QC Queens College

The general aim of Irish Studies is that of any of the humane disciplines – literature, history, philosophy – that constitute the curriculum of a first-rank liberal arts college. In particular, it is aimed at an understanding of the historical and cultural development of the Irish people, their language, literature, social institutions; the significance of their contribution – intellectually, spiritually, artistically – to the world; their experience as one of the first postcolonial nations; their experience as an emigrant diaspora.

As such, Irish Studies is intended for all students interested in the study of a rich and varied culture, and is of special interest to those students of Irish antecedents for whom it will provide a new or renewed awareness of their place – historical and contemporary – in a pluralistic society.

For students majoring in English, comparative literature, communication arts and sciences, or political science, a wide selection of courses in Irish Studies may provide a logical corollary to their principal interest. Students interested in an interdisciplinary major in Irish Studies (through Interdisciplinary and Special Studies) should consult with the director of Interdisciplinary and Special Studies and the director of Irish Studies.

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