The MA in Medieval History is a taught, one-year course that gives you the research skills to investigate and interpret the literary and artistic culture of the Middle Ages, particularly of early Ireland and Britain.
You will encounter medieval sources that are being radically reinterpreted in the light of exciting new research by course lecturers. The course is designed to give you a thorough grounding in research skills while providing maximum freedom to follow your own research interests.
You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your own ability to engage with historical sources in writing your research dissertation, and to apply your knowledge in the working environment of a museum. You will also adapt your research and analytical skills to a variety of non-academic contexts or, alternatively, to undertaking further research.
In the Autumn and Spring teaching periods, you will take a number of modules (including instruction in Latin) that explore major themes in western medieval culture and are intended to equip you with the key skills of the medieval historian. Teaching is research-led; classes focus on a range of sources, both literary and visual.
The MA offers modules which concentrate on historical themes, and others which are intended to develop key research skills and methodologies. In the Autumn semester, you will take Historical contexts for medievalists (Hi6088), an intensive introduction to key turning points and transformations in the history and culture of medieval Western Europe from Late Antiquity to the High Middle Ages. You will take The Insular world in text and image (Hi6090) and, through a close analysis of selected literary and visual sources, come to understand the history and culture of early Ireland and Britain.
In the Spring semester, you will explore actual and virtual Insular encounters with real and imagined peoples and places in Hi6089 Insular encounters with the wider world. You will also take Skills for medieval historians (Hi6091), where you will explore, evaluate and employ the variety of sources, techniques and strategies available to historians. This module will also give you the opportunity to employ your skills and knowledge in the working environment of a museum or field of applied historical research.
All students will take an introductory Latin module (LT6001) offered by the Department of Classics.
For more current details of the programme and module descriptions, see the Postgraduate College Calendar.
Why Choose This Course
-The programme is designed to give students a thorough grounding in research skills while providing maximum freedom to follow their own research interests.
-This course will appeal to students wishing to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the culture of the medieval West, and especially of early Ireland and Britain.
-Students will encounter medieval sources that are being radically reinterpreted in the light of exciting new research by programme lecturers.
-Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the period and their interpretative skills in the working environment of a museum.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Work experience is an integral part of the course giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the period and interpretative skills in the working environment of a museum, or through the creation of online digital corpora and databases.