The PhD. Studies Programme

The PhD. Studies Programme in the Ibero-American Studies is the continution of the programme of the Master of the Ibero-American Studies- History of the Latin America. It is providing to the students the possibility of the specialization in the history and the culture of the region, which is increasing its political, economic and cultural importance in the last fifty years, and it will indoubtedly increase in the future. The programme of these studies is divided into four principal parts (history of the Latin America, native societies, geography and culture). It has an indisciplinary character, it consists of the activities of the teachers of different universities and science centers and the individual work is really emphasized. It finishes with the state exam and the defence of the doctor dissertation work.

The admission requierements

To be graduated from the Master in the Ibero-American Studies - History of the Latin America ( or the affinity programme - World history, Hispanic Studies, for instance) and the special qualification proved by the oral exam of the history and culture of the Latin America, having regard for the specialization of the candidate. The exam is public with the participation of the three - members examining board, at least.The candidate must present his own professional evolution, the studied programmes, the special practice and the eventual publication activities. A very important part of the admission exam is the presentation of the project of the future doctor dissertation work. This project is professionally discussed. This discussion is checking not just the common theoretical skills, but also the knowledges of the subject of the doctor dissertation. The student is doing also the language exam, normally the english.

The intent and the extent of the requiered knowledges

The Doctor studies programme is held as an individual studying plan, which is focussed on the deeping of the common theoretical knowledges and the special knowledges. These are, then, used not just for the writing of the doctor dissertation work, but also for all the professional activities. There are at least five exams which must be done during the doctor studies: the philosophy exam, the language exams (the spanish and other foreign language, normally the english) and at least two branch exams - these are choosed after the tutorial of the student with the teacher, according the subject of the dissertation work. The prepared individual studying programme is approved by the tutor and the chairman of the branch board. The written report about the fulfilling of the studying duties and all the other activities is prepared every year. The report is written by the tutor and the chairman must approve it.

The studied subjects

Regarding that the individual plans can, after the different specializations, vary, we mention just the choosed examples of the studying programmes.Nevertheless, all the programmes are always prepared they could sure the efficient knowledge of the theory and the methodology of the studied branch, the survey of the issues in the historical domension and in the present state of the investigation, the focus on the understanding of the total evolution and the special topics of the history and the culture of the Latin America, after the specialization of the student. The determination of the individual studying programmes is basically done after these topics:

1. The history of Latin America in the colonial time
2. The history of Latin America in the time of the independent wars and the creation of the new-age nations
3. The new and the latest history of Latin America
4. The pre-colombian cultures and their projections in the actual ethnic appearance of Latin America
5. The Latinamerican culture (according the specialization of the student - literature, visual arts)
6. The geography of Latin America
7. The philosofical problems of the studied branch

8. The historiography (according the specialization of the student)
9. The world language I. ( the spanish or the portuguese obligatory)
10. The world language II. (the english, the french or the german recommended)

The common example form of the individual studying plan of the doctor studies:
The history of Latin America in the time of the independent wars and the creation of the new-age nations
The history of the concrete region in the XIX century
The creation of the national literatures in Latin America
The philosophical problems in this branch
The world language I
The world language II

The examples of the individual studying plan:


The example n. 1:
Latin America as an subject of the international politics in the XVIII and XIX centuries (exam)
The history of Latin America in the time of the independent wars and the creation of the new-age nations (exam)
Mexico in the second half of the XIX century (exam)
The creation of the mexican national literature in the context of the literature of the continent (exam)
The national history in the arguments of the speakers of the rising national societies (exam)
The Spanish language (exam)
The English language (exam)
The topic of the dissertation work: The reflection of the second Mexican empire and the intervention in the Czech society

The example n. 2:
The history of Latin America in the colonial time (exam)
The history of the USA in the colonial time (exam)
The native cultures of America (exam)
The problem of the identity in the Latinamerican literature (exam)
The philosophical problems in the contact of two different civilizations (exam)
The Spanish language (exam)
The English language (exam)
The topic of the dissertation work: The comparison of the Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic Ametica

The example 3:
The history of Latin America in the time of the independence (exam)
The region of La Plata in the XIX and XX century
"The national character" in the literature of the La Plata region (exam)
The philosophical problems of the incorporation of the minority groups in the majority society (exam)
The Spanish language (exam)
The English language (exam)
The topic of the dissertation work: The Czech emigration to Argentina

The other duties:
The student presents the written work of 20-30 pages for the exam of the philosophy.The contingent written work for the other exams (15-20 pages) depends on the decision of the examinator. All the exams are conditioned with the regular tutorials.The student discusses with the tutor the progress of his work and he is obliged to present at least once per year the results of his work on the topic or other information in the Iberoamerican seminar. The student participates in the activities of the Center, in the solving of the investigation problems and in the lessons of instruction.The student of the present form of the Doctor´s studies is obliged to ask for a grant and to participate in the organization of the symposiums, conferences and other activities prepared by the Center. The other eventual duties are made by the tutor, after the consultations with the leading workplaces.

The topics of the dissertation works:
The native cultures of America in the chronicles of the first half of the XVI century
The image of America in the Czech society of the XIX century
The export of the Czech glass in the Hispanic world in the XVIII century
The Austrian politics in the Spanish American war and the public meaning in Lithuania
The politics of the United States in the Caribbean region in the XIX century
The textiles of the native Indian cultures in the collection funds of the museums in the Czech Republic
The Czechoslovakian emigration in Paraguay after 1918
The Czechoslovakian and Cuban sugar in the world trade between the world wars
The Czechs in Mexico in the time of Maxmilian empire
The problems of the Hispanic inhabitans in the United States
The Doctor dissertation work must have at least 200 pages ( without eventual supplements)

Charles University, Faculty of Arts, Center for Ibero-American Studies