Education

Harvard University: Arts & Sciences: Celtic Languages and Literatures

Category Art and Social Sciences, English Literature, Harvard University, Postgraduate, USA
Tags Arts, Celtic, Harvard University, Languages, Literatures, Sciences

Master of Arts (AM)

Ordinarily, students are not admitted to the department to pursue a terminal AM degree. Inasmuch as serious graduates of the Celtic Languages and Literatures must possess by the end of their period of graduate study a knowledge of at least two Celtic languages, ordinarily Irish and Welsh, and a knowledge of the comparative grammar of the Celtic languages, as well as knowledge of Celtic literature, knowledge of the relations of Celtic literatures to other European literatures, and an acquaintance with the general history of the Celtic peoples, it is obvious that a program leading to the AM can be nothing more than an initiation to graduate study in this subject. Therefore, students admitted to graduate study in the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures are normally expected to proceed to the PhD. An AM degree may be earned while working toward the PhD.

Prerequisites for Admission: See under PhD.

Requirements for the AM Degree

For students matriculated in the Celtic Department and working toward the PhD, and for students matriculated in other departments of GSAS, the minimum requirements for the AM in Celtic are:

Academic Residence — Minimum of one year of full-time study (eight half-courses or equivalent). For the financial residence requirement, see Admissions, Costs: Tuition and Fees

Program of Study — A minimum of six half-courses in the department, three of which must be introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in early Irish or early Welsh (or their equivalents) and at least one additional half-course in another Celtic language; two additional half-courses related to the field of Celtic Studies and approved by the department’s director of graduate studies.

Languages — The ability to read Latin, to be demonstrated by successful completion (B- grade or better) of Harvard Latin Aab (or its equivalent elsewhere) or departmental examination. The ability to read French and/or German, to be demonstrated by successful completion (B- grade or better) of Harvard French Ax and/or German S (or equivalent elsewhere), or departmental examination. An equivalent qualification acquired at Harvard or elsewhere (and approved by the director of graduate studies or Celtic department chair) or a departmental examination may also demonstrate competence in any of the languages noted above.

Examinations — No general examinations required.

Thesis — None required.