2. The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) is one of the newest faculties of Charles University in Prague. Shortly after its creation in 1990 it became a regional centre of teaching and research in the key fields of social sciences Currently, the Faculty has around 4 000 full-time students. Approximately 170 of them are enrolled in one of the English language degree programs The Faculty of Social Sciences study programs focus primarily on economics, communication studies, international area studies, political science and sociology, all offered at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral level FSS emphasizes development of foreign cooperation. Firstly, by developing and strengthening scientific bonds, student and academic mobility and, secondly, by offering English language degree programs. It has one of the highest international mobility participation rates of all the faculties of Charles University. Each year it welcomes around 500 exchange students from all over the world Studies at FSS are intended primarily to prepare students for a professional career in the private sector, public administration, national governments, European institutions, academic research and media

3. Institute of International Studies The Institute of International studies is an organizational part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague The Institute offers bachelor‘s, master‘s and doctoral degree programs in modern history and area studies. It concentrates its activities on four primary regions: the countries of the former Soviet Union and East-Central Europe, the German-speaking countries of Central Europe, Western Europe and North America Each of the regions is covered by one department of the Institute, which runs a 2-year English language Master's Degree program. The following four English language Master's Degree programs offered by the Institute of International Studies are coordinated under the label "Prague Area Studies" (PRAREAS): - Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies - Central European Comparative Studies - European Studies - Transatlantic Studies

4. Balkan, Eurasian and Central European Studies The BECES program addresses the English-speaking audience with a deep and versatile exploration of “the East”, understood as a territory composed of Central Europe, the Balkan peninsula, and the Post-Soviet area, including the Caucasus and Central Asia Primary attention is paid to modern history, politics and diplomacy, as well as to fundamental social, cultural and economic problems In this program, students are offered the chance to learn or improve their knowledge of the Czech language and some other languages of the area of this specific specialization

5. Central European Comparative Studies The CECS program focuses on the region composed of Germany, Austria and the Visegrad countries (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary) with an overlap onto neighboring countries It offers a thorough comparative and multidisciplinary understanding of the historical, political, economic and cultural developments of the above listed countries CECS program also offers students the chance to learn or improve their knowledge of some of the Slavonic languages of the area The program is offered either in the form of a full-time study or as a part-time study (optimized for working people and with classes on Friday afternoons)

6. European Studies The ES interdisciplinary program provides students with a profound knowledge and understanding of European history and politics, the European integration process and other EU related issues from a legal, political and economic perspective from a Central European point of view The program focuses not only on the developments in the EU member states but offers a study of the European integration process in all its complexity and variety The ES are designed especially or students who plan to enter positions in EU institutions, international organizations, national administration or non- governmental organizations

7. Transatlantic Studies This program’s focus is to provide English-speaking students with deep, interdisciplinary knowledge of transatlantic relations since 1945. The security commitments entered into by the United States after the Second World War represented a turning point in American history The post-1945 changes deeply impacted the political and cultural relations of the United States and the rest of the world. Close attention is paid to history, politics, and diplomacy, so that students can understand the changing nature of transatlantic relations during the different phases of the Cold War and afterward Prague is an excellent place to study the issue because the Czechs underwent a transformation from being a nation subjugated by the Soviet Union during the Cold War to one that is a full member of NATO and the European Union

8. The application deadline for the academic year 2014/15 is April 30, 2014 for all Prague area studies programs For further information visit PRAREAS webpage: http://imseng.fsv.cuni.cz/prareas/ You can also contact our staff at: prareas@fsv.cuni.czprareas@fsv.cuni.cz (academic coordination) svoz@fsv.cuni.czsvoz@fsv.cuni.cz (Lukáš Martin, technical, visa, accommodation etc.) Or directly the program coordinators: BECES: Jiří Vykoukal jiri.vykoukal@post.czjiri.vykoukal@post.cz CECS: Tomáš Nigrin nigrin@fsv.cuni.cznigrin@fsv.cuni.cz ES: Ľubica Debnárová debnarou@fsv.cuni.czdebnarou@fsv.cuni.cz TS: Petr Anděl petr_andelcz@yahoo.competr_andelcz@yahoo.com