Irish Studies Minor
The Minor in Irish Studies at Sacred Heart University is unique among American colleges and universities in the scope of its program, designed to offer students an opportunity for an in-depth, multidisciplinary study of Irish and Celtic culture. The subjects include, but are not limited to, history, language, literature, music, politics, and economics, as well as marine biology, which provides a scientific study of the coastal environment. Other disciplines which have a comparative study of North America and Ireland, such as nursing, health sciences, exercise science, social work, and criminal justice, are also included in the program. A distinctive feature of our Irish Studies program is a balance of study and experience. In addition, Irish Studies at SHU promotes special lectures, musical events, and films, as well as encouraging student participation in activities such as The Claddagh Dancers (Irish dance ensemble) and the Celtic Club.
Requirements
Students are required to take a minimum of 15 credits (5 courses) to complete the minor in Irish Studies. The 15 credits include two required foundation courses and a minimum of three designated Irish Studies electives. The required and elective course requirements are distributed as following:
The required and elective course requirements are distributed as follows:
| HI 255 | Celtic & Irish History | 3 |
| ENG 276 | Modern Irish Writing | 3 |
| or | |
| ENG 277 | Irish Drama | 3 |
| Three electives in at least two disciplines | 9 |
We encourage students to take a minimum of 3 credits at the Dingle campus. HI 255, ENG 276, and ENG 277, as well as other English, music, language, and religion electives are offered on the Fairfield campus on a regular basis.
Approved Courses:
Electives with an IR attachment are only offered in Dingle.
Anthropology
| AN 230 | Community, Culture & Folklore | 3 |
Biology & Marine Science
BI 299 IR i.e. Feast, Famine, Fever, Fermentation (microbiology), or Tombs, Treks & Transcendence.
Communication
CM 299 IR i.e. Irish Identity in Media & History
Criminal Justice
| CJ 252 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
Dance
| DA 303 | Irish Dance Production | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 1-3 |
Economics
| EC 211 | Economics of Social Issues | 3 |
Education
| ED 341 | Irish Education Comparative Perspectives | 3 |
| ED 541 | Irish Education Comparative Perspectives | 3 |
Exercise Science
EX 299 IR i.e. Health & Fitness: an Irish Perspective
Health Science
| HS 350 | Healthcare Policy, Politics, & Advocacy | 3 |
History
| HI 251 | Coastal Communities North Atlantic: Viking Age to Present. | 3 |
| HI 256 | Thousands are Sailing: The Irish at Home & Abroad 1798-1922 | 3 |
| HI 257 | History & Memory in Modern Ireland | 3 |
| HI 260 | Irish Pubs, Pints & Poitín | 3 |
Languages & Literature
ENG 299 IR i.e. Joyce Colloquium, or Ghosts, Changelings & Mermaids, or Poets & Madmen: Writing & Health in Ireland
Marketing
MK 299 IR i.e. Tourism and Marketing in Ireland
Music
| MU 106 | Introduction to Irish Traditional Music | 3 |
Religious Studies & Folklore
| TRS 171 | Celtic Religious Traditions | 3 |
Sociology & Social Work
| SO 239 | Diversity & Oppression in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| SW 224 | Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3 |
SO 299 IR i.e. Images of Ireland: a Sociological Perspective