6. The Programmes

Students interested in Celtic languages, literatures, and history have a range of degree options to choose from. These options are described below.

6.1 Gaelic Studies

The Gaelic Studies degree focuses in the first instance on Modern Scottish Gaelic language and literature, and secondarily on the language and literature of the 13th to 17th centuries in Scotland and Ireland and Modern Irish.

In the first year of the programme, students concentrate on Scottish Gaelic, taking modules at a level appropriate to their level of preparation: CE 1017 and CE 1517 with the accompanying oral classes CE 1019 and CE 1519 for beginners; CE 1014 and CE 1514 with the accompanying oral classes CE 1015 and CE 1515 for those with a Learner's Higher in Gaelic at 'B' or above; and CE 1016 and CE 1516 for those with a Native Speaker's Higher. These are the courses required for the degree in the first year -- students intending on a degree in Gaelic Studies may also have an interest in the Celtic Civilisation modules offered in first year, in which they would be able to enroll as optional courses.

In the second year of the programme, the beginners proceed to CE 2007 and CE 2507, which build on the work done in the first year Gaelic course. Those in the 'qualified' stream, both learners and native speakers, go into CE 2009 and 2509. All students in the second year of the programme also enroll in CE 2010 and CE 2510 Introduction to Modern Irish. These modules introduce students to Scottish Gaelic's sister language, and reinforces the work done in the Gaelic classes through the use of a contrastive Scottish Gaelic / Irish approach throughout. the knowledge gained also enables the students to approach Modern Irish texts in the required honours modules on 20th century Scottish Gaelic and Irish literature. Celtic options at this level include CE 2011 The Irish Sea World, and, for the beginners, the oral classes CE 1015 and CE 1515.

At honours level students continue their study of Scottish Gaelic with the third year course CE 3026 and the fourth year course CE 4020, which run over the entire academic year. Non-native speakers also enroll in the oral classes CE 3025 and CE 4025, which also run over the full year. All students write a honours dissertation (CE 4541). In preparation for this, students are required to take CE 3541 Introduction to Research Methods.

In the Celtic Department, honours modules other than those above are offered every other year. Each time they are offered, they appear in separate versions appropriate to students at third and fourth level respectively. This is to reflect the increased experience and intellectual sophistication acquired by students after a year of honours study. Gaelic Studies students are required, during their two honours years, to take either the third or fourth level version of the following: CE 3004/4004 Introduction to Early Modern Gaelic, CE 3535/4535 Classical Gaelic Verse, CE 3540/4540 Scottish Gaelic Dialectology, CE 3041/ 4041 The Road to Bright City: 20th Century Irish and Scottish Gaelic Prose Fiction, and CE 3542/4542 Eilean agus Eilean Eile: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Poetry from 1940 to the Present Day.

In addition to the required coursework above, student choose a number of other modules from among those offered by the department (to a total of 60 credits for native speakers, 45 for non-native speakers). Modules currently offered include CE 3050/4050 Seeing Marvels: An Introduction to Medieval Welsh, CE 3550/4550 A House Made of Leaves: Medieval Welsh poetry, CE 3028/4028 Old Irish, CE 3539/4539 Middle Gaelic, CE 3036/4036 The Continental Celts, CE 3037/4037 Celtic Philology, CE 3038/4038 Kings, Goddesses, and Poets: Medieval Celtic Prose Tales, CE 3039/4039 Celts and Christianity to c. 1200, CE 3536/4536 Kings, Clerics and Saints: the Kingdoms of North Britain to c. 900 A.D., and CE 3543/4543 Ríg Alban and Ríg Éirenn: Kingship and Identity c.900 -c.1200

Programme structure:

Gaelic Studies:

6.2 Celtic Studies

The Celtic Studies degree focuses on the medieval Celtic languages and literatures of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In addition, students gain a good grounding at levels 1 and 2 in Scottish Gaelic, and have the option of continuing with the language at honours level.

In the first year of the programme, students study Scottish Gaelic, taking modules at a level appropriate to their level of preparation: CE 1017 and CE 1517 for beginners; CE 1014 and CE 1514 for those with a Learner's Higher in Gaelic at 'B' or above; and CE 1016 and CE 1516 for those with a Native Speaker's Higher. In addition, students take CE 1520 Celtic Civilisation: the Early Medieval Insular Celts. These are the courses required for the degree in the first year -- students intending on a degree in Celtic Studies may also have an interest in the other Celtic Civilisation module offered in first year, or the Gaelic oral classes, in which they could enroll as optional courses.

In the second year of the programme, the beginners proceed to CE 2007 and CE 2507, which build on the work done in the first year Gaelic course. Those in the 'qualified' stream, both learners and native speakers, go into CE 2009 and 2509. Celtic options at this level include CE 2011 The Irish Sea World, CE 2010 and CE 2510 Introduction to Modern Irish and, for the beginners, the oral Gaelic classes CE 1015 and CE 1515.

At honours level, having had an introduction to medieval Celtic literature in translation, history and culture, students embark upon the study of texts in the original. In the Celtic Department, most honours modules are offered every other year. Each time they are offered, they appear in separate versions appropriate to students at third and fourth level respectively. This is to reflect the increased experience and intellectual sophistication acquired by students after a year of honours study. Celtic Studies students are required, during their two honours years, to take either the third or fourth level version of the following: CE 3050/4050 Seeing Marvels: An Introduction to Medieval Welsh, CE 3550/4550 A House Made of Leaves: Medieval Welsh poetry, CE 3028/4028 Old Irish, CE 3539/4539 Middle Gaelic, CE 3037/4037 Celtic Philology, and CE 3038/4038 Kings, Goddesses, and Poets: Medieval Celtic Prose Tales. All students write a honours dissertation (CE 4541). In preparation for this, students are required to take CE 3541 Introduction to Research Methods.

In addition to the required coursework above, student choose a number of other modules from among those offered by the department, to a total of 120 credits. Modules currently available include CE 3004/4004 Introduction to Early Modern Gaelic, CE 3535/4535 Classical Gaelic Verse, CE 3540/4540 Scottish Gaelic Dialectology, CE 3041/ 4041 The Road to Bright City: 20th Century Irish and Scottish Gaelic Prose Fiction, CE 3542/4542 Eilean agus Eilean Eile: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Poetry from 1940 to the Present Day, CE 3036/4036 The Continental Celts, CE 3039/4039 Celts and Christianity to c. 1200, CE 3536/4536 Kings, Clerics and Saints: the Kingdoms of North Britain to c. 900 A.D., and CE 3543/4543 Ríg Alban and Ríg Éirenn: Kingship and Identity c.900 -c.1200.

Celtic Studies

6.3 Celtic Joint Honours

This programme provides students with the opportunity to combine their studies in Celtic with a range of other programmes (consult with your adviser for details of available degrees). All students in this programme receive a firm grounding in Scottish Gaelic at pre-honours level. Once admitted to honours, the student is largely free to follow their own interests within the constraints outlined below. Those whose primary interest is in Scottish Gaelic language can continue their studies over the two honours years. Those who may wish to delve into earlier forms of the language or give Middle Welsh a try can do so. Courses in Celtic Civilisation are also open to Celtic joint honours students on a limited basis.

In the first year of the programme, students study Scottish Gaelic, taking modules at a level appropriate to their level of preparation: CE 1017 and CE 1517 for beginners; CE 1014 and CE 1514 for those with a Learner's Higher in Gaelic at 'B' or above; and CE 1016 and CE 1516 for those with a Native Speaker's Higher.. These are the courses required for the degree in the first year -- students intending a joint degree in Celtic Studies may also have an interest in the Celtic Civilisation modules offered in first year, or the Gaelic oral classes, in which they could enroll as optional courses.

In the second year of the programme, the beginners proceed to CE 2007 and CE 2507, which build on the work done in the first year Gaelic course. Those in the 'qualified' stream, both learners and native speakers, go into CE 2009 and 2509. Other Celtic options at this level include CE 2011 The Irish Sea World, CE 2010 and CE 2510 Introduction to Modern Irish and, for the beginners, the oral Gaelic classes CE 1015 and CE 1515.

There are no core Celtic modules for the joint Celtic degree. Joint Celtic Studies students are required, during their two honours years, to take either the third or fourth level version of Celtic honours modules to a total of 120 credits. In the Celtic Department, most honours modules are offered every other year. Each time they are offered, they appear in separate versions appropriate to students at third and fourth level respectively. This is to reflect the increased experience and intellectual sophistication acquired by students after a year of honours study. Among the modules Celtic joint students can choose from are: CE 3026 Scottish Gaelic Language: Written 1, CE 3035 Scottish Gaelic Language Oral 1, CE 4020 Scottish Gaelic Language: Written 2, CE 4035 Scottish Gaelic Language Oral 2, CE 3050/4050 Seeing Marvels: An Introduction to Medieval Welsh, CE 3550/4550 A House Made of Leaves: Medieval Welsh poetry, CE 3028/4028 Old Irish, CE 3539/4539 Middle Gaelic, CE 3037/4037 Celtic Philology, CE 3038/4038 Kings, Goddesses, and Poets: Medieval Celtic Prose Tales, CE 3004/4004 Introduction to Early Modern Gaelic, CE 3535/4535 Classical Gaelic Verse, CE 3540/4540 Scottish Gaelic Dialectology, CE 3036/4036 The Continental Celts, CE 3039/4039 Celts and Christianity to c. 1200, CE 3536/4536 Kings, Clerics and Saints: the Kingdoms of North Britain to c. 900 A.D., CE 3543/4543 Ríg Alban and Ríg Éirenn: Kingship and Identity c.900 -c.1200, CE 3041/ 4041 The Road to Bright City: 20th Century Irish and Scottish Gaelic Prose Fiction (note prerequisite), CE 3542/4542 Eilean agus Eilean Eile: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Poetry from 1940 to the Present Day (note prerequisite). If students intend to write an honours dissertation in Celtic, they take both CE 3541 Introduction to Research Methods and CE 4541 Celtic Dissertation.

Celtic joint

6.4 Celtic Civilisation Joint

The Celtic Civilisation joint honours degree is designed for students with an interest in the history, literatures, and cultures of the Celtic-speaking peoples. There is no language component to this course.

In the first year of the programme students take CE 1020 Celtic Civilisation: the Continental and Early Insular Celts and CE 1520 Celtic Civilisation: The Early Medieval Insular Celts. This provides students with a broad overview of the history of the Celtic peoples from prehistory to the early medieval period, drawing on a wide range of archaeological, artistic, linguistic and documentary evidence.

In second year, Celtic Civilisation students take two modules, CE 2011 The Irish Sea World, and CE 25xx (to be approved). These two modules take students up to the early modern period, concentrating in the first half session on Scotland and Ireland, and in the second half session more closely on Scotland.

In the Celtic Department, most honours modules are offered every other year. Each time they are offered, they appear in separate versions appropriate to students at third and fourth level respectively. This is to reflect the increased experience and intellectual sophistication acquired by students after a year of honours study. At honours level, students choose modules to a total of 120 credits from the following: CE 3036/4036 The Continental Celts: History and Institutions, CE 3038/4038 Kings, Goddesses, and Poets: Medieval Celtic Prose Tales, CE 3039/4039 Celts and Christianity to c.1200, CE 3536/4536 Kings, Clerics and Saints: the Kingdoms of North Britain to c.900 A.D., CE 3541 Introduction to Resarch Methods, CE 4541 Celtic Dissertation. If students intend to write an honours dissertation in Celtic, they take both CE 3541 Introduction to Research Methods and CE 4541 Celtic Dissertation.

Celtic Civilisation joint

6.5 Discontinued courses

The department no longer offers a single honours course in Celtic Civilisation to new entrants. Those few students who are still enrolled for this degree should consult with Dr. Kaarina Hollo for advice on degree requirements.

6.6 The Grade Spectrum

After Assessment has been completed for each Honours course, the Honours Classification for all the University’s Honours degree programmes is made according to the following Grade Spectrum:

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