Irish Studies (IRE)

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IRE 100 | IRELAND AND THE IRISH EXPERIENCE | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course explores a diverse range of topics related to Ireland and the global Irish community, including the history, geography, culture and politics of Ireland and Northern Ireland; the role of religion, historically and in the present day; Irish mythology; Irish literature; the Irish Diaspora; and contemporary Ireland's role in the global political economy. The range of topics covers also serves as an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Irish Studies and helps prepare students for further study and/or participation in Study Abroad programs in Ireland.

IRE 101 | IRELAND, 1450 - 1800, CONQUEST, COLONIZATION & REBELLION | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course offers a survey of Irish history from the end of the middle ages to the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1800. It traces the ways in which Ireland was brought under great English (later British) control through processes of agreement, conquest and colonization; and the ways in which various groups within Ireland sought to resist such developments. Cross-listed as HST 266 & CTH 288.

IRE 102 | HISTORY OF IRELAND FROM 1800 TO THE PRESENT | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

Survey of Irish history from 1800 to 2000. Examines the course of Irish history from the Act of Union (creating the United Kingdom), through the struggles and reforms of the 19th century (Catholic Emancipation, the Famine and Irish diaspora, Fenianism, Land Reform and Home Rule), to the creation of the modern nation-state of the 20th century (the Easter Rising, partition and civil war, the role of Eamon deValera, the Republic, and the Troubles). Topics include the contributions of Irish culture and its influence in Europe and the world. Cross-listed as HST 268 and CTH 289.

IRE 103 | IRELAND: RELIGION AND THE CONTEMPORARY "TROUBLES | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

An examination of the role of two Christian denominations (Protestant and Roman Catholic) in the more recent "Troubles" in the north of Ireland. Attempts to discover the contributions of religious differences in fueling and resolving the animosities between the Unionist and Nationalist sides; studies the social-historical dimension of the troubles and the Protestant and Catholic religious activities and official responses to them. Cross-listed as CTH 274.

IRE 104 | THE EARTH'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

A survey of the global patterns and processes which create our world's cultures. Several cultural realms such as language, religion, folk and popular culture, ethnicity, and the built environment serve as foci for a deepened understanding of the world and its people. Cross-listed as GEO 170.

IRE 105 | GEOPOLITICS | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

A survey of theories of geopolitics and international relations, the course explores issues of international security and organization, regional integration, and nationalism, state formation and conflict. Historic geopolitical cases from Europe (Northern Ireland, EU, Balkans), the Middle East and North Africa, and the Russian realm, provide opportunities to assess theoretical approaches and profile the security and foreign policy concerns of the U.S. in the new millennium.

IRE 106 | THE EUROPEAN UNION | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

An interdisciplinary study of European integration following WWII, with special emphases on the political philosophy, the geopolitical basis for the block's formation, the institutional structure, the evolution of policies, and the future development of the European Union. The course nurtures research and presentation skills through simulations of the European Commission and Council. Cross-listed as GEO 316 and PSC 340.

IRE 107 | RELIGIOUS GEOGRAPHY | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

Religion and geography are fundamentally intertwined. From the establishment of theocratic states that control territory, to the sprawl of US suburbia that has led to megachurches, the role of religion in shaping the earth's cultural landscape is undeniable. Religious beliefs shape geographies - there are places that, through faith, become sacred; elsewhere religious individuals and groups struggle to claim places in the name of their beliefs. This course will examine case studies from around the world to explore the intersection of geography and religion. Cross-listed as GEO 204.

IRE 201 | TOPICS IN IRISH STUDIES | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

See schedule for current offerings Cross-listed as ENG 357.

IRE 202 | MODERN IRISH LITERATURE | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course provides an introduction to Irish literature, including some poems in the Irish language with English translations on facing pages, written from the Literary Revival to the late twentieth century. It emphasizes the transitions from a colonized to a postcolonial society and the slow validation of the voices of Irish women writers. Cross-listed as ENG 355.

IRE 203 | CONTEMPORARY IRISH LITERATURE | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course is an introduction to the vibrancy of contemporary Irish literature. It explores the ways in which literature addresses issues such as new patterns of living, communal tension, and women's experience.

IRE 204 | IRISH LITERATURE AND FILM | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

In this course, students seek to examine the thematic structure of recent works of the Irish cinema in light of a selection of writings from major authors. Our study will begin with the writings of the Irish Revival and move on to contemporary fiction so as to establish an artistic base from which to investigate recent interpretations and adaptations of these materials. Then, after addressing the fundamental question "what is an Irish Film (The Quiet Man);" we will go on to a topical analysis of works dealing with central issues in the Irish cinema: politics (Michael Collins, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, The Crying Game, In the Name of the Father); urban life (The Commitments, Intermission); dystopia (Adam & Paul, The Butcher Boy), alienation, and other topics as appropriate.

IRE 249 | GENDER AND POLITICS IN IRELAND | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course examines the often paradoxical impact of political change and social relations on women in Ireland. Political change has at times afforded women leadership opportunities; social relations have been, especially during periods of colonial rule and the ascendancy of the Church, intensely patriarchal. The course pays particular attention to the way in which, historically and today, categories of gender have been constructed and intersect with or otherwise affect politics and social relations in the Republic of Ireland or the six counties that remain part of the United Kingdom. Cross-listed with WGS 249.

IRE 301 | NINETEENTH CENTURY IRISH LITERATURE | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

This course focuses on some of the important works of nineteenth-century Irish literature. It sees them as engaging with the often traumatic political and social changes of their time. Cross-listed as ENG 346.

A literature course is a prerequisite for this course.

IRE 302 | THE IRISH REVIVAL | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

The course invites a study of the cultural ferment of the decades from the 1890's to the 1920's in Ireland. Particular attention will be given to an introduction to the work of canonical writers such as Yeats and Joyce who emerged from it. Cross-listed as ENG 354.

IRE 303 | REVOLUTION AND NATIONALISM IN IRELAND | 4 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

From the eighteenth to the twenty-first century Irish history has been defined by the emergence of national consciousness. This emerging consciousness has been expressed through violent rebellion against British rule and participation in British politics. This course traces the course of revolution and nationalism in Ireland from 1798 to 1923. This course traces the evolution of Irish nationalism and examines the historical literature of this subject. Key themes include: agrarian unrest, parliamentary politics, ideological revolution and the interaction of these forces to achieve independence.

IRE 379 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1-6 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

Intensive study of a topic of special interest which is relevant to Irish Studies, normally in one of the curricular areas in which Irish Studies is taught in the minor, and usually with a faculty member who teaches in the Irish Studies program. An independent study typically involves private conferences with an instructor and supervised reading, research and writing. Written permission of the supervising faculty member and of the program director is necessary before registration.

IRE 398 | INTERNSHIP | 1-6 quarter hours

(Undergraduate)

The course combines academic study with practical experience obtained through work in an extramural internship setting or on campus that relates to Ireland or Irish-America. The internship course requires academic output in the form of a research journal, paper, or other project.