This semester is planned as a cohesive whole, and students are expected to participate fully in core classes and activities.

Required Courses:
(All students take four courses (12 credits)

ART 249/349 - Art History: The Art of Ireland (3 hours)
This course introduces students to the visual arts in Ireland . The conscientious student will be able to recognize, analyze, and discuss the technique, cultural milieu, chronology, and artistic message of many examples of the art, architecture, and decorative arts of Ireland . Focus will be placed on the following: passage graves; high crosses; architecture of castles, houses, abbeys, and churches; illuminated manuscripts, particularly the Book of Kells; and decorative arts.

ENG 249/349 - Irish Literature (3 hours)
This course surveys the literature of Ireland from the earliest to modern times. It uses these texts as the underpinning for the student's greater understanding of political, social, religious, and aesthetic aspects of Ireland 's culture today—the Irish “world view.” It also seeks to understand how Ireland 's multi-century conflict between Irish and English, Catholic and Protestant has helped to shape and has been shaped by that literature.

HST 249/349 - Irish History (3 hours)
This course provides an overview of Irish history from its prehistory to the present day. It seeks to answer such questions as: What constitutes “history”? What cultural, political, and economic forces have shaped the story of Ireland ? Does the shape of the story depend on whose voice is telling it? What is the relationship between Ireland 's past and its present? What is likely to be Ireland 's “future history”? Students will try to answer these questions by examining a variety of primary sources as well as the course text. Students will be responsible for building a working knowledge of significant names, dates, places, and events over the course of the semester. Travel to many of these places will help to make them authentic.

SOC 249/349 - Sociology of Modern Ireland (3 hours)
This course examines changes in the post-colonial Irish culture, economy, family, religion and politics that coincide with European and global restructuring. It focuses on current social concerns such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and health care; on conflict resolution, gender roles, and population trends. It also explores the conflict in Northern Ireland in this context.

Optional Courses:
(Additional course-work may not exceed 17 total hours of credit without extra cost)

HPR 209 and MUAP 149 - Traditional Irish Music and Dance (1 hour each)
Irish Traditional Music and Dance are not only an intrinsic part of the cultural life of Ireland , but also of the Irish Community worldwide. These courses explore the various aspects of Irish Dance and Music from its earliest existence, hundreds of years ago, up until the present day. They teach students the rudiments of performance, both on a variety of traditional Irish instruments, and in traditional Irish dances.

MLA 149 - Introduction to the Irish Language (1 hour)
This course develops basic Irish language skills as a means of helping students better understand and appreciate the Irish culture and world view and of helping them function adequately in their travels throughout the gaeltachts in Ireland.

Other Options: In lieu of or in addition to the 3 one-credit courses, students will have the opportunity to complete an online study of REL 249/349, Celtic Christianity (3 hours) with a GC religion professor; or a 405 practicum in international business, social work, or ministry (variable hours) with pertinent organizations in (London)Derry, Northern Ireland.