Ancient Medieval Languages PG Dip

Program Overview

This nine-month full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient and Medieval Languages provides students with language skills in Classical Greek, Latin, Old English, Old Irish, and Medieval Welsh. Students also gain knowledge in the history and culture of the societies using these languages. The program prepares graduates for postgraduate research and careers in the cultural and heritage sectors.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient and Medieval Languages is a full-time diploma taken over 9 months. It focuses on developing skills in two or more ancient or medieval languages from a group consisting of Classical Greek, Latin, Old English, Old Irish, and Medieval Welsh. The program also develops knowledge of the history and culture of the societies using these languages. It aims to equip students with the basic language skills necessary to undertake postgraduate research into the ancient or medieval worlds.

Outline:

The program consists of 60 credits, divided into two sections:

• Section I: Language Modules (40-50 credits): Students choose modules according to their experience in their chosen languages from within a group consisting of Classical Greek, Latin, Old English, Old Irish, and Medieval Welsh.
They cannot take a beginners’ module if they have already passed it (or its equivalent). Modules vary from year-to-year. Currently, the following modules are available:
• Old Irish:
• CC6001 Old Irish (10 credits)
• CC6003 Early Irish Text (10 credits)
• CC6011 Continuing Old Irish (10 credits)
• CC6017 Researching Early Irish Texts: Language and Literature 1 (10 credits)
• CC6018 Researching Early Irish Texts: Language and Literature 2 (10 credits)
• Medieval Welsh:
• CC6004 Medieval Welsh (10 credits)
• Old English:
• EN2012 Old English Language (5 credits)
• Classical Greek:
• GK2003 Reading Greek (5 credits)
• GK2008 Easy Greek Texts (5 credits)
• GK3033 Plato (5 credits)
• GK6001 Beginners' Ancient Greek (15 credits)
• Classical & Medieval Latin:
• LT2009 Reading Latin (5 credits)
• LT2044 Easy Texts II (5 credits)
• LT6001 Beginners' Latin (15 credits)
• LT6013 Sallust (5 credits)
• LT6014 Cicero (5 credits)
• LT6015 Latin in Practice (5 credits)
• Section II: Culture Modules (10-20 credits): Students can choose from a variety of modules related to the history and culture of the societies using the ancient and medieval languages.
Some examples include:
• CC2002 Celtic Saints (5 credits)
• CC2007 The Celtic Languages (5 credits)
• CC2013 The Finn Cycle (5 credits)
• CC3001 The Mabinogi: Legends of Medieval Wales (5 credits)
• CC3014 Early Irish Spirituality (5 credits)
• CC6006 Special Topic (10 credits)
• CC6007 Research Presentation (10 credits)
• CC6008 Palaeography and Manuscript-based Research (10 credits)
• EN2011 Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales and Related Texts (5 credits)
• EN3015 Of Monsters and Men: Old & Early English Literature (5 credits)
• EN3065 Romance: Medieval to Renaissance (5 credits)
• EN6051 Middle English Literature, 1200-1550 (10 credits)
• EN6053 Old English Literature to c. 1200 (10 credits)
• GR2019 Greek Mythology (5 credits)
• GR2042 Byzantium and the Rise of Islam (5 credits)
• GR6014 Late Roman History, AD284-395 (5 credits)
• GR6015 Latin Literature of Late Antiquity (5 credits)

Assessment:

Assessment varies slightly from module to module, but usually combines some form of continuous assessment, whether class tests or essays, with an end-of-semester examination. The majority of marks are typically awarded for the final examination.

Teaching:

There will be an average of 12 hours of language classes or lectures per week during both semesters. The teaching team is drawn from a number of different departments, including:

• Dr. Tom Birkett, Dept.
of English
• Prof. John Carey, Dept.
of Early and Medieval Irish
• Dr. Kevin Murray, Dept.
of Early and Medieval Irish
• Dr. Emma Nic Cárthaigh, Dept.
of Early and Medieval Irish
• Dr. Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh, Dept.
of Early and Medieval Irish
• Dr. Catherine Ware, Dept.
of Classics
• Dr. David Woods, Dept.
of Classics
• Ms. Vicky Janssens, Dept.
of Classics

Careers:

The primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient or Medieval Languages is to better prepare students for postgraduate work in the study of some aspect of the ancient or medieval worlds. However, it also provides a broad training suited for those interested in careers in the cultural and heritage sectors as well as in the education sector. A good basic knowledge of these languages will prove particularly useful for those involved in the maintenance of museum and library collections, historical archives, and the numismatic or antique trades. Potential career paths include jobs involving historical archives, museum collections, the numismatic or antique trades, and teaching.

Other:

The program offers the unique opportunity to engage in intensive study at the beginner’s level of a combination of ancient and medieval languages no longer taught in many universities.