GENERAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague
General Information
STRUCTURE OF STUDY PROGRAMME
The theoretical part of tuition consists of a comprehensive framework of theoretical issues
relating to anthropology in general, as well as to chosen specialisations. Students have the
choice of two modules, whereas the first module is compulsory for all and the second is chosen
on the basis of consultations with the supervisor.
Academic courses are complemented by discussion seminars, where students share gained
knowledge and experience from their studies and field work, and where they present the results
of their research and their observations stemming from writing their PhD thesis. Emphasis is
placed on individual consultations with the supervisor, and/or with other consultants.
INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN
Post-graduate students elaborate their own individual study plan with the help of their
supervisor at the beginning of study; the plan includes activities they plan to realise in the
coming years. Individual study plans are endorsed by the Council for doctoral studies, and its
observance is controlled at the end of the school year.
Furthermore, the student must attend courses from the compulsory and the specialisation
modules. The student chooses one course in the specialisation module according to their study
focus. Tuition is carried out in the form of seminars and lectures, as well as the self-study of
recommended literature, complemented by consultations with the supervisor of the PhD thesis
and with other recommended consultants. Students choose specialised courses so as to widen
their academic profile in a desirable manner.
The form of the study plan can be found on the web of the student’s information system (SIS)
at https://is.cuni.cz/studium/index.php.
You have to log in on this website, choose the subjects and planned dates of exams and other
study tasks. Then you create a study plan, print it and sign it by yourself and your supervisor.
After that you bring it in the Institute of postgraduate studies and the plan will be submitted to
the Council for doctoral studies for approval.
The final plan (with the signature of the supervisor) must be submitted no later than 30
September of the calendar year, in which the education starts.
The framework of the compulsory and the specialisation module is presented in the following
table:
A. Compulsory Module
Course Name
Length of Tuition Examination
Method
Seminar of General
Anthropology I., II.
2 semesters
credit
Doctoral
Anthropological
Seminar I.-IV.1
4 semesters
credit
1 semester
exam
1 semester
exam
Methods of
Anthropological
Work
Foreign Language
Lecturers
prof. Jan Sokol, Ph.D., CSc.,
doc. PhDr. Ladislav Benyovszky, CSc.,
doc. PhDr. Zuzana Jurková, Ph.D.,
doc. PhDr. Jan Horský, Ph.D.,
doc. Jan Havlíček, Ph.D.
Mgr. Yasar Abu Ghosh,
Ph.D., Mgr. Pavel Himl, Dr.phil.,
doc. Jan Havlíček, Ph.D.,
doc. Mgr. Aleš Novák, Ph.D.,
prof. PhDr. Václav Matoušek, CSc.,
prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr.
prof. PhDr. Josef Kandert, CSc.
PhDr. Marek Halbich, Ph.D.
Mgr. Yasar Abu Ghosh, Ph.D.
Mgr. Lily Císařovská
B. Specialisation Module
Course Name
Length of Tuition Examination
Method
Biological
Anthropology
1 semester
exam
Philosophical
Anthropology
1 semester
exam
Historical
Anthropology
1 semester
exam
Cultural and Social
Anthropology
1 semester
exam
1 semester
1 semester
exam
The Theory of Society
Biological Aspects of
Human Behaviour
Power, Money, and
Law
Evolutional Psychology
1 semester
1 semester
exam
exam
exam
Lecturers
prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr.
doc. RNDr. Marek Špinka, CSc.
doc. Jan Havlíček, Ph.D.
Mgr. Linda Horníková, Ph.D.
prof. Jan Sokol, Ph.D., CSc.
doc. PhDr. Ladislav Benyovszky, CSc.,
doc. Mgr. Aleš Novák, Ph.D.
doc. PhDr. Jan Horský, Ph.D,
Mgr. Pavel Himl, Dr.phil.
PhDr. Mirjam Moravcová, DrSc.
doc. PhDr. Zdeněk Nešpor, Ph.D., prof.
PhDr. Miloš Havelka, CSc.
prof. PhDr. Miloš Havelka, CSc.
prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr.
prof. Jan Sokol, Ph.D., CSc.
doc. Jan Havlíček, Ph.D.
Mgr. Jitka Lindová, Ph.D.
Please choose one specialization Cultural and Social Anthropology /,Ethology / Historical Anthropology /
Biological Anthropology / Philosophical Anthropology
1
OTHER TASKS
During their studies, the student is also required to:
1) As a primary author write two original articles relating to their dissertation and publish them in a
reviewed periodical so that they are listed in the RIV Database as according to the current regulations of
the Science and Research Board.
2) Actively participate in at least two conferences or symposiums, whose themes correspond to the
chosen study programme (a poster or short report, at least).
These tasks are also included in the Individual Study Plan.
STATE DOCTORAL EXAMINATION AND DEFENCE OF PhD THESIS
Students finish their studies by a state doctoral examination covering the knowledge gained during
studies, and by defending their PhD thesis, where they should display the ability to independently carry
out scientific research.
The state final examination consists of one compulsory and two compulsory optional topical areas:
A. Compulsory area: General anthropology
B. Compulsory optional issues: The first focuses on anthropological theory and methodology. The
second is materially related to specific research problems resolved by the specialization in the
area.
Doctorates submit to the state final examination:
a) A list of literature (10 titles considered decisive due to their anthropological research)
b) Brief annotations of five topics, two must relate to the “compulsory” part of the examination, three
to the “optional” part of the examination, i.e. two must be from general anthropology, three either
from biological or historical or philosophic or cultural and social anthropology.
Then the commission asks five questions:
 2 from the literature,
 1 from the "compulsory" area, i.e. one of the two offered by the student from general anthropology. ,
 2 from the “compulsory optional area“, i.e. two of three topics offered by the student from the selected
area of anthropology. This area can overlap the specialization in which the doctorate submits the PhD
thesis.
2) Defence of the PhD thesis:
The PhD thesis must have all the usually requested requirements and must contain the original results of
the applicant.
EXAM PREPARATION
Exam preparation constitutes an integral part of the individual study plan and is chosen on the
basis of consultations held with the examiner.
Students also have the opportunity to attend any of the courses offered by the Faculty of
Humanities of Charles University or by any other University faculty. If the student should wish
to attend small courses with limited space, they may do so only on the basis of permission from
the lecturer.
CONDITIONS OF GRADUATION
•
•
•
•
Passing the compulsory academic tasks (exams and doctoral seminars);
Passing the other obligations (publications, conferences);
Passing the State Doctoral Examination;
Defence of PhD thesis.
SUPERVISOR
The supervisor determines the theme of the PhD thesis and, along with the student, compiles a
proposal of the individual study plan for approval by the Council for doctoral studies. They
continuously check the meeting of study requirements by the student, and regularly consult their
study results with them. Supervisors write a short evaluation on the student’s progress once a year,
and in the event that the student does meet their study requirements, they have the right to
recommend the termination of study or other steps to the Council for doctoral studies.
In their first year, students have the right to request a different supervisor or dissertation theme;
such requests must always be warranted, and discussed and approved of by the Council for doctoral
studies. Changing supervisors in higher grades is allowed only in exceptional cases.
STUDENT I.D. CARD – LOGIN INTO THE INFORMATION SYSTEM
Students may choose between two types of student I.D. cards when enrolling at Charles University:
• Charles University Student I.D. Card
• Charles University Student I.D. Card with the ISIC license.
Every student is required to choose which variant of I.D. card they want, either the Charles
University Student I.D. Card or the Charles University Student I.D. Card with the ISIC license
(International Student Identity Card).
CONTACTS
Ing. Jana Jeníčková, Ph.D., Vice-dean of PhD degree study programmes, Faculty of the
Humanities at Charles University, U Kříže 8, 158 00, Prague 5.
Tel: 251 080 351; E-mail: jana.jenickova@fhs.cuni.cz
Assistants of vice-dean:
Bc. Tereza Šustková: tereza.sustkova@fhs.cuni.cz
Anna Puobišová: anna.puobisova@fhs.cuni.cz
Guarantor of General Anthropology: doc. PhDr. Jan Horský, Ph.D.
E-mail: jan.horsky@fhs.cuni.cz