The 'Celts' are any of those peoples of Europe who speak or spoke a Celtic language. By the Iron Age the Celtic peoples were spread across Europe and across the course of millennia have given rise to a number of European nations and cultures-including the Irish, the Welsh and the Bretons. This unit explores definitions of the Celts, examining their history and development, and provides an overview of their languages.

Middle Welsh was the language spoken and written in Wales in the Middle Ages (from about the twelfth to the fourteenth century). The most famous text surviving in Middle Welsh is the Mabinogion, a compilation of mythical and legendary material often of much earlier date. In this unit students will develop a knowledge of Middle Welsh grammar and vocabulary and learn to read texts in Middle Welsh.

Finding the Celts in History from c.500 B.C. to the present raises issues of the extent of invasion or migration that has occurred in the past and its role in cultural change, indeed the very nature of cultural change itself. These will be addressed from written sources, material remains and genetic evidence. While this unit stands on its own, its topics have been carefully selected to allow students who have done CLST2601 to explore further the Celtic world.

Old Irish was the language spoken and written in Ireland in the early Middle Ages and is preserved in a range of records, from Ogham stones to manuscripts. In this unit students will develop a knowledge of Old Irish grammar and vocabulary and learn to read texts in Old Irish.

The unit develops students' knowledge of linguistics through the detailed study of Modern Irish. The grammar and linguistics of Modern Irish form the major focus; students will bring to the unit a background in language study and/or linguistics. The unit will consider the ways in which Modern Irish differs from other Western European languages, studying syntax and phonology.

The Welsh language has one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe. This unit will introduce students to this culture by providing them with the basic structure and vocabulary of the language, with an emphasis on the acquisition of oral and written skills of communication through functionally oriented language activities. The language will be studied in the context of Welsh history, literature and society.

The Irish language has one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe. The language is widely used today and is the vehicle for a rich culture. In this course the Irish language will be studied in depth in the context of Irish history and culture.

This unit will examine key defining moments in the history of Scottish self-awareness from the Picts to the Enlightenment. Topics may include internal conflict between different groups with different languages, external conflict with the country's nearest neighbours and cultural changes that arose from Scotland's part in the wider events of Europe such as the Reformation. It will concentrate on teaching students to use a variety of primary sources written, artistic and archaeological to elucidate problematic aspects of Scotland's culture.

In this unit students will apply advanced methods of language-learning, historical linguistics, literary criticism and metrics to understanding Middle Welsh. Students will analyse the most influential theories, historical and contemporary, about the role of Middle Welsh in medieval Welsh society. They will evaluate ways that the language has interacted with other cultures in history. Students will learn how to apply their understanding of Middle Welsh language, linguistics and literature to the scholarly, social and political challenges of all times.

In this unit students will apply advanced methods of language-learning, historical linguistics, literary criticism and metrics to understanding Old Irish. Students will analyse the most influential theories, historical and contemporary, about the role of Old Irish in medieval Irish society. They will evaluate ways that the language has interacted with other cultures in history. Students will learn how to apply their understanding of Old Irish language, linguistics and literature to the scholarly, social and political challenges of all times.

In this unit students will apply advanced methods of language-learning, sociolinguistics and literary criticism to the understanding of Modern Welsh Language and Culture. Students will analyse the most influential theories, historical and contemporary, about the role of Modern Welsh in contemporary Welsh society. They will evaluate ways that the language has interacted with other cultures in modern times. Students will learn how to apply their understanding of Modern Welsh Language and Culture to the social and political challenges of today.

In this unit students will apply advanced methods of language-learning, sociolinguistics and literary criticism to the understanding of Modern Irish Language and Culture. Students will analyse the most influential theories, historical and contemporary, about the role of Modern Irish in contemporary Irish society. They will evaluate ways that the language has interacted with other cultures in modern times. Students will learn how to apply their understanding of Modern Irish Language and Culture to the social and political challenges of today.

In this unit students will apply advanced methods of language-learning, sociolinguistics and literary criticism to the understanding of Scottish Gaelic Language and Culture. Students will analyse the most influential theories, historical and contemporary, about the role of Scottish Gaelic in contemporary Scottish society. They will evaluate ways that the language has interacted with other cultures in modern times. Students will learn how to apply their understanding of Scottish Gaelic Language and Culture to the social and political challenges of today.

The Honours program in Celtic Studies consists of:
1. a thesis written under the supervision of a member of staff nominated by of the Professor of Celtic Studies
2. two seminars that meet weekly for two hours for one semester each.
The thesis is worth 18-20000 words in length. Each seminar requires 6000-8000 words of written work or its equivalent.
The thesis is worth 60% of the final Honours mark and each of the seminars are worth 20%.
It is important that prospective Honours students consult the Professor of Celtic Studies to ensure that their choice of senior units of study is appropriate to their intentions for the Honours Year.

Refer to CLST4011

Refer to CLST4011

Refer to CLST4011