Modern Irish History (M.Phil./P.Grad.Dip) – (M.Phil.)

Contents

The course work consists of four elements:

1. Two Major Subjects of Study (one taken per term)
Students must complete one major subject of study in both the Michaelmas and the Hilary Terms. Each subject will be taught by means of a weekly two-hour seminar. Availability of courses will alter from year to year and is also subject to student demand.

These major subjects of study include:

* War and society in early modern Ireland
* Big house and hidden Ireland: representation and reality in rural Ireland, 1650-1840
* Ireland in crisis, 1791-1803
* Ireland in the age of O´Connell, 1775-1847
* The Irish Famine
* Emigration and the Irish overseas
* Violence and politics in twentieth century Ireland
* Issues in Anglo-Irish relations, 1922-1979

2. Research Training

This element of the M.Phil programme focuses on the range of approaches, technologies and resources available to researchers in modern Irish history. It addresses both the methodological and the practical issues involved in the various stages of research.

Students must complete the three core courses that form the basis of this part of the programme.

(a) Libraries and archives
(b) Approaches to historical research (including the optional introduction to historical research placement programme)
(c) Generic research and vocational skills for M.Phil programmes

A fourth course must also be completed. Students may choose from the following two courses:

(d) Palaeography: the English hand to 1700
or
(e) Encompassing Modern Irish history

Students have the option of attending both research training options (d) and (e). They must, however, register for one course and complete all the required assignments for that particular course.

3. Research seminars

This element of the M.Phil programme focuses on the range of approaches, technologies and resources available to researchers in modern Irish history. It addresses both the methodological and the practical issues involved in the various stages of research.

Students must complete the three core courses that form the basis of this part of the programme.

(a) Libraries and archives
(b) Approaches to historical research (including the optional introduction to historical research placement programme)
(c) Generic research and vocational skills for M.Phil programmes

A fourth course must also be completed. Students may choose from the following two courses:

(d) Palaeography: the English hand to 1700
or
(e) Encompassing Modern Irish history

Students have the option of attending both research training options (d) and (e). They must, however, register for one course and complete all the required assignments for that particular course.

4. Dissertation (15,000-20,000 words)

Students seeking the M.Phil in Modern Irish History will be required to submit a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words based on primary research and on a review of relevant modern historical writing. Those who opt not to submit a dissertation may be considered for the award of postgraduate diploma.

Students are advised to give some thought to possible dissertation topics in advance of registration for the M.Phil programme.

Assessment:

Assessment allows for the award of an M.Phil Degree (Masters in Philosophy) or, where a thesis is not submitted, a Postgraduate Diploma

Candidates are assessed on the completion of:

* o Major subject of study: the equivalent of an essay of c.3,500 words per major subject of study
* o Research Training: these are pass/fail modules assessed on the basis of regular attendance and the completion of written assignments
* o Research Seminar: this is a pass/fail course assessed on the basis of regular attendance and the completion of weekly seminar reports
* o Dissertation (15,000-20,000 words): this will be assessed by two members of staff and the external examiner.

Students who complete all mandatory course work and other requirements including presentations, and who obtain in the major subjects of study an aggregate mark of 50% or higher, will be permitted to proceed to the dissertation stage for assessment for the award of the M. Phil in Modern Irish History. Alternatively, they may elect to take the Postgraduate Diploma in Modern Irish History.

Students who complete all requisite course work and other requirements, and who obtain in the major subjects of study an aggregate mark of between 40% and 49%, will not be permitted to proceed to the dissertation stage but will be recommended for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Modern Irish History.

Students who receive an aggregate mark of less than 40% in the major subjects of study or who fail one or more of the research training modules will not be permitted to proceed to the dissertation stage but, subject to securing an aggregate mark of 40% or higher in the major subjects of study and passing the research training modules, will be recommended for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Modern Irish History.

ECTS

The M.Phil programme is weighted at 90 ECTS. These are distributed across the courses and the dissertation.

Dissertation:

Students seeking the M. Phil will be required to submit a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words based on primary sources and on a review of relevant modern historical writing. Those who opt not to submit a dissertation may be considered for the award of a postgraduate diploma. The requirements for the dissertation are as follows:

* o It must be between fifteen and twenty words in length, excluding notes, appendices and a full bibliography
* o It must be accompanied by a two hundred word abstract, which should include eight key words to facilitate indexing.
* o It must be word processed, and its presentation should follow a recognized style sheet Those of Irish Historical Studies or Historical Journal are recommended as a default.
* o Three copies of the work must be submitted, of which two may be ring bound in soft covers. One must be bound in hard covers with the student's name, year of submission and the degree sought printed on the spine.
* o Depending on the sources used, supporting evidence may be submitted in recognized electronic formats (e.g. CDs or DVDs).
* o Students must submit a two hundred word typed proposal to the Department of Modern History by the end of Michaelmas Term.
* o The proposal must include a statement of the problem to be studied, a brief discussion of relevant secondary literature, and a discussion of the proposed primary sources to be used.
* o Students will then be required to defend their proposals in class discussions, and to participate in the discussion of other students' proposals as appropriate.
* o Each student will be assigned a supervisor who will provide academic guidance and comment during the Hilary and Trinity Terms. Such guidance will include observations on written work submitted during this period. It is the responsibility of students to make arrangements to secure such advice.
* o Dissertations must be submitted in the stipulated form and number of copies not later than 5 p.m. on the last Friday in September. No extensions to this deadline will normally be granted.
* o If required a viva voce examination will be held.

Attendance and Requirements:

The course lasts for one calendar year from the beginning of October, and requires full-time study. Students are expected to attend all taught components of the course.

Methods of Study:

In terms of taught components each subject will be taught by means of a weekly two-hour seminar. Students are required to attend seminars, to participate in class activities, to complete assigned tasks, and to make class presentations. They will also submit research based essays.

Students will be introduced to a variety of methods and techniques of capturing and organizing historical data, and to the historical discourse on modern Irish history from the seventeenth to the twenty first century.

For the dissertation each student will be assigned a supervisor who will provide academic guidance on the project.