Mediterranean Studies

Mediterranean Studies is a two-year Master's programme which aims to enhance the knowledge of the literary heritage of the Mediterranean space, and thus enable students to capture the roots of European civilization in the Mediterranean. The degree programme observe further destiny and development of the ancient cultural legacy, especially in the European territory of the Roman Empire (and its successors), but they also considerably deal with the Arab influences in the Mediterranean. Thus, the prerequisites are created for understanding the continuity between the Ancient Era, the early Middle Ages, and the further development of the Mediterranean area with forays into modern times.

Students gain a thorough insight into the most important literary theories they will use when interpreting specific literary texts. Within other required and elective courses, the students focus on Modern Greek, Romance (French, Italian, Spanish) or Arabic language and respective literatures. According to the type of study they study either one major language and literature, or one major and one minor language.

Emphasis is on the ability of independent complex analysis of the literary text, on the continuous deepening of the cultural-historical knowledge, which enables the students to find and interpret the broader literary and historical context, and on acquiring advanced language competences in selected Mediterranean language.

The programme is open for graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programme with a focus on philological-literary area studies.

Within the Master’s degree study programmes offered in the Czech Republic, Mediterranean Studies programme is unique in terms of conception and focus.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• explain the basis of selected literary theories and apply the discussed methods for interpretive text analysis;
• describe in detail the literary history of the chosen areas (Greek, Romance, Arabic) and demonstrate their mutual connections;
• analyse and evaluate specific literary works in original languages and/or translations;
• characterize in a deeper and broader cultural and historical context the relationship of continuity between ancient and medieval, especially literary culture;
• explain basic religious concepts of Islam, briefly describe the history of Arab countries, and understand the specifics in the value orientation of Arab-speaking cultures;
• understand the main points of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics in a Romance language or modern Greek (at the B2 level CEFR) or understand short simple texts in the Arabic language (at the A2 level CEFR);
• write a detailed text on a wide range of topics in a Romance language or in modern Greek (at the B2 level CEFR), or write texts on familiar topics in the Arabic language (at the B1 level CEFR);
• communicate fluently in a Romance language or modern Greek on topical issues (B2 level CEFR), or communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and common facts in the Arabic language;
• to independently process foreign literature, electronic databases and various sources of information;
• create a longer internally structured text on specialized topics and formulate the acquired knowledge in a cultured way.

Graduates from this study programme will be qualified for jobs appropriate to the Master’s degree – in libraries, museums, information and education centres, and cultural foundations; considering practically oriented language skills, they will also be qualified for jobs in cultural or foreign affairs companies and administrative departments, or in media. Thanks to the high level of language skills and good knowledge of cultural characteristics of the region, graduates will also be able to work in the market sector, e.g. in tourism or as a mediator of business contacts with the Mediterranean.

Success on the labour market may vary depending on the language studied within the curriculum and also on the programme type.

Practical training is not an obligatory part of the study plan.

The recommended scope of Master's Thesis is at least 140,000 characters including footnotes, index and foreign language resumé. The list of literature, cover page, and affidavit are not included. The supervisor decides to include (or not) the annexes.

The formal requirements established by the Departement of Classical Studies are available at the institute's website: http://classics.phil.muni.cz/studium/pro-studenty

Other formal requirements established by the Faculty of Arts are available on the university document server: https://is.muni.cz/auth/do/phil/uredni_deska/predpisyFFMU/smernice/

Submission of the Master’s thesis in a due and proper form proves student's orientation in the subject matter of the thesis and the ability of the professional work under the supervision of the thesis supervisor. During the defense of the diploma thesis the level of presentation and the ability to argue in response to the opinions of the supervisor’s and reader’s reports.

The student chooses the topics of thesis related to the Mediterranean space in agreement with the supervisor, or chooses from the Topic list: https://is.muni.cz/go/rozpisyMEDMgr

A graduate of a master's degree programme in Mediterranean Studies can, after fulfilling the conditions of admission, continue in post-doctoral study corresponding to his / her specialization.