University College Cork: University College Cork (UCC) is a prestigious public research university located in Cork, Ireland. Established in 1845, UCC is known for its academic excellence, innovative research, and vibrant campus life. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, medicine, and law. UCC is committed to providing a supportive learning environment, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for successful careers and global citizenship.

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Our MA Irish Mythology & Folklore (Online), offered by the Department of Early and Medieval Irish and the Department of Folklore & Ethnology at UCC, explores Irish tradition, focussing both on the earliest and the most recent sources: medieval tales evoking the pre-Christian past; and the folklore of the last few generations. Apart from Latin, Irish is the oldest literary language in western Europe, reflecting the vigorous cultural self-confidence of the early Irish themselves; and a wealth of Old Irish and Middle Irish tales, poems, and other texts speak of the culture and beliefs of the pagan period, evidently drawing on the materials of ancient myth. Ireland is also unusual in the energy and thoroughness with which its folklore has been collected, especially in the early part of the twentieth century. The Department of Folklore and Ethnology embrace this in our department collaborations with ongoing research projects across both the University and community. Despite the many changes brought by its eventful history, Ireland's traditions have been remarkably durable, and continuities can be identified by linking the popular lore of modern times with the world of primeval myth. Various course modules trace these continuities, examining enduring themes such as gender, kinship, and the supernatural. Show less

This is an online programme running for 12 months (full-time), or 24 months (part-time), from the date of first registration.

In Part I students take 60 credits consisting of six core modules
In Part II students complete a research dissertation worth 30 credits
All lectures are pre-recorded, and both they and ancillary lecture material (notes, slides, bibliographies, etc.) will be made available via Canvas, the online teaching platform used by University College Cork.

Part-time option: Part-time students will complete a minimum of 40 credits and a maximum of 60 credits in Year 1. In Year 2, they will complete their taught modules as well as submit the 30-credit dissertation by the end of the second academic year.

Part I

Core Modules (60 credits)

CC6024 Tales of Kings & Heroes in Medieval Ireland (10 credits)
CC6025 Celtic Paganism & its Irish Legacy: The Medieval Evidence (10 credits)
CC6027 Gender Perceptions in Medieval Ireland (10 credits)
FL6011 Doing Irish Folklore: Archival Collection & Dissemination, Past & Present (10 credits)
FL6012 The Gaelic Otherworld: Stories &Theories (10 credits)
FL6013 Feminine Genealogies from Myth to Folklore (10 credits)
Part II

Dissertation in Mythology or Folklore (30 credits)

CC6026 Dissertation in Irish Mythology (30 credits) or
FL6010 Dissertation in Irish Folklore (30 credits)
Course Practicalities

This is an online programme. The taught part of the programme takes place in Semesters 1 and 2. It comprises a judicious blend of lectures, directed study, mediated activities, and self-directed study. There is inherent flexibility around inquiry-led components, with ample time for research and critical reflection. Most weeks, you will have 15-18 hours of reading in addition to assignments.

We expect our online students to participate fully in the programme through sustained engagement with lectures and related materials, contribution to mediated online activities, reading and interacting with sources (a wide range of online publications in Celtic Studies and Folklore, and online cultural heritage repositories and resources), and preparing assessment submissions.

You will be expected to interact with each other’s contributions via mediated online activities in a supportive and engaged manner throughout.

Technical expertise
As this course will be delivered online, it is understood that you will have constant access to internet-delivering technology. While elementary computer literacy is required, UCC also provides technical guidance and support.

Modules
Further details on modules can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

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