The geography foreign study is situated at Charles University in Prague. Prague emerged relatively unscathed from World War II and the Cold War and offers an array of stunning architecture from many periods including Romanesque, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque. This culturally rich city of about 1.3 million people, with relatively inexpensive concerts, opera and theater, is re-emerging as the cosmopolitan hub of Central Europe. Situated in the heart of Europe, Prague is only a few hours away from other cultural centers such as Vienna, Warsaw, Berlin, and Budapest. Founded in 1348, Charles University is one of the oldest universities in the world and has a 35-member Department of Social Geography.

Prague was selected to ensure that the foreign study program increases the involvement of Dartmouth students and faculty in understanding the ongoing economic, political, and social transformations occurring throughout post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe.

Curriculum

• Geography 47: The Geography of the Czech Republic in the New Europe (in English, by Charles University faculty).
• Geography 81: Field Research in the Czech Republic (jointly taught by the Dartmouth professor and Charles University faculty).
• Geography 82: Advanced Reading in Geography (independent study guided by the Dartmouth professor).

The program will be preceded by an orientation period that includes an intensive program in basic conversational Czech. Structured field trips will be central to the research in both Geography 81 and Geography 82.

Prerequisites

• Geography 1: Introduction to Human Geography or

• Geography 3: The Natural Environment and one course numbered between 12 and 41 or permission of the instructor.

A minimum of one methods course (Geography 11, 50, 51, 56, 57 or 59) is strongly encouraged.