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Fakulta sociálních věd Univerzity Karlovy | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1990 |
| Dean | PhDr. JUDr. Tomáš Karásek, Ph.D. |
| Students | ~5,000 |
| Location | , |
| Website | www |
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The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) (Czech: Fakulta sociálních věd Univerzity Karlovy) is one of the newest faculties of Charles University. The Faculty was founded in 1990, shortly after the Velvet Revolution. It soon became a regional centre of teaching and research in area studies, economics, international relations, journalism, media studies, sociology and political science. The Faculty offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in social sciences. While the languages of instruction are Czech and English, students can choose from classes in a wide range of other languages, including French, German, Russian and Spanish.[1]
The Faculty enrolls around 5,000 full-time students, including 1,000 international students.[2]

The Faculty of Social Sciences was established on 1 June 1990. In the first phase of its existence, it tried to continue the tradition of the former Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism (FSVP), which replaced the Faculty of Education and Journalism of Charles University (FON) in 1968. As early as 1956, the Department of Journalism was established within the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. Since 1960, the Department of Journalism has been part of the Institute of Education and Journalism as an independent faculty within Charles University, and since 1965 it has existed independently under the name Faculty of Education and Journalism of Charles University. The first dean of this new faculty was the writer Jiří Marek. After 1963, the aforementioned institute found its headquarters in the historic Buquoy House on the Karolina campus with an entrance from Celetná Street.[4]

In 1972, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism at Charles University was renamed the Faculty of Journalism at Charles University, and its content was transformed in the spirit of ongoing normalization.[3] These changes included readings among teachers and checks on the political views of journalism students.[4]
In 1993, the faculty was organizationally divided into institutes, which led to the abolition of existing scientific departments and at the same time emphasized the pedagogical character of the faculty. The following were established at the FSV: Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism, Institute of Economic Studies, Institute of Sociological Studies and Institute of Political Studies. In 1994, the faculty structure was completed with the last institute: the Institute of International Studies.[4]
Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences are intended to prepare students for a professional career in the private sector, public administration, national governments, European institutions, academic research or the media. They are divided into three individual cycles: Bachelor's degree cycle (3 years; Bc., equivalent to a BA), Master's degree cycle (2 years; Mgr., equivalent to an MA), and Doctoral studies (4 years; Ph.D.).[6]
The Faculty offers degree programs at all levels in its subject specializations in both Czech and English. The English language degree programs offer one fully accredited English language bachelor´s degree program, ten fully accredited English language master's degree programs, and two double-degree programs in partnership with universities in London and Strasbourg.
The Faculty offers summer school programs to its students, visiting students and the general public. For international students, the Faculty organizes Spring University Prague[20] and Summer University Prague[21] each April and September. This program is intended for students who are enrolled in a college or university or have recently graduated. It is open to approximately 30 students from across the world.
The Faculty has one of the highest international mobility participation rates of all the faculties of Charles University. Each year it welcomes around 500 exchange students.[24]
International mobility at the Faculty is mainly based on the European Higher Education Area which is coordinated by the Bologna Process. Its most visible demonstration is the ERASMUS Programme. In addition to the Erasmus Programme, the Faculty participates in other smaller student exchange programs, such as Erasmus Mundus, CEEPUS or AKTION. The Faculty is also intensively developing international cooperation beyond the framework of the European programs. This includes the maintenance of or entering into new cooperation with partner universities in North America, Asia and the Middle East.
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