MA in Irish Studies / Ma sa Léann Éireannach

MA in Irish Studies 2012-13

MA in Irish Studies Handbook

Semester 1 Timetable

The MA in Irish Studies is a one-year interdisciplinary programme drawing on the disciplines of Irish, History and English, and including perspectives from Sociology and Political Science. Since it was first offered in 2001, over 150 students from Ireland, Wales, England, Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada and the US have graduated from the programme. While many of our students pursue careers such as teaching and journalism, a significant number progress to doctoral studies in Ireland and overseas. In recent years, several graduates have been awarded prestigious national and international doctoral fellowships.

The MA in Irish Studies provides a comprehensive overview of the Irish experience from the early nineteenth century to the present day. A key element of the programme is an Irish-language module, which ensures that all students achieve a minimum working knowledge of the language, with a particular focus on reading and translation skills.The teaching language of the course is English and essays, dissertations and oral presentations may be in English or Irish.  No prior knowledge of Irish is required for entry into the programme. 

The MA in Irish Studies is also available as a part-time degree programme.

Distinctive features of the MA :

• Interdisciplinary focus on the development of modern Irish culture and society
• Bilingual approaches to Irish literature, history and society
• Intensive year-long Irish-language programme, including classes in the Gaeltacht
• Advanced research workshpops

Tadhg Foley Fellowship

This Fellowship recognises the extraordinary contribution made by Professor Emeritus Tadhg Foley to the centre's activities as Chair of the Board of the Centre for Irish Studies during the period 2003—2009. The Fellowship is awarded to the most outstanding student on the MA in Irish Studies, and is based on academic excellence achieved at point of entry to the programme (2013-2014). 

Course Structure and Content
The full-time MA programme is of one year’s duration, and consists of six core modules, an interdisciplinary seminar, an Irish language course, and a minor dissertation.  A series of introductory lectures on key issues and events relating to continuity and change in Ireland before 1800 is offered at the beginning of the programme. 

Semester 1

IS 104 Ideology, Politics and Society in Ireland, 1800-1921 
………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..
IS 105 Young Ireland to the Free State: Writing in English, 1849-1922 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..                                                          
IS 106 Decline and Revival: Language, Literature and Society, 1800-1939

Semester 2 

IS 107 Divided Ireland: Politics and Society since 1921
………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..
IS 108 The Politics of Modernity: Writing in English, 1922 to the present …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..                                                          
IS 109 Gaelic and Free: Cultural Politics and Writing in Irish since 1939

Irish Language Course
The Irish language module ensures that all students achieve a minimum working level of competency in the language that will enable them to utilise Irish-language source materials as part of their research skill-set. The course is obligatory and is offered at beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels.

MA Dissertation
The subject for the MA Dissertation is chosen by students in consultation with the MA Course Board and the Programme Director during the second semester, and comprises of a research project of approximately 15,000-18,000 words.

Further Careers
A significant proportion of our students continue on to pursue doctoral research in Ireland and abroad, while many have secured careers in teaching and education, publishing and translation, journalism and digital media, and the arts, heritage and tourism industries.

Entry Requirements
Irish Students: Applicants should have at least a 2:2 honours degree in appropriate subjects. It is not necessary to have studied all or any of the core subjects of the course. Official transcripts are required for all students who are not graduates of NUI, Galway.

Overseas Students: North American Students need to have a minimum of 3.00 GPA in their degree result. Applicants who apply from abroad are strongly recommended to enclose with their application a sample of their written academic work in either English or Irish, and must also nominate two academic referees. Overseas applicants who are not native English speakers may be required to present evidence of competence in English.

How do I apply

Further information concerning the MA programme is available at http://www.go4th.ie/irishstudies/ma_irish_ft.html 
Applications to this programme are made online via the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) ( http://www.pac.ie/main.php?inst="gy&ln="e "

For further details, contact Course Director Dr Louis de Paor, Centre for Irish Studies at louis.depaornuigalway.ie or Nessa Cronin, MA Programme Coordinator at nessa.croninnuigalway.ie

MA Course Board

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