Summer Start in Prague Program Overview
The Summer Start in Prague program is highly structured and led by faculty and one staff member from NC State University. The program utilizes the historical city by visiting numerous museums, national monuments, cultural landmarks, and other significant venues to engage students in their course work-providing first-hand experiences that inform critical and creative thinking. While in the Czech Republic, students also take cultural excursions to Terezín and Ceský Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Course Offerings
Students will enroll in one course from the course options below.
- IS 200: Introduction to International Studies (3 credits), taught by Dr. Seth Murray
GEP: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Global Knowledge
This course is an introductory analysis of the diverse processes of globalization, and an interdisciplinary survey of the social, political, economic, and cultural patterns reflected in the interrelations between various regions of the world. Emphasis will be on the historical and cultural contexts of debates in current global issues.
- SLC 250: Critical and Creative Decision-Making Models (3 credits), taught by Dr. Debbie Acker
GEP: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Global Knowledge
This course is designed for the student who wants to learn to think critically and creatively when making decisions by taking into consideration a variety of decision-making models across disciplines. Throughout the course, students will be presented with a variety of decision-making processes, as well as five models on decision-making across disciplines to consider when addressing different problems. Questions will be asked of students in a way that will foster critical and creative thinking in order to analyze, process, and identify effective ways for approaching a problem or situation. Students will be asked to reflect on how the way the decisions were made may or may not apply to the student’s major.
Dates
July 31 – August 15, 2023
The program begins on NC State’s campus with a two-day orientation, during which time students participate in activities and discussions to develop community, clarify expectations, and introduce the approach to FYI courses. Students then board a group flight for Prague, Czech Republic and spend 10 days in Prague, using the city and the NC State European Center in Prague as their classroom.
To conclude the program, students reconvene on campus a week or two after their return to North Carolina for a reflection and debrief. This final day provides the opportunity for students to unpack their experience, encouraging them to reflect on their growth as students, peers, and global citizens.
Housing
For the two-day orientation at NC State, students will be in double-occupancy rooms in an on-campus residence hall.
While in Prague, students will stay in double-occupancy rooms in shared apartments. Apartments will have two bathrooms and a full kitchen. Linens, pots and pans, and laundry facilities are included.
Sample Schedule
Day 1: Orientation and class meetings at NC State
Day 2: Course meetings at NC State; departure for Prague
Day 3: Arrive in Prague; group dinner
Day 4: On-site orientation
Day 5: Class
Day 6: Class in morning; excursion in afternoon
Day 7: Class
Day 8: Depart for Cesky Krumlov
Day 9: Excursions in Cesky Krumlov
Day 10: Return to Prague
Day 11: Class in morning; excursion in afternoon
Day 12: Class
Day 13: Class in morning; excursion in afternoon
Day 14: Final class and farewell dinner
Day 15: Return to NC State
