COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in English at University of Galway is structured to combine core academic study with a wide range of optional modules that allow students to tailor their learning to their interests. In the first year, students complete a required dissertation, which forms the centerpiece of independent research, and the core module Writing and Research, which develops advanced skills in academic writing, critical thinking, and methodological approaches. Beyond these required components, students can choose from a variety of optional modules that explore literature and related media in depth. These include workshops in poetry, studies of literature from North America, Irish film, environmental literature, the works of WB Yeats, and literature addressing colonialism and postcolonial themes. Students can also engage in media-focused modules such as Media for Social Change and Film, Politics, and Colonialism, or take part in service learning projects that connect literary studies to community engagement. For those interested in contemporary and youth-focused literature, options include Literature for Children and Young Adults in the 21st Century, as well as Travel Literature. The flexible curriculum encourages students to combine traditional literary scholarship with creative and applied approaches, allowing for the development of both academic expertise and practical skills. By engaging with diverse genres, historical periods, and cultural contexts, students deepen their understanding of literature while building research, analytical, and communication skills that are valuable for careers in education, publishing, media, cultural management, or further postgraduate study. Overall, the program balances rigorous scholarship with flexibility, offering opportunities to explore personal interests while preparing students for professional and academic pathways in literary and cultural fields.