Prague Program Overview
The Summer Start in Prague program is highly structured and designed for first-year incoming students. The 2-week program merges the high-impact experiences of a first-year inquiry (FYI) course and study abroad, led by an NC State faculty member and Study Abroad Office staff. Students earn three general education credits that count towards their degree before the start of their first semester on campus. The program utilizes the historical city by visiting numerous museums, national monuments, cultural landmarks, and other significant venues to engage students in their coursework, providing first-hand experiences that inform critical and creative thinking.
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. Tiffany McLean
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 29 – August 13, 2024
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.
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
Day 3: Course meetings at NC State; departure for Prague
Day 4: Arrive in Prague; group dinner
Day 5: On-site orientation
Day 6: Class in the morning; excursion in the afternoon
Day 7: Excursion
Day 8: Class
Day 9: Depart for Cesky Krumlov
Day 10: Excursions in Cesky Krumlov and return to Prague
Day 11: Class and Free Time
Day 12: Class
Day 13: Free Time
Day 14: Class and Free Time
Day 15: Final class and farewell dinner
Day 16: Return to NC State
