Czech Language and Literature

General information

The degree programme Czech Language and Literature is conceived as a single-subject or a double-subject study programme at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, being aimed at students who are interested in a complex professional training in the field of Czech studies from the viewpoints of both linguistics and literature. In accordance with requirements concerning the B.A. study programme, students will acquire complex knowledge of present-day Czech language and literature, an insight into their historical development and basic knowledge of theoretical aspects relating to both language and literature. The degree programme also offers a wide range of specialized courses that will provide a wider background of knowledge as well as a perspective for the possible future specialization during the period of study or in practice (the focus e.g. on dialectology, corpus linguistics, proof-reading etc. in linguistic courses, the focus e.g. on editorial work, literature for the youth, theory of translation etc. in literary courses). The gained qualification enriched with the systematically developed practical readiness for future professions provide graduates with an adequate background for entering the M.A. degree programme (including the programme for future teachers) and also gives plenty of opportunities to find positions in practical life after completing the B.A. degree programme. Thanks to their professional knowledge of Czech language and literature, practical command of a prestigious variety of Czech in communication and acquired practical knowledge in work with texts and information, graduates from both single-subject and double-subject study programmes are capable of holding positions in a wide range of professions.

A successful graduate is able to

• have a very good command of written and spoken standard Czech
• demonstrate overall knowledge of all levels of present-day Czech (its phonetics and phonology, morphology, lexis, and syntax)
• demonstrate elementary knowledge of the development of Czech, to know its Slavonic basis in both historical and comparative perspectives
• operate with general linguistic terminology
• understand present-day linguistic theories
• demonstrate overall knowledge of the history of Czech literature from its beginnings to the early 21st century
• understand the main concepts of literary theory
• interpret literary texts using methods presented in lectures and seminars

Graduate employment

Bachelor's graduates in Czech Language and Literature (single subject) will be suitable for any positions requiring expert knowledge of Czech language and literature. These include positions in media, publishing houses, and other cultural institutions, in state administration, and in the private sector as professional experts - journalists, editors, spokespersons, documentators, language consultants, proof-readers, organizers of cultural activities, experts in the sphere of advertising etc. Double-subject graduates will be suitable for a wider range of positions, thanks to the second study programme - in the case of other languages, the above-stated list is enriched, for instance, with positions involving translation and interpretation.