alongside your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to earn supplementary certificates during your studies. Currently, we offer Certificate in Digital Humanities. This certificate comprises four specialized courses and provides students with essential data literacy and digital competencies that are increasingly valued across disciplines in both academic research and professional practice. The courses cover core concepts and methodological approaches in Digital Humanities, data analysis using R, and the application of AI within the humanities and social sciences. You will acquire practical skills in data work—learning how to locate and process large datasets, analyze texts using machine learning tools, create visualizations, interpret statistical outputs, and apply AI methods to specific research questions.
