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Czech studies have a long tradition at Michigan and have grown over the years. Faculty members doing teaching and research in this field include Professors Herbert Eagle, who specializes in Czech film, and Jindrich Toman, who specializes in Czech Modernism. Literature courses include Czech 484, Modern Czech Literature, taught by Professor Toman. The course teaches twentieth century Czech literature in translation, but includes film and visual arts as well. This combination has been quite popular with Honors students; there are usually 10 to 15 highly motivated students in this course. 

A special feature of the Czech Program is the annual Czech Workshop (2007). Unlike courses, this is an event aiming at doctoral students and junior faculty active at North American institutions. In this sense, the Workshop is a service to the field, and it has gained a very solid reputation precisely in this capacity. Every year for the last seven years 15-20 doctoral students and junior faculty come to Michigan, or most recently, Indiana,  for a long weekend to present and discuss their current work in a workshop style environment. Fields include literature, art history, architecture, film, history, and political science; topical panels such as Czech Jewish culture, Czech-Slovak relations, Czech women, and others were also part of the Workshop. In some sense, the scope of coverage might well be a model of what a Slavic department might one day cover. Partial sponsorship from other units (William Davidson Institute, Frankel Center) helps sustain this unique venue. 

The Department's publication outlet, Michigan Slavic Publication, makes its contribution to the study of Czech culture as well. One of its series, Modern Czech Translations, carries Czech titles in English--the books in this series are translated at the highest professional level and appear in an attractive design. 

Read more about the Czech program and our other undergraduate opportunities.