Course Information
BA (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Full Time - Undergraduate Studies
CAO Code: DN520
CAO Points Range 2018: 381
Length of Course: 3 Years
Average Intake: 350
O6/H7 in English, Irish, a third language and three other recognised subjects.
Why is this course for me?
Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that examines the variety and diversity of Irish history, society, cultural practice and the complex processes through which Ireland and Irish identities have been constructed. It asks a series of provocative and stimulating questions about ideas of Ireland and Irishness, such as how can we understand the ways in which place, history, culture and society have shaped Ireland, past and present? How do processes of emigration and immigration impact on Irish culture, society and identity? What influence have identity categories such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity and class had on Irish culture, society and identities?
Career & Graduate Study Opportunities
Irish Studies graduates can find employment in:
- Journalism and the media
- Tourism
- Heritage
- Advertising
- Business
- The Arts
- Public Relations
- Public service
- Politics
Graduates are also eligible to apply for UCD MA Programmes including Irish Studies, History and English.
What Will I Study
Students take core Irish Studies modules alongside designated option modules from other Arts & Humanities & Social Sciences programme subject areas, including Irish Folklore, Celtic Civilization, Archaeology, Art History, English, Geography, History, Music and Sociology.
Core modules include:
First Year
- Introduction to Irish Studies
- Introduction to Irish Cultural Studies
Second Year
- Reading Irish Studies: Place People &
Identities - Irish Studies Readings Seminar
Third Year
- Irish Studies Texts and Contexts
- Language, Literature and Society
Students attend lectures and tutorials and undertake independent study.
Assessment is through a combination of end-of-semester written examinations and continuous assessment.
Sample Irish Studies module options
- Ireland Uncovered
- Exploring Ireland
- Gender, Culture and Society
- List of module options from all other Schools in the College of Arts and Humanities.
How Will I Study
| Studying Irish Studies (BA Arts) |
|---|
as a Joint Major with one of the subjects below:
| Studying Irish Studies (BA Humanities) |
|---|
| Celtic Studies, Art History & History |
International Study Opportunities
Exchange opportunities available to third year students have included:
- Edinburgh University, UK
- Glasgow University, UK
- University of Toronto, Canada
- University of Otago, New Zealand
Irish Studies is a growing discipline building on other possible international study opportunities in the US, Canada, UK, China, Australia, Europe and South Africa.
Testimonial
“Irish Studies consists of a diverse range of subjects, with a historical background providing the necessary context for the production of Irish identity and culture. I explored alternatives to the dominant narrative, including literature and poetry produced by people in direct provision. Contemporary film and literature analysed the impact of the recession in Ireland, while classical Irish literature illuminated ancient imagination. Irish Studies provides many vantage points from which to expand and challenge your understanding of the concept of Irishness, which I highly recommend.”
Catherine Ryan Student