MA in Celtic Studies

Overall Aims of the Scheme, Course Content and Course Structure

The principal aim of the MA in Celtic Studies is to provide students interested in Welsh and Celtic Studies with the opportunity to study various aspects of the history, literature and cultural heritage of the Celtic regions at their own pace in a flexible and innovative distance-learning scheme. In addition to enhancing students' skills in study and research methodology, the programme will allow students to choose a variety of different optional modules including Arthur in Early Celtic History, Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Matter of Britain, the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym, Welsh Literary Theory, Women in the Middle Ages: Sources from the Celtic Regions, the Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Celtic Regions and the Sociolinguistics of the Celtic Languages. Students should choose their modules in consultation with the Department's E-learning Director who will advise them concerning the availability of modules in any given year.

No former knowledge of the Celtic languages is necessary, since texts are studied in translation and essays on historical and literary topics are written in English. The aim of the course is to introduce non-Welsh or Celtic readers to the various subjects being studied, provide the necessary background and course content and permit students to study the subjects in greater detail via directed reading and supervised tuition. Students who have no former knowledge of the Celtic languages will be encouraged to begin learning Welsh or Irish and students who are already fluent in Welsh will be allowed to follow their modules through the medium of Welsh and submit assessed work in Welsh. The translation and subtitling modules are only available to those who are fluent in Welsh or already have a good grasp of Welsh. The Department offers a substantial portfolio of language courses (Beginners' Welsh (Camu), Intermediate and Advanced Welsh, Cyfoethogi Iaith and Blas na Gaeilge) and students may wish to incorporate 40 credits' worth of language courses into their MA scheme (80 credits of undergraduate language courses = 40 credits at MA level). Language courses, however, are not compulsory and students may wish to choose to study 120 credits in Part One from amongst the core MA modules (in the fields of history, literature, linguistics and study skills), thus avoiding the language modules altogether. It is also possible to study 80 credits of core modules (MA in Celtic Studies) and choose 40 credits of literary and historical undergraduate courses (e.g. Dead Virgins (the female saints of Wales ), Gerald of Wales, Contemporary Prose, Linguistic Borrowing) or 40 credits of distance-learning Masters' modules offered by other departments (e.g. History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Theology and Religious Studies). Details of the language courses available as well as the undergraduate distance-learning modules offered by the Department of Welsh are available on our website

Module MAAS0620 Study and Research Methodology is compulsory for all students, unless, as in certain rare cases (e.g. where the student already has a research degree), this compulsory element may be waived by permission of the Course Director.

The Department of Welsh at the University of Wales , Lampeter has been at the forefront of e-learning provision in Wales since it began pioneering web-based, distance-learning modules in the field of Welsh Studies in 1998. Since then, the Department has acquired a great deal of expertise in the planning, delivery and assessment of both undergraduate and postgraduate e-learning programmes.

The scheme may be studied on a full-time or part-time basis and flexible enrolment allows students the freedom to choose when they begin studying rather than restricting access to the beginning of each academic or calendar year. Distance-learning materials and web-based courses, available 24 hours a day, lead to widening access to education and provide a learner-centered approach which appeals to a whole range of people including people who are in full-time employment, those preoccupied during the day with childcare, disabled and special needs students who may prefer to study from home as well as overseas students.

Part One:

This is the taught part of the course and consists of 120 credits. Most modules are worth 20 credits each and require students to write one 5,000-word essay. Students are allocated a personal tutor for each module who will guide them through the course and help them plan and prepare their assessed essays, answering any queries by email. Essays and assessed work will be marked by the individual lecturers responsible for each module and a sample of all assignments will be double marked within the Department and sent to the Department's External Examiner.

Marking system:

70% and over: Distinction level

40-69%: Pass - candidate eligible to proceed to Part Two

0-39%: Fail

Core Module Options:

Study and Research Methodology, the Celtic Arthur, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Women in the Middle Ages, the Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Celtic Regions, Sociolinguistics of the Celtic Languages, the Matter of Britain: Geoffrey of Monmouth and Pseudo-Historical Writing, Literary Theory, the Mabinogi, Translation, Subtitling.

Part Two:

Once you have successfully completed Part One you can submit a 20,000-word dissertation (60 credits) for the degree of MA. The dissertation will be a piece of research, prepared under the guidance of a supervisor, on a topic which has particularly appealed to you.

Marking system:

70% and over: Distinction level

40-69%: Pass

39%: Fail

In order to gain a Master's Degree with Distinction, candidates shall achieve an overall mark of not less than 70% having achieved not less than 65% in Part One and not less than 70% in Part Two.

Candidates who are admitted to the Master's degree scheme but do not progress to completion may qualify for either a Postgraduate Certificate (upon attaining not fewer than 60 credits) or for a Postgraduate Diploma (upon attaining not fewer than 120 credits).

Entry Requirements

Entry to the MA scheme will usually require that the candidate has already obtained a good BA Degree in the Humanities or related subject area, although it is possible to admit students on the basis of other qualifications and experience at the discretion of the Course Director. You are welcome to contact Dr Jane Cartwright to discuss your specific case (Tel: 01570 424870)

Bibliographies and Library Resources

Detailed bibliographies are provided throughout the course and the individual lecturers responsible for the modules will advise students which texts, chapters and articles they particularly recommend in relation to the preparation of assessed work. Sections of texts studied will be reproduced in some of the modules and students may be requested to purchase some essential key texts (e.g. Gwyn Thomas (translation) Dafydd ap Gwilym: His Poems ( Cardiff , 2001) if studying the module on the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym). A postal loan service is available to UK students, but it may not be possible to send books to overseas students. Important chapters and articles may be photocopied and posted to all students (in accordance with copyright regulations) and you should consult the library regarding schemes which permit you to lend books from libraries nearer to where you live.

Fees

View the Fees (pdf)

• Study and Research Methodology - MAAS0620
• The Celtic Arthur - MAAS0120
• Dafydd ap Gwilym - MAAC0120
• The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Celtic Regions - MAAC0320
• Women in the Middle Ages - MAAC0420
• Y Mabinogi - MAAC0620
• The Sociolinguistics of the Celtic Languages - MAAC0720
• Screen Translation: Theory and Practice - MAEB0540W
• Paper Translation: Theory and Practice - MAEB0620W
• The Matter of Britain: Geoffrey of Monmount and Pseudo-historical Writing - MAAS0320