"My classes about the Emerald Isle and my semester spent studying abroad in Belfast have given me a competitive advantage in the master's program that I'm pursuing in international relations. The Irish and Irish-American Studies Program weaves together passionate professors with members of one of the oldest Irish communities in the U.S. I highly recommend this minor for anyone interested in anything from academia to a global career."
– Will Davis '16
You're probably familiar with James Joyce, Bono and maybe even Typhoid Mary. All three are Irish or Irish-American, of course. But did you know that Halloween, Barack Obama and Tinker Bell are Irish, too? As well-known as they are, these only scratch the surface of Irish and Irish-American culture. Better yet, they're doors leading into the interdisciplinary realm of Irish and Irish-American studies.
At the College of Charleston, the minor in Irish and Irish-American Studies is broad-reaching, combining cultural, historical and social aspects of the Irish in Ireland and in the U.S.
Imagine studying "Folklore of Ireland and the British Islands," an anthropology course. Or enrolling in "Geography and Politics of the European Union," a political science course. Or "Sports in Irish Culture." Each of these is among the many electives you can choose from when you opt to pursue a minor in Irish and Irish-American studies. In fact, this minor has only one required course – "Introduction to Irish and Irish-American Studies."
Students in this program benefit from a wide array of cultural events, including an on-campus Irish film festival, lectures by visiting scholars and Celtic Night – a celebration of Irish music and food.
An additional opportunity for students in this minor is participating in the Irish Heritage Project. Conducted in conjunction with the Special Collections office of the College's library, this project is actively becoming the repository for papers and artifacts that document the importance of Irish influence in the American South.
So, even if you're not a fan of Bono, you should take a closer look at Irish and Irish-American studies at the College. It just might help you connect in ways you've never considered. Éirinn go Brách!