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The Higher Diploma in English is a programme designed for applicants who already hold a BA or comparable degree, and who wish to add English to their list of qualifications. It is particularly useful for applicants who may already be teachers, or who wish to qualify as teachers in the future, and who would like to have the background to teach English to Leaving Certificate level. The programme may also be of interest to applicants who already hold an undergraduate qualification in another subject, and simply want to study English out of interest in the subject. Modules range from courses on Shakespeare, the Victorian Novel, to Modernism, Postmodernism, and Irish and World Literatures.

The MA in Creative Writing combines workshops and seminars with one-on-one mentoring of writing projects. Students may take optional modules in literature or other creative modules from across the Faculty, such as Writing for Screen Media. Assessment is through shorter pieces of writing, such as craft essays and reflective journals, and a longer project. The MA, taught by award-winning, internationally-renowned writers, will focus on guiding each student to further develop their voice as a writer, as well as to enrich their existing interests as a writer with new perspectives and a grasp of stylistic approaches. Tactics for editing and revision will be taught in tandem with generative exercises and practices aimed at deepening each student?s relationship to their creative process. Students will have the opportunity to build and develop networks which will sustain their writing practice beyond the MA degree.

We live in a moment where the key discourses which have dominated our understanding of the world ? of politics, economics and culture at large ? suddenly seem inadequate to the task of engaging with an allegedly ?post-truth? environment. New discourses are struggling to emerge; some old ones appear once again to be urgently relevant. The political challenges now confronting us are urgent and manifold, and demand serious critical thinking. These include: inequality, migration, climate change, neo-imperialism, neo-nationalism and isolationism, the exploitations and depredations of global capitalism and resurgent misogyny and racism. The MA in English: Literatures of Engagement addresses this sense of crisis by recognising the significant role that literature ? and the critical discourses associated with the study of literature ? have in both reproducing and analysing cultural values and ideologies, but also in articulating responses and resistance to those. The programme is underpinned by a conviction that any critique of contemporary culture must be rooted in an informed understanding of historical currents shaping the present.

The taught MA in French is aimed at graduates with a primary honours degree in French, with a minimum of 2.2 or equivalent, who have spent a year in France, or who have equivalent expertise in French language. It is designed for graduates of French who wish to take their study of French language, literature and culture to a deeper level and to enhance their language skills. A significant proportion of the course is delivered and assessed through French. Core teaching involves modules on writing and presentation skills in French, practical translation and research methodology. The course is designed around the theme of writing and exile, a topic that corresponds to departmental research expertise in the modern and early modern periods. There are elective modules (taught through English) in women's writing, translation studies and conflict studies. The minor thesis (15,000-20,000 words) involves independent research and collaboration with a supervisor on an agreed subject. It is possible to study modules of particular interest without completing a Masters degree or to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9) in French after completing 60 credits of taught modules.

The Professional Masters of Education (Primary) is a full-time, two-year course designed to equip student teachers with the range of knowledge and skills related to the profession of primary school teaching and its curriculum. The course structure enables student teachers to make real connections between the theory and practice of education. This is achieved through the blend of methodology and foundation discipline courses on offer.

The MA in Geography is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of key geographical ideas and themes, develop their critical thinking skills, undertake independent research in an area of specialist interest, and significantly enhancing their professional skills. The MA in Geography offers a wide-ranging programme of taught modules so students can choose what classes best suit their interests and career goals. The programme is designed to develop critical spatial thinking, deepen specialist knowledge, and strengthen employability skills from a human geography perspective. Through this Programme, students will become familiar with a range of geographical perspectives applied to critical societal and environmental challenges, including decarbonisation, migration, mobility and housing. Through its publicly engaged research, the department has developed an extensive network of public engagement partners. The MA provides unique public engagement opportunities with these civil society partners through its innovative and immersive modules. Student will work together with these partners to collaborate and develop real-world projects. Our research-led and community-partnered teaching and learning approach has been recognised nationally by the Irish University Association.

The MA in Geography: Spatial Justice is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of critical geographical ideas and themes and apply this knowledge to the most pressing societal and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Students will be empowered to think geographically, to develop their critical thinking skills, undertake independent research in an area of specialist interest, and significantly enhance their professional skills. Through this Programme, students will become familiar with a range of geographical perspectives on justice, including spatial, environmental, health and place-based justice. Through cutting-edge research modules, they will apply these perspectives to specific problems and case studies, including decarbonisation, migration, mobility and housing. Through its publicly engaged research, the department has developed an extensive network of public engagement partners. The MA provides unique public engagement opportunities with these civil society partners through its innovative and immersive modules. Student will work together with these partners to collaborate and develop real-world projects. Our research-led and community-partnered teaching and learning approach has been recognised nationally by the Irish University Association.

The MSc in Climate Change at Maynooth University is offered to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to enable them to undertake analysis of both global and Irish-related climate change science, impacts and policies. The course provides a well-integrated and encompassing programme of taught modules such as, The Ocean and Climate Change, Detection, Attribution and Decision making, Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, which reflect the major themes of climate change, together with essential technical training in modelling and analysis and are designed to nurture independent and critical thinking on climate change issues. Students gain applied knowledge working with industry stakeholders on proposed dissertation topics on real world problems. This ensures that societally relevant research topics meet stakeholder needs and that students develop links with potential employers.

Given the wider development of Citizen GIS and an increased public awareness and knowledge of the power and value of spatial data, vastly increased amounts of such data from different sources are now available to researchers. However, in order to turn these data into useful information, they must be efficiently managed, processed and analysed before being displayed in a comprehensible format. Geographical Information Systems and the associated field of Remote Sensing greatly aid us in such tasks. The course is equally split between both parts - GIS and Remote Sensing - with four core module introducing the theory and practice of both subject at an introductory and advanced level. Geographical Information Systems or GIS as they are better known, are widely used in a wide variety of subject fields across the physical and social sciences and even in the humanities, with applicability in everything from archaeology and astronomy to geomorphology and globalisation to soil science and social planning. Remote Sensing ? the analysis and interpretation of aerial and satellite imagery ? has transformed the manner in which we view the Earth. The synoptic view of the Earth that it has given us has greatly improved our understanding of atmospheric and oceanic processes, sustained environmental management and the interaction of humans with the natural world. It is now a standard research tool in many fields such as geology, geography, pollution control, agriculture and climatology. Additional optional modules in Programming, Spatial Databases and Marine Remote Sensing are also available to students who want to develop the technical side more fully, though the course has a strong applied flavour throughout. In addition, all students complete a work placement in the summer months which allows them to gain valuable practical experience to test and develop the skills learnt across the course.

The PG Diploma in Geography is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and competence to critically analyse contemporary societal and environmental challenges from a geographical perspective. Students will be introduced to cutting-edge research in human and physical geography for which Maynooth Geographers are internationally recognised, including in the areas of climate change, urban development, and migration. Students will gain training in mixed research methods appropriate for geographically-informed research, including fieldwork, qualitative and quantitative research methods, GIS and remote sensing. Students will have the opportunity to work with civil society and government partners, learning about the ethical and practical demands of such collaborative research. Educators seeking to teach Geography at secondary level will be exposed to some of the most recent research and pedagogical approaches in the field. The Programme offers current and prospective educators the possibility to earn the basic requirement of 15 credits of physical and 15 credits in human geography. For students seeking to teach Geography at secondary level, it is the student?s responsibility to check with the Irish Teaching Council about what specific requirements are needed.

The MA in German aims to provide students who already have a background in German at undergraduate level with an opportunity to specialise in the areas of translation, literary analysis and applied linguistics at a postgraduate level. The programme introduces students to academic research, new ideas and approaches. It aims to equip students with academic, analytical, creative and reflective skills in order to foster interest and involvement in research in the field of German Studies. It aims to enhance students? knowledge and understanding of important concepts in German language and literature (including their didactic and methodological application), culture and society. It is possible to study modules of particular interest without completing a Masters degree or to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9) in German after completing 60 credits of taught modules.

The MA in European History is offered as a one-year full-time programme. It introduces participants to wider debates in European history and prepares them to complete a minor research thesis in conjunction with taught modules. The breakdown for this programme is 60 credits relating to taught modules and 30 credits relating to the thesis. Participants are offered a mix of required and optional modules. Compulsory taught modules familiarise participants with significant contributions to the field and major historiographical debates in early modern and modern European history from 1500 to the present, currently including the history of genocide, the two World Wars, and cultural history. Participants may also choose optional modules from other taught MAs within the Department and may undertake language courses.

This programme enables students to examine and research the rich subject area of Irish history from the earliest times to the present day, and to assess the major events which led to the emergence of modern Ireland. Compulsory modules provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the sources and resources at their disposal to undertake a piece of detailed research, and foster their ability to assess and understand the major debates and controversies that have engaged historians in writing Irish history. In addition, students choose from a suite of optional modules drawn from this and other MA programmes within the department, exploring key issues and debates associated with their chosen fields. Options vary from year to year and may include: Irish social, political, military or economic history; historic houses and landed estates; local history, etc. Students also have an opportunity to complete a minor thesis in their chosen field.

Local History is the study of a particular place or region in the past, including its people, culture and events. It is the foundation upon which a sense of community and belonging is built. It examines closely how historic incidents and individuals have affected the development of the region in question, providing a deeper understanding of the past and how it has shaped the present. The MA in Local History at Maynooth University prepares students to research their chosen place, identifying and analysing sources, compiling evidence, structuring a dissertation and producing a final written thesis. An interdisciplinary approach grounded in history draws on complementary fields such as anthropology, archaeology, geography and sociology. This focus on specific places and communities has the potential to uncover previously unknown or overlooked aspects of history, while there is a parallel emphasis on understanding the past in relation to the present.

This MA programme provides an in-depth introduction into the disciplines of military history and strategic studies. It aims to immerse students in the study of conflict from the late 1700s to the present-day, providing them with an overview of the development of modern warfare and also the skills necessary to analyse modern conflicts. The programme is taught through a series of modules including “Modern Warfare I”, “Modern Warfare II” and “Strategic & Security Studies”. These modules provide an introduction to the key concepts, theories and debates in this field. No specialist knowledge is required and this MA programme will appeal to anyone interested in history, international relations, security studies and war studies. The programme has attracted international students and significant links have been forged with military academies in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands. Assessment is through a mix of written assignments and in-class presentations. Students also develop a 20,000 word thesis on a subject of their choice. There is much emphasis on independent study.

The Postgraduate Diploma in History offers the opportunity to take taught modules on a named Masters programme in History (amounting to 60 credits) but without committing to completing a minor thesis. It is intended as an award for the student who successfully completes all the taught components of his/her Masters programme in History (60 credits) but who, for whatever reason, does not undertake the minor thesis (30 credits). As a Level 9 Postgraduate qualification in its own right, applications from those who wish to register for only the taught modules offered on the MA Irish History, MA Local History, MA European History or MA Military History & Strategic Studies, or indeed to take modules across programmes (to a maximum of 60 credits), are most welcome.

The full time MA Degree in International Development is a 1-year taught masters level programme designed to prepare participants for work in international development in a community, local government, youth/adult education, or NGO setting. It offers learners an opportunity to explore contemporary theories of social change and development and to analyse development policies and practices. It builds skills, especially in relation to critical reflection, research, leadership and working with groups and in the planning, management and evaluation of development projects. It is aimed at advanced level participants who hold a primary degree or equivalent qualifications and who have experience of working in a development context in Ireland or in other countries in the Global North or South. Particularly welcome are leaders, facilitators and managers of community development projects, government and development agency staff, people involved in pastoral ministry, researchers, development educators, volunteers and activists. This course is also relevant to academics in the countries of the Global South engaged in teaching and research in development. Places are also retained for recent graduates who wish to study further before embarking on a career in development work. Learners can specialise within the programme by choosing from a number of elective areas that are most suited to their area of interest. The MA in International Development applies a learner-centred, participative approach to learning. This, combined with the diverse groups of full and part-time learners, creates a unique learning enviroment that builds on both the diverse array of experiences of participants and on the knowledge and experiecne of facilitators and instructors.

The Master?s programme in Peacebuilding, Security and Development Practice offers a rewarding learning experience for those who wish to work in development and peacebuilding in conflict or post-conflict contexts. Integrating negotiation skills with an analysis of wider conflict and development issues, it provides participants with critical insight into the spectrum of international conflict intervention. This includes theory, strategies and practices which range from addressing resource conflict and the use of negotiation tools in the wake of climate change, to the role of governments, business and civil society in participatory peace processes. It explores issues around gender and conflict, racism and human rights; and it addresses security concerns which arise from poverty, exploitation and global economic crises. Drawing on insights from peace education, human security and community development processes, it challenges top-down imposed solutions and examines what?s involved in participatory, community-led processes of change. It draws together insights and analysis from different conflict and development situations, as well as from diverse experiences and perspectives on peace and security. Through it, participants develop the understanding, knowledge and skills they need to play an active and leadership role in peacebuilding, security and development in a variety of situations.

This one-year (full-time) MA advances practical, research, and writing skills while deepening creative and critical engagement with media of all kinds. The core module in Critical and Creative Media Research develops transferable research, writing and analytical skills, while optional pathways take students through Irish media history and contemporary media archives; creative interactive computing and digital identities, and writing for screen media and screen production. Students will be offered the flexibility to pursue traditional scholarly and practice-based research, with most modules permitting a combination of critical and creative assessment options. Electives in Anthropology, Irish, Sociology, Law, and Geography are available for students keen to explore the interdisciplinary character of media.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Critical and Creative Media is an innovative course that combines critical thinking and cutting edge production skills to tackle the challenging environment of contemporary media practices. It provides students with a wide range of media skills across several sectors, including new and emergent media, screen production, media archives, digital humanities and identity technologies.