Irish and Irish American Studies (MA)

Department Website

Program Description

The MA in Irish and Irish American Studies offers students a broad interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes new approaches to the field of Irish Studies modeled on the best methods of contemporary Humanities and Social Science scholarship.  Courses taught by Glucksman Ireland House faculty in History, Literature, Music, and Cultural Studies investigate the Irish experience in and outside of Ireland.  The many archives and the vibrant Irish community of New York City offer unparalleled opportunities for graduate study.

The MA in Irish and Irish American studies has been structured to offer students both a comprehensive grounding in the Irish studies field and the opportunity for in-depth course work and research in the new forms of inter- and transdisciplinary scholarship characteristic of the best recent work in the field. Courses are offered in history, literature, music, language, and cultural studies. 

Admissions

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation, and
• A non-refundable application fee.

See Irish and Irish American Studies for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Major Requirements
Core Courses
IRISH-GA 1001	Irish Studies Seminar I	4
IRISH-GA 1002	Irish Studies MA Seminar II	4
Field Specialization
Select 8 credits in field specialization courses		8
Electives
Other Elective Credits 1		16
Total Credits		32

¹

Select 16 credits of general elective courses offered in Irish music, Irish history, Irish American history, and Irish literature, and special topics courses in Irish literature and in Irish and Irish American studies.

Additional Program Requirements

Thesis or Final Project

All students are required to complete a final project or thesis. This requirement may be met in either of two ways. With permission of their faculty adviser, students have the option of enrolling, in their final semester, IRISH-GA 1099 Guided Research, in order to prepare an MA research thesis. This is recommended for students who wish to go on to pursue a PhD degree. Students not approved to write a thesis must designate, with the approval of their faculty adviser, one research essay submitted on a course within their field of specialization as their final project. This essay must be revised to meet standards of publication in the field and must be approved by one additional faculty member in addition to the student’s faculty adviser.

General Program Information

Core Courses

All students enrolled in the MA are required to take two courses in their first year, IRISH-GA 1001 Irish Studies Seminar I (fall), and IRISH-GA 1002 Irish Studies MA Seminar II (spring). The Irish Studies Seminar I is the core course of the MA It is designed to engage participants with the ideas and debates that animate all the component disciplines of Irish studies and to prepare students for the topics-oriented classes that form the bulk of the MA curriculum. The Irish Studies Seminar II is required of all students entering the MA program without prior Irish language study. The Irish language forms an integral part of Irish political and cultural history as well as contemporary intellectual life, yet very few universities offer course work in it. This seminar is designed to give students an accelerated introduction to conversational Irish and to the grammar, structure, and history of the language. The course will allow students better to comprehend the influence of Irish language place names, folklore, and Gaelic customs in modern Ireland. Students who demonstrate prior study of the language may be exempted from this requirement with permission of the director of the MA

Electives and Individual Specialization

General elective courses are offered in Irish music, Irish history, Irish American history, and Irish literature, and special topics courses in Irish literature and in Irish and Irish American studies; this third tier allows students to complete the eight courses required for the MA degree and to develop their own particular areas of specialization. Students enrolled in the MA may, with permission of the director of the MA, enroll in relevant courses offered within other programs and areas of scholarship within the University, including the Departments of English, Music, and History, the American Studies program; the Tisch Performance Studies Department; and the Draper Program.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
IRISH-GA 1001	Irish Studies Seminar I	4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	12
2nd Semester/Term
IRISH-GA 1002	Irish Studies MA Seminar II	4
Elective		4
Elective		4
	Credits	12
3rd Semester/Term
IRISH-GA 1099	Guided Research	4
Elective		4
	Credits	8
	Total Credits	32

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the intersections of Irish history, culture, and literature within the field of Irish Studies through completed coursework.
2. Learn to identify and interrogate both primary and secondary sources and develop an appropriate research methodology for the student’s area of study, demonstrated through an approved thesis or capstone prospectus.
3. Show mastery of graduate-level research and writing skills through a thesis or capstone project.
4. Gain experience in presenting original research in a public forum either through a conference, in class, or through thesis presentations at graduation.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.