Master’s Programme in English with Specialisation in Literature in English60 Credits

Advanced level education must entail an advancement of knowledge, skills and ability relative to basic level education and must, in addition to the basic level requirements,

• further develop the ability of students to independently integrate and use their knowledge,
• develop the ability of students to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• prepare the students for employment which requires a high degree of independence or for work in research and development.

Knowledge and understanding
For a Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) degree the student shall have:

• demonstrated knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrated specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills
For a Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) degree the student shall have:

• demonstrated the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrated the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrated the ability in speech and writing to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrated the skills required for participation in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach
For a Master of Arts/Science (60 credits) degree the student shall have:

• demonstrated the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrated insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrated the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

On completion of the programme the student will be able to

• demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the development of literary theory
• demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge in the form of individual literary text analyses with a high degree of theoretical awareness of the relationship between language, literature and culture,
• demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of a specific topic or area within the field of literature in English,
• independently plan and carry out a well-defined literary research task in English-language literature which demonstrates a nuanced theoretical insight and the ability to problematise the assumptions and ambitions of theoretical standpoints,
• demonstrate the oral and written ability and proficiency necessary to argue effectively in clear academic English for complex interpretations and analyses of literary and critical texts and to actively be able to interact with others in a critical and constructive environment.

The programme consists of seven obligatory courses at advanced level in Literatures in English as the main field of study. In the first semester of the programme, students take four obligatory courses of 7.5 credits each. During the second semester of the programme, students take three obligatory courses at advanced level, namely two courses of 7.5 credits each and the course English: One-Year Master Degree Thesis in Literature (15 credits). The degree thesis course should always be taken in the final semester of the programme.

All courses at the advanced level belong to the main field of study Literature in English.

English: Scholarly Writing in Literary Theory and Criticism – Graduate level 7.5 credits
English: Literature and Theory 7.5 credits
English: Contemporary Irish Fiction 7.5 credits or Conflict and Creativity in Literature in English 7.5 credits (from autumn 2024)
Migration, Climate and Anxiety in Literature in English 7.5 credits
English: Advanced Literary Theory 7.5 credits or Literature, Censorship and Cancel Culture in English 7.5 credits (from spring 2025)
World Literatures in English 7.5 credits
English: One-Year Master Degree Thesis in Literature 15 credits

Degree of Master of Arts (60 Credits), Main Field of Study: Literature in English.

Students who pass all the courses in the syllabus will, upon application, receive a degree certificate where the title of the programme may be specified, if the student so wishes.