The study of Folklore focuses on traditional popular culture, in the past and in the present. As an academic discipline, it involves the exploration of material culture, social tradition, oral literature and popular belief and practice.

The BA programme is designed to give students in-depth knowledge of the principal forms and genres of Folklore, with reference to their historical background and global context. The programme is aimed at national and international students with an interest in popular tradition, vernacular culture and Irish studies, who wish to develop a career or further studies in these areas.

The programmes’ educational values are centred on the promotion of a spirit of enquiry regarding the nature, persistence and dynamics of tradition in everyday life. They encourage students to develop a reflective approach to their studies, while also emphasising the centrality of fieldwork and archival sources to their research and learning. Teaching is carried out in lectures, in small-group tutorials, and in seminar-style participatory classes. Students are also encouraged to use digital archive resources in their research and learning. Assessments take the form of written examinations, individual research projects, journal-keeping, in-semester essays and oral presentations. They also include assignments which give students the opportunity to formulate their own research questions and to pursue given topics using archival data-sets.

1 - Use research and enquiry skills to identify cultural heritage in the area of popular tradition;
2 - Make a critical evaluation and analysis of relevant archival and fieldwork sources;
3 - Evaluate the significance of phenomena which constitute folklore and which form the basis of folklore’s critical discourse; including the ability to assess assumptions and the ways in which such assumptions have developed within society;
4 - Demonstrate effective communication skills with appropriate use of subject-specific terminology;
5 - Show a capacity for independent decision-making in assessing situations which arise in the course of fieldwork and archival research;
6 - Demonstrate digital expertise through the use of digital resources such as www.duchas.ie;
7 - Indicate an understanding of the ethical responsibilities involved in folkloristic research, and an understanding of the necessity of establishing empathy with informants/co-researchers
8 - Appreciate and articulate the ways in which the present is moulded by the past in the area of popular tradition and folklore

A degree in Irish Folklore is of relevance to anyone interested in popular culture, tradition and society, and their interconnections. It provides an excellent basis for careers in:

Heritage related organisations

The media

Teaching

Areas related to Irish studies & ethnic studies.

You can also pursue MLitt and PhD graduate studies in Irish Folklore in UCD, specialising in one of the many areas of the subject

Students must take ALL Core Modules. The remaining modules should be chosen from the option lists.

Students must register to the Stage 3 core module and select four Level 3 option modules.

Students must register to the final stage core module and select four Level 3 option modules.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
IRFL20010	The Study of Folklore: Origins and Development	Autumn	5
IRFL20090	Folklife & Ethnology	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - B)MIN3OF: Select minimum three modules
CCIV20070	Poets, Power and Performance	Autumn	5
IRFL20030	The Narrative Art	Autumn	5
IRFL20050	Healers and Healing	Spring	5
IRFL20100	Oral history and tradition	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - B)MIN3OF: Select minimum three modules
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF: This is a College of Arts and Humanities module. It is the equivalent of an elective. You can take it instead of taking one of your Stage 2 electives. This is not one of your required options. Please make sure that you have selected the correct number of programme options from the list above.
HUM20010	Career Readiness for Arts	Autumn	5
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF: This is a College of Arts and Humanities module. It is the equivalent of an elective. You can take it instead of taking one of your Stage 2 electives. This is not one of your required options. Please make sure that you have selected the correct number of programme options from the list above.
Stage 3 Core Modules
IRFL30080	Textual Analysis of the Irish Oral Tradition	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select minimum 4 modules
IRFL30030	The Life Cycle	Autumn	5
IRFL30090	Collectors of Song and Music	Autumn	5
CCIV30110	Early Irish Myths & Sagas	Spring	5
IRFL30020	Calendar Custom	Spring	5
IRFL30100	Popular religion and belief	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select minimum 4 modules
Stage 4 Core Modules
IRFL30080	Textual Analysis of the Irish Oral Tradition	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select minimum 4 modules
IRFL30030	The Life Cycle	Autumn	5
IRFL30090	Collectors of Song and Music	Autumn	5
CCIV30110	Early Irish Myths & Sagas	Spring	5
IRFL30020	Calendar Custom	Spring	5
IRFL30100	Popular religion and belief	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select minimum 4 modules

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHACS014	Stage 3 - 50.00% Stage 2 - 50.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47
BHACS001	Stage 3 - 50.00% Stage 2 - 50.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47
BHACS023	Stage 3 - 70.00% Stage 2 - 30.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47
BHACS027	Stage 4 - 50.00% Stage 3 - 30.00% Stage 2 - 20.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47