Why at FAMU?
CET Photography at FAMU students want to study photography from all angles. This program is one of the few that focuses on analog photography—medium- and large-format, as well as use of the darkroom. Learning traditional techniques will inspire you and inform your work on digital equipment long after the program ends.
Semester
Snapshot
- Recommended Credits: 12-18
- Core courses on photography theory and practice
- Electives in all aspects of photography
- Exhibit your final project at a gallery or café
- Host University: Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)
Curriculum & Syllabi
You take two core courses on photography, one language class, and up to three FAMU electives to meet the recommended total of 12 to 18 credits. Your core courses and Czech language class are taught by CET, while the direct-enroll electives are taught by experienced FAMU faculty active in their fields.
You take two 3-credit core courses that bridge theory and practice in photography.
Many electives at FAMU are open to CET students. Take up to three electives to meet the total of 12 to 18 recommended credits. Courses and credits differ each term but past students have taken:
- Documentary Studio
- Visual Theory
- Photographic Techniques
- Studio Photography
- Studio of Classic Photography
- Postconceptual Studio
Explore more electives at FAMU.
- Terms: Winter is the FALL semester; Summer is the SPRING semester
You may also substitute one FAMU elective for a CET Prague elective.
You take 20 hours of survival Czech in the first week, and have reduced class hours after that. Most students are Czech language beginners, but if you’ve taken Czech before, we have a class for you, too. This class is exclusively offered for CET students.
- PR/LANG 100 Beginning Czech Language (3 credits)
A Taste of the Industry
The program is based at FAMU, the Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill university—it’s one of Europe’s foremost art academies. As a student, your day-to-day will reflect the fast pace, fluidity, and even unpredictability of industry life. If you’re looking to work in the creative field, FAMU is your chance to build useful skills and gain real world experiences.
Learning by Doing
Štěpánka Stein
photographer, teacher, mentor
Your faculty mentor is Štěpánka Stein, an award-winning photographer. Learn from her in one of your core courses, Fine Art Photography & Workshop. And beyond regular class meetings, Stein also works with students one-on-one. She’ll instruct you in the darkroom, adapting her pace to match yours. And when you’re ready to exhibit your work, she’ll not only help you hone your concept, she’ll guide you through framing and hanging, too.
"The Fine Art Photography course taught by Štěpánka Stein was by far my favorite part of the program, and in the end I produced work that I am proud of."
Smith College | Spring 2018
& Meals
- Apartment
- Off-campus housing
- Live with CET peers
- 2-6 people/apartment
- 2-3 people/room
- Fully equipped kitchen, living room, shared bathroom per 2-3 students, in-unit washer
- Wifi, A/C, linens, basic furnishing, kitchenware
Share a conveniently located apartment in downtown Prague with CET peers. Take in the views during your beautiful 15- to 20-minute commute to class, where you either walk or take public transport for free. Residences have many layouts, but you always have peers around to chat about your day and just relax with after a busy day at FAMU. On top of that, your neighborhood is filled with restaurants, movie theaters, beautiful architecture, and parks.
Czech Roommates
In addition to your peers, CET-picked Czech students also live in your apartment building to help you acclimate to life in a new country. Want to learn about Botas 66, the classic Czech sneakers? Find the best farmer’s market on Saturday morning? Try out one of the many Vietnamese restaurants in Prague? Local roommates are an invaluable resource.
Your Czech roommates also organize “Czech Table” so you can practice your language skills around the city. You might visit the Prague Zoo, sample various Czech desserts, or visit the hometown of one of your roommates.
Eating in Prague
For meals, take advantage of the city’s vibrant food scene and try all the local specialties. Větrník (caramel-dipped profiterole), anyone? Feeling like a home-cooked meal? Grab ingredients at the supermarket and have a night in with your roommates.
Life in
- Known locally as: Praha
- Population: 1.281 million
- Local Currency: Czech Koruna (Kč)
- Famous for: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, lower cost of living in Europe, great public transport, beautiful architecture
Once class is out, Prague is waiting for you. Enjoy the perks of living in “the world’s greenest city” by reading in the park. Go paddle boating in the river on a nice day. See a world-class play at one of the city’s many beautiful theaters. Museum hop from the National Gallery to the DOX Center for Contemporary Art, then unwind at a cozy café. Prague has a little something for everybody.
Activities & Excursions
See the Local Arts Scene
Away from the City
Your photography courses, lighting seminar, and FAMU electives will take up the bulk of your time, but CET also makes sure you have plenty of opportunities to take a break and see other parts of Central Europe.
- All students visit Český Krumlov during orientation. The area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site due the town’s architecture, the castle, and the magnificent Baroque theater contained within the castle.
- You also spend a long weekend in Berlin, Germany with other CET at FAMU students. Get a backlot tour of Babelsburg Studio, visit a film museum, and discuss a film with young German filmmakers after a screening.
- Attend a film festival in the Czech Republic with CET. Fall students usually go to the Ostrava Kamera Oko International Film Festival in Ostrava, Czech Republic while Spring students usually attend the Mezipatra Queer Film Festival in Brno, Czech Republic.
- Optional excursions around the Czech Republic help you get to know the country you’re studying in a little bit better. Locations vary from term to term but you might go to Kutná Hora, Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary, or Plzeň.
Volunteering Weekend
Give back to the city that’s hosting you by participating in a weekend of community service. Head outside of the city limits to help further a local NGO’s mission. Working alongside CET students, Czech roommates, and other Czech volunteers, you may help out on an organic farm and education center or help with housing construction projects for those in need. Volunteering is a great way to make local friends and see another side of the Czech Republic.
"Standing next to the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and Old Town Square made me feel as though I tripped through time. There’s no wonder why individuals from all over the world across hundreds of years come here to create. Prague is a catalyst for the imagination."
Vanderbilt University | Spring 2018
On-site Staff
Jiří Bukovinský
Director of Prague Programs
Kevin Johnson, Ph.D.
Academic Director of Prague Programs
Marta Vondráčková
Resident Director,
CET Photography at FAMU
Maggie Budinský
Student Life Coordinator,
Prague Programs
Program
Spring/Fall 2020
|
$21,990
Spring/Fall 2020: $21,990
Of the total program fee, $19,290 goes to tuition and fees, and $2,700 goes to housing and other student life fees.
All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.
A budget for your final project is included with your program fee. No crowd-sourcing necessary.
From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.
You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.
The excursions and workshops that we arrange are included in your tuition. All you need to do is get on the bus.
If you’re a US citizen, we process your standard visa in Washington, DC. If you’re an international student, you apply independently but we provide the documents you need and are here to answer questions along the way.
Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.
You receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and FAMU at the end of the term. You also have the option to request a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota for an additional fee if necessary.
Estimated
Out-of-Pocket
Costs
- Round-trip Airfare: $1,000 - $1,500
- Meals: $2,000 - $2,500
- Personal Expenses: $1,300 - $1,500
General pre-requisites:
- Open to students from any US college or university
- GPA: 3.0 or higher preferred, but admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis; lower GPAs still encouraged to apply
- Language: Open to all levels of Czech, from absolute beginner to advanced
- Photography: Previous experience in photography is required
Required equipment:
- 35mm camera with manually adjustable controls for shutter speed and aperture (F/stop)
- Normal lens (ca 50mm)
- DSLR digital camera
- Optional light meter (TTL, built-in or hand held)
- Submit your application by the deadline.
- CET and the Faculty Advisory Committee review your application and portfolio.
- CET issues admissions decisions approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the application deadline.
Complete the application through your online CET account. This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.
All applicants for the CET at FAMU programs are required to submit a portfolio of visual work that will be reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Committee and factored into the admission decision. Learn more about portfolio requirements and the admissions process.
Use the link in your online account to send a recommendation request to one of your previous instructors.
This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your online account.
Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.
Spring deadline:
October 1st
Fall deadline:
April 1st
Price Subject to Change:
CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.