MA Celtic Studies

StFX is pleased to be able to offer the only terminal MA in Celtic Studies in North America, a 36-credit program of study based on coursework and a thesis. The program prides itself on its focus on the individual student. Only 1-3 students are accepted into the program each year; each student meets with the Chair of Department and the Graduate Studies Coordinator to create an individual program that reflects the student’s main interests. This focus on the individual has led to extremely motivated students.

Students will typically choose one of two streams: modern Scottish Gaelic, for students with prior knowledge of the language, or medieval Irish or Welsh. All MA students are required to take Old Irish (also called Old Gaelic) as a basis for the modern Gaelic languages (Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic) and the core of the field of medieval Celtic Studies.

The program draws on the rich Gaelic tradition in Nova Scotia maintains strong ties with the local Gaelic community. The Department also enjoys a positive reputation for its teaching and research internationally, with strong links with Harvard University and the University of Toronto in North America; University of Glasgow, and University of Edinburgh in Scotland; Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick in Ireland; and Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

Successful students complete this program with the skills required for academic research in the field of Celtic Studies at an advanced level, and potentially for admission to a PhD program. They are also well-prepared for careers in a broad variety of fields that require an academic mindset and skills, including work in cultural institutions, businesses and tourism, education, and those who specialize in the Gaelic language have the additional option of pursuing career opportunities in Gaelic-speaking regions, including Nova Scotia.