Struggle of the Free Press
Summer Faculty-led Program
About the Program
The Struggle of the Free Press – Fake News and Conspiracy Theories program will give students an in-depth look at the crisis facing democracy and the free press, including how readers and journalists can combat fake news and conspiracy theories. We’ll also look at press freedom rankings by country and why the U.S. is dropping while the Czech Republic, a democracy for only 35 years, jumped 20 spots in just the past year. Why should we care? It affects politics, economics and warfare—on a global scale. We’ll tour Radio Free Europe, responsible for dismantling propaganda, especially from Russia, and distributing factual information to Ukraine and other countries desperate to know what’s going on where they live. We’ll also hear from Czech journalists about how they report news and handle attempts at government influence, digging into Czechia’s communist past. It takes place in a city often ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world, with castles, cathedrals and cobblestone streets.
View the program brochure.
Deadlines
| Application Opening | APPLICATION OPEN |
| Application Deadline (Early Action) | December 1, 2024 |
| Application Deadline (Regular) | February 5, 2025 |
| Scholarship Application Deadline* | November 15, 2024 |
For more details on How to Apply?
Overview
Program Dates: July 1 – July 18, 2025
Course
The program utilizes the historical city by visiting numerous museums, national monuments, cultural landmarks, and other significant venues to engage students in their coursework, providing first-hand experiences that inform critical and creative thinking.
| Prefix | Course Name | Credits | GEP | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM 215/ENG 215 | The Struggle of the Free Press | 3 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives; Global Knowledge | Christa Gala |
This course will be a fantastic mix of classroom and fieldwork, including tours of media outlets, Czech sites and speaker visits. Classroom lectures, combined with group and individual commentary and perception, will culminate in students gathering their thoughts on the issues—what they learned, what surprised them, and how their generation can interpret and intervene regarding global challenges that will reverberate for years.
Eligibility
- GPA Requirements: minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Be in good standing with the Office of Student Conduct.
- Meet the minimum eligibility policy set forth by the NC State Study Abroad Office
Program Cost
- Admin Fee: $450 ($75 non-refundable set-up fee and $375 study abroad fee)
- Program Cost: $3,550
- TOTAL: $4,000
Minimum number of students: 12
Included
- Tuition
- Housing
- Cultural activities
- Field trips
- International health insurance
- Transportation pass
- Airport pickup
- Orientation activities and materials
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Student support services
- 24/7 on-site & emergency assistance
Not Included
- International airfare (Students are responsible for booking their flights as NC State Prague does not arrange group flights)
- Meals
- Supplies and personal expenses
- Textbooks and studio materials
- Passport fee (if applicable)
Faculty Leader Contact
Christa Gala | cagala@ncsu.edu
Travel Documents: Passport
Students must have a valid passport to take part in any international travel. Passports must be valid for three months after their final day of travel. Students may apply for a passport from the US Passport Acceptance Facility.
Excursions, Cultural Activities and Field trips
Academics are important, but so are cultural experiences! We’ll try our hand at Czech cooking, tour a castle, take a dinner cruise on the Vltava River and visit Bohemian Paradise, the latter just outside of the city and bursting with waterfalls for an easy hike. Learn how to ride the trains, discover NC State’s Prague campus, visit Old Town, the Astronomical Clock, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, the Zizkov Tower, and much more. Prague never disappoints, and you’ll have enough downtime to explore the sites you want to see that aren’t on the itinerary, like Republik Square, the Jewish Quarter and all the nooks of crannies of Old Town’s restaurants, shops and sites.
Housing
Housing is included for all program participants, which is located in a nice residential part of the city, just a short ride from the Center, and near conveniences such as grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, and public transportation. In addition to your NC State program peers who live along with you, several Student Housing Assistants also reside in the same building and provide additional support and help with local connections. Rooms are double-occupancy, with shared bathrooms and kitchen space. Students may request a roommate or otherwise will be matched up.
