Irish Studies

As a Catholic college founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Elms College's mission involves supporting efforts to resolve our world's problems in a peaceful manner. This Irish Studies minor provides an academic component to the college's wider efforts for promoting peace and reconciliation in the world.

For more information, contact
Dr. M. Cristina Canales, chair, humanities and fine arts division
413-265-2425
canalasm@elms.edu

The history department at Elms College offers an interdisciplinary Irish studies minor, designed to complement either a professional or other liberal arts major. The program includes courses on Irish and Irish-American history and Irish literature.

Students in the irish studies minor will:

• have opportunities to study in Ireland
• study the rich, diverse, and globally influential traditions of Irish culture
• benefit from a close relationship with The Irish Cultural Center at Elms College

Courses Offerings

History of Modern Ireland
This course will examine the economic, political and social developments in Ireland, from the 1798 Rebellion to the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland. In particular, we will look at the rise of revolutionary, constitutional and cultural nationalism in Ireland and
Irish-America.

History of Modern Britain
This course will examine the economic, political and cultural developments in modern Britain, from the Glorious Revolution to present. It emphasizes the impact of industry, empire and ethnicities upon the formation of a modern British national identity.

Introduction to Irish Culture
This course will introduce students to many facets of Irish culture including Celtic religion, politics and literature.

Seminar in W.B. Yeats
This course will examine the life and work of William Butler Yeats, focusing on his work in poetry, prose, and drama. The course will consider the historical and cultural context of Yeats' work, particularly his role in the Irish Literary Renaissance and his
involvement in the cause of Irish nationalism.

Ireland and the Irish
This is an Intersession trip/course, which takes students around Ireland for 3 weeks in January.

The American Irish
Since 1700, at least 7 million Irish men, women, and children have crossed the Atlantic to settle in North America. This emigration changed both Ireland and North America profoundly. This course will examine how this emigration impacted the political, social, and cultural development of the United States, and the continued interaction between both countries. There will be a special focus on issues of nationalism/ethnicity, religion, race, class, and gender.

Northern Ireland and the Troubles
Since the founding of the Northern Irish State in 1920, the issues of partition and religious conflict have periodically erupted in political violence, radiating throughout Irish, British and American society. This course will discuss the history of conflict and attempted resolutions in Northern Ireland, focusing upon the 'Troubles' of the last 35 years through to current developments in the peace process.

Modern Irish Drama
This course is designed to study seminal plays in shaping the Irish dramatic tradition and to study more deeply contemporary dramatists as inheritors of that tradition and as artists responding to economic and political changes in modern Ireland. The course focuses on plays of social or political relevance.