The University of Limerick is a prestigious institution known for its excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Situated on a beautiful riverside campus, the university offers a diverse range of programs across disciplines such as arts, humanities, social sciences, business, education, engineering, science, and health sciences. With a strong commitment to experiential learning and industry engagement, the University of Limerick provides students with opportunities to gain practical skills, work experience, and develop a global perspective. The university's vibrant campus life, state-of-the-art facilities, and supportive community contribute to a transformative educational experience.

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The central purpose of the MA in the History of the Family is to combine the strengths of two traditions: that of the independent researcher into family history and that of established disciplines in history particularly the well developed sub discipline of the history of the family. The objective is a history that is fully contextualised, culturally significant and academically grounded. Students who sign up for this course seek to obtain formal training in the methodologies and concepts of history of family. They enjoy the course because it allows them to develop key academic skills while being supported in their quest for intellectual and moral autonomy. A key attraction of the course is the wide range of themes that are covered in each of the modules, and the feeling of community that undertaking research as part of a class engenders. Over the course of the year students will master the art of academic writing and develop advanced research skills through in-class training and via field trips to libraries and archives conducted in both semesters. By the end of the course successful students will have acquired the necessary skills to present historical research to a publication standard, and to conduct historical research at a doctoral level. The students Students come from a range of backgrounds; some come directly from studying towards an undergraduate degree in History or associated disciplines, others come to it after a break from formal study; often they have an interest in genealogy or family history research but want to build on this in an academic context. This diverse range of students makes for an engaging classroom where everyone’s experience is valued, and everyone has something to contribute. The online course attracts students who are based in Ireland but unable to attend on campus, as well as overseas students who are interested in history of family within an Irish context and would like to benefit from studying at an Irish university. Online students are invited to attend on-campus orientation if they wish, and many overseas students decide to arrange some time in Ireland during the year in order to conduct research, though this is not a requirement of the course. During this time they are welcome to attend the classes on-campus. Show less

Autumn Semester:

Core Modules:
HI6301 Introduction to the history of the family (9 credits): Introduces key methodologies and concepts in the history of the family.
HI6321 MA research methodology (3 credits): Covers research methodologies relevant to the field.
HI6322 History research seminar (9 credits): Develops research skills and presentation abilities.
Electives (choose two):
HI6351 Linking families to communities (9 credits): Explores the interaction between families and communities, particularly within an Irish context.
HI6191 Graduate seminar in Irish cultural history (online) (9 credits): Focuses on Irish cultural history.
Spring Semester:

Core Modules:
HI6342 Dissertation 1 (9 credits): Focuses on the initial stages of the dissertation, helping students identify their research topic.
HI6332 Dissertation writing in history of family (3 credits): Provides guidance on writing and structuring the dissertation.
Electives (choose one):
HI6352 People on the move: studying migration (9 credits): Examines key themes, discourses, and sources related to migration, with case studies from the Irish diaspora.
HI6192 Irish Diaspora: a social & cultural history (9 credits): Explores the social and cultural history of the Irish diaspora.
Summer Semester:

Core Modules:
HI6341 Dissertation 2 (no less than 15,000 words, no more than 21,000) (30 credits): Focuses on the completion and submission of a 20,000-word dissertation.
(Total of 30 ECTS)

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