Level 1 Courses

100 Scottish Gaelic

Designed for students who have no knowledge of the language. Instruction in basic Gaelic grammar, phonetics, and sentence structure. Texts and recordings are used to provide practice in reading and conversation.

May not be taken concurrently with CELT 110. Six credits.

110 Irish Gaelic

An introduction to the Irish language as it is spoken in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking districts. Students will be introduced to the basics of spoken and written Irish.

May not be taken concurrently with CELT 100. Six credits.

115 Welsh

This course will provide an introduction to the Welsh language. Students will learn to read, write, and speak elementary Welsh. The class will also learn a number of Welsh folksongs and proverbs.

Six credits. Not offered 2010-11.

131 Celtic Civilization I

This course will provide an introduction to the Celtic peoples from earliest times to the early medieval period, providing an overview of the history of the Celtic peoples and the main features of Celtic society, language, art, and literature of the period.

Three credits.

132 Celtic Civilization II

This course will provide an overview of the Celtic peoples in Middle Ages and the main features of Celtic art, society, language, and literature of the period.

Three credits.

161 Selected Topics

Six credits.

Level 2 Courses

200 Second-Year Scottish Gaelic

Selected readings, riddles, proverbs, poetry, and folktales; conversation and composition.

Six credits.

210 Second-Year Irish Gaelic

A continuation of CELT 110, this course will introduce students to more advanced grammatical concepts and will include conversation practice and composition. Selected readings from modern Irish literature and folklore will be used to illustrate differences in the three major dialects. The course will include an introduction to the Irish script and the manuscript tradition.

Six credits.

220 Celtic Paganism

This course examines the religious practices and beliefs of the ancient Celtic peoples that we can glean from archaeology, reports of Greek and Roman commentators, place-name evidence, and the mythology in medieval Irish and Welsh narrative tradition. Other topics include syncretism, the adaptation of pagan festivals into Christian holidays, the persistence of elements of paganism into the Christian era, witchcraft in Scotland and Ireland in the context of the European phenomenon and neo-Celtic paganism today.

No prerequisites. Three credits. Not offered 2010-11

221 Celtic Literature: Early Ireland

CELT 221 and 222 are designed to acquaint students with the wide scope of early Celtic Literature, one of the oldest vernacular literary traditions in Europe. CELT 221 in particular is a survey of the prose and poetry of medieval Ireland in translation. Types of tales to be read include stories of heroes, kings, saints, place-names, and gods and goddesses of the Gaels. Samples of poetry to be read include early monastic/hermit poetry as well as the Classical Gaelic praise poetry of the "Bardic Period." Not open to students who have previously taken CELT 120.

No prerequisites. Three credits.

222 Celtic Literature: Early Wales

This course is a survey of medieval Welsh prose and poetry. Tales to be read will include those in the Mabinogi as well as some of the earliest tales extant concerning King Arthur. Various genres of poetry will be read including samples of early heroic verse, Welsh Bardic Praise Poetry, and satirical verse. An important aspect of this course will be a comparison of early Irish literature with early Welsh literature and as such students should have taken CELT 221 before enrolling in CELT 222. Not open to students who have previously taken CELT 120.

Three credits.

230 Celtic Christianity

This course is an exploration of the development of Christianity amongst the Celtic peoples. A major facet will be the medieval hagiographic tradition and saints' cults from the fourth to the twelfth centuries. Other topics include monasticism, peregrini, the Hiberno-Scottish mission to the continent, conflict with Roman Catholicism, material culture, the modern use of the term "Celtic Christianity," and the various types of Christianity in the Celtic countries.

No prerequisites. Three credits.

253 Gaelic Music and Dance

This course examines the development of musical and dance traditions of Gaelic Scotland and Nova Scotia including Gaelic song, bagpipe and fiddle music, and various forms of solo and social dancing. The course emphasizes that music and dance cannot be studied in isolation but must be placed in the larger cultural context and in response to social and technological change. The concepts of "tradition" and "authenticity" guide our examination of the past and present.

No prerequisites. Three credits.

Level 3 Courses

300 Third-Year Scottish Gaelic

Advanced level Gaelic. Emphasis will be on attaining fluency. The course will concentrate on the Gaelic of Nova Scotia with readings from local publications. The class will also work on transcribing recordings of local speakers.

Prerequisites: CELT 100 and 200. Six credits.

331 The Scottish Gael in the Old World

A survey of the history of Gaelic Scotland from earliest times to 1800, including the main social, religious, and intellectual institutions of Gaelic Scotland and some of the achievements of Scottish Gaels.

Three credits.

332 The Scottish Gael in the New World

A survey of the history of the Scottish Gaels in North America, including factors for emigration, settlement patterns, the struggle for Gaelic language and culture in immigrant communities, and modern identity politics.

Three credits.

341 Scottish Gaelic Poetry I

A survey of Scottish Gaelic poetry from the 6th to the 16th century. It familiarizes students with some of the masterpieces of Gaelic literature, provides a grounding in the historical and cultural aspects of literary production in the Scottish Gaelic world, and introduces aspects of metrical and literary analysis. Taught through the medium of English.

Prerequisite: CELT 100 or approval of the instructor. Three credits. Not offered 2010-11.

342 Scottish Gaelic Poetry II

A survey of Scottish Gaelic poetry from the 17th and 18th centuries. It familiarizes students with some of the masterpieces of Gaelic literature, provides a grounding in the historical and cultural aspects of literary production in the Scottish Gaelic world, and introduces aspects of metrical and literary analysis. Taught through the medium of English.

Prerequisite: CELT 100 or approval of the instructor. Three credits. Not offered 2010-11.

351 The Folklore of Gaelic Ireland

Studies in the oral traditions of Gaelic Ireland including the folktale, the storyteller, folklore collectors, folksong tradition, fairies and calendar customs.

Three credits. Not offered 2010-11.

352 The Folklore of Gaelic Scotland and Nova Scotia

An introduction to the Gaelic folklore of Scotland and Nova Scotia, with an emphasis on wonder tales, clan sagas, Fenian tales, calendar customs, rites of passage, the supernatural and the history of folkloristics.

Three credits. Not offered 2010-11.

361 Selected Topics I

This course provides students an opportunity to explore in detail topics not covered in other courses. The specific content varies from year to year.

Three credits.

362 Selected Topics II

A further opportunity for students to explore topics not covered in other courses; content varies from year to year.

Three credits.

Level 4 Courses

420 Seminar on Scottish Gaelic Immigrant Literature

A study of chosen literary excerpts, both prose and poetry, written in North America in Scottish Gaelic, with emphasis on Nova Scotian examples, and introduction to Gaelic literary analysis. Taught through the medium of Gaelic.

Prerequisite: CELT 300.Six credits.

431 Irish Gaelic Poetry I

Explores the history of poetry in the Irish language: 500-1650 AD. The class will cover Filíocht na Sgol, metrics, religious poetry, nature poetry and eulogy. Course work will be in English but some knowledge of Irish or Scottish Gaelic is recommended.

Three credits.

432 Irish Gaelic Poetry II

Explores the history of poetry in the Irish language from 1650 to the present. Course work will be in English but some knowledge of Irish or Scottish Gaelic is recommended.

Three credits.

490 Honours thesis

Three credits.

499 Directed Study

A directed study course in advanced topics