Master's Programme N0314A250016: Public and Social Policy Studies

Academic year 2024/2025

Public and Social Policy Studies (PASP) is a two-year, English-language Master’s degree programme fully accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, which aims to provide students with current knowledge of policy-making processes and cultivate their analytical skills. It is taught at Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, by members of the Institute of Sociological Studies (ISS).

The programme is developed in accordance with almost twenty years of experience in teaching the Czech-language program in Public and Social Policy, as well in offering a variety of English-language courses and conducting international research programs. The program incorporates a strong comparative dimension in its teaching of public policy. The theoretical grounds of the discipline are covered especially in the courses Public Policy, Theoretical Approaches to the Policy Process and Public Administration. Insight into different policy domains and public policy issues will be offered in a variety of courses, such as Social Policy, Health Policy or Civil Society in Central Europe. 

Methodological knowledge and skills will be developed as part of the courses Policy Analysis, Introduction to Social Research Methodology, Statistics in SPSS, Text, Narrative & Discourse Analysis, and Diploma Seminars I and II. During the program, students will work both individually and in groups on concrete social and policy problems. 

Graduates of the programme will have contemporary knowledge about policy-making processes and will be able to analyse these processes creatively and independently, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Graduates of the programme will have attained the knowledge and skills required to work as professionals not only in the public sector, but also for non-profit organizations, private companies, or academia. 

To complete the programme, students must collect 120 ECTS credits, defend their Master’s Thesis and pass the final state examination. 

Study prerequisites: The PASP programme is open only to students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a related programme of study.

Academic supervisor: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D.  fric@fsv.cuni.cz

Academic coordinator: Mgr. Mirna Jusić, Ph.D.  mirna.jusic@fsv.cuni.cz  

Language of Instruction: English

Course Structure and Study Requirements

Master State Examination

(JDIP01) Diploma thesis defence

(JSZ615) Social Policy

(JSZ616) Public Policy

* WS = Winter Semester (Oct. - Feb.) SS = Summer Semester (Feb. - June)

Compulsory Courses (J#0940)

Compulsory Courses Total ECTS: 71

Elective Courses (J#094122)

Elective Courses Minimum ECTS: 37