SPIA Goes to Prague:  First Study Abroad to be offered in Summer 2008

The School of Public and International Affairs will offer its first official study abroad program in the Summer of 2008 to Prague, Czech Republic.  Led by MIS Director, Heidi Hobbs, the program will run from June 7-27 at the Prague Institute, a facility operated by NC State University through the College of Design.  SPIA will offer two courses to upper division undergraduates and graduates students from programs within the School, as well as other departments across campus. 

Professor Hobbs, Political Science, will teach a seminar on  the relationship between theory and ideology using the historical development of the Czech Republic as an example of the ways in which these concepts relate to the practicalities of government.  Topics to be explored include the role of Monarchism, Nazism, Marxism/Communism and more recently, Democratization as ideologies that have shaped governmental structures.  The role of external forces will also be examined, as well as current political life in the Czech Republic.  Professor Dennis Daley, Public Administration, will teach a course on global cities, trends and transformations.  His course will include an excursion to another global city, Berlin, for comparison.

Site of the 1989 Velvet Revolution that brought an end to communist rule, Prague’s unique history make it an ideal setting for both of these courses.  Students will also take advantage of the historic nature of the city, including visits to Prague Castle, site of the current government, the Museum of Communism, ironically located above a McDonald’s, and Radio Free Europe, the U.S. government’s voice in Eastern Europe.

The Prague SPIA program will run from June 7-27, 2008.

To learn more about this program, costs and applications deadlines, please visit the Study Abroad website.

You may also view draft copies of the course syllabi -

PS 530: Seminar in International Relations - Prague

PS 498/598: Global Cities: Culture, Commerce, and Community
in the Global City

The photo to the right shows Dr. Hobbs at one of the entrances to the Old Town Square in Prague. It is just around the corner from NC State's Prague Institute.

QuickTime Movie of Prague and the Prague Institute
by Art Rice, Associate Dean, College of Design.