IFSA Prague Quarter Program: Computer Science

Students enroll in three or four classes per quarter. Not all classes may be offered in a given term, depending on enrollment.

Algorithms
This class provides an introduction to the modern study of computer algorithms. It presents many algorithms and covers them in considerable depth through mathematical rigor and engineering issues. Through a presentation of algorithms in English and pseudocode, design techniques, and application areas this class will emphasize efficiency as a design criterion, we include careful analyses of the running times of all our algorithms. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Architecture and Design in Prague
The class introduces the European artistic architecture and design of the Czech capital. By examining artists, architects, and their works, students acquire a deeper understanding of the city’s character and how patronage, power, and politics have shaped the urban landscape. The class covers the periods of European architectural development from medieval to modern, distinguishing the various artistic styles and movements; the ways in which architects and designers conform to, or disrupt, artistic conventions; and how their work reflects and even influences the social and political dynamics of the city. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Computer Architecture and Assembly Language
This course introduces the functional organization and operation of digital computers through the lens of both foundational theory and international context. Students will explore assembly language programming, including addressing modes, stack operations, argument passing, arithmetic operations, decision-making, macros, modularization, linkers, and debuggers. Emphasis is placed on understanding how low-level programming interacts with computer architecture. (4 U.S. quarter credit hours)

Czech History and Culture: Echoes of 20th Century
This class will explore the rich and multifaceted history of the Czech Republic in the context of Europe, examining the cultural and social factors that have shaped the nation’s unique identity throughout the 20th century. Throughout the class, we will visit various locations connected to key moments of the recent past and study how historical developments affected Czech society as we know it today. By analyzing numerous textual and visual resources, such as public memorials on the streets of Prague, students will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between politics and culture and how the country addresses the achievements and traumas of its recent past. The class will also provide students with analytical frameworks to reflect critically on complex social phenomena, both past and present, at local and global levels.  (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Data Structures
This course introduces students to the design, implementation, and analysis of fundamental data structures. Topics include abstract data types, dynamic arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, binary search trees, hash tables, storage management, and complexity analysis. Students will develop reusable data structures and analyze their performance in terms of time and space complexity. The course emphasizes practical programming skills and algorithmic thinking, preparing students for advanced computer science coursework and real-world software development. (4 U.S. quarter credit hours)

Democracies in Transition
The content of this course is interdisciplinary, touching on history and philosophy, economics and political science, business, and the social sciences. Its focus is the exploration of current issues and the changing dynamics in the European democratic process of integration, their historical roots, every-day demonstrations and potential future development in the local setting in Prague. We will explore the drivers that have shaped and continue to shape the European identity in the constant tension between individual liberties and community and societal needs by taking a holistic perspective and providing students with the foundation for an understanding of the socio-cultural complexity of Europe. Carefully selected themes are illustrating the historical and cultural developments of democracy in the European continent and the establishment of the most important political institutions playing a role in facing the future challenges. Through exploration of contemporary issues, the course will highlight the historical, socio-cultural and political context of Prague as a European city, enabling students to engage their creative thinking and problem-solving skills from a position of knowledge and awareness. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Intercultural Communication
This course invites students to critically explore intercultural communication through direct engagement with diverse cultural environments. Students explore how culture-general concepts, power dynamics, and societal structures shape communication across borders. Emphasis is placed on developing self-awareness and other-awareness, particularly in relation to cultural group memberships and personal identities. Through immersive learning and reflective practices, students cultivate respect for varied communication styles and cultural perspectives, gaining the skills to interact thoughtfully and effectively across cultural boundaries. The course also highlights the resilience and contributions of marginalized communities, encouraging students to recognize and honor the richness of global diversity in both everyday interactions and broader societal contexts.. (3 U.S. quarter credit hours)

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
The class will introduce the basics concepts which have developed in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Since the 1960’s, AI has been applied to complex programs which could achieve tasks considered very complicated even for humans (such as optimization problems or face recognition). Today, AI has developed into a fully-fledged field which is connected with big data, data analytics, and machine learning. The class will introduce the key concepts of intelligent agents, their behavior and environment, and their role in problem solving, and knowledge and reasoning representation. Modeling intelligent behavior of the agents designed to solve problems is a challenging task, and several models have been developed (logical, probabilistic, and/or based on neural networks). The class will survey basic methods, looking for common points and differences. In particular, the modeling of learning (a characteristic trait of humans) will be discussed with examples from natural language processing, and will be put in the context of machine learning (ML). (4 U.S. semester credit hours)

Introduction to Computer Network Security
The goal of this class is to provide the students with a solid foundation for securing data in a computer infrastructure, covering thus data security on the end devices (computers) as well as securing data in transit (network devices) and on remote storage (data centers and/or cloud). To complement this, it also presents user authentication and accountability (logging). The aim of the class is to present students with the enforcement of CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Authentication) and AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) concepts/services on a data infrastructure that is both secured and scalable. Building on necessary definitions, the class introduces key security concepts and principles, and continues to enforce such concepts and principles on the data path from the end-user, at each device, towards the internet. The content is presented in a constructive manner, starting with the most important definitions, security concepts and principles and continuing to the enforcement of these concepts and principles on the data path from the end-user, at each device, towards the internet. From an entity perspective, the class covers the end user, workstations and servers, switches, routers, firewalls, data storage, and cloud services. (4 U.S. semester credit hours)

Introduction to Machine Learning
In this class, students develop an understanding of the theoretical foundations in machine learning (ML) and an ability to use its methods in practice. Several state-of-the-art models and algorithms will be discussed, including regression, clustering, decision trees and neural networks, and deep learning. Concurrently, students develop a solution for a test problem using tools discussed in the class, such as git, python, etc. This practical experience assesses the effectiveness of the chosen ML algorithms and provides an understanding of the key role of data selection and the evaluation of results. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Marginalized Populations in the Czech Republic
This sociology class provides a sociological analysis of marginalized populations in the Czech Republic, exploring their historical, political, and socioeconomic contexts. Students will examine the experiences of Roma communities, an estimated half-million African and other immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other marginalized groups, focusing on both the successes and ongoing struggles they face in Czech society. Through case studies, historical context, and contemporary political debates, the class will highlight how social exclusion, integration efforts, and government policies have shaped the lives of these groups. Students will critically assess the role of nationalism, social policy, and economic factors in shaping public attitudes and policies toward marginalized populations. This class is ideal for students interested in sociology, politics, history, and social justice with a focus on marginalized populations in Central and Eastern Europe. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Software Engineering
This class focused on the two dimensions essential for successful software development: software engineering proper, which includes software architecture selection and other technical details, and project management, including its planning stage. Students learn how to model software processes and analyze clients’ needs to design a suitable solution, including representations via Unified Modeling Language (UML). Throughout the term, progressive exercises survey requirements for system architecture, emphasize an object-oriented approach, and analyze methods for testing and evaluation. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Web Development
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of web development, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and full-stack development using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js). Through hands-on projects and guided instruction, students will learn to build interactive, scalable, and secure web applications and explore global perspectives on web architecture. (4 U.S. quarter credit hours)

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Transcript 

Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.