Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HUM20060

Academic Year 2025/2026

Rare Books & Archives Research (HUM20060)

Subject:
Humanities
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Arts and Humanities Adm
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Alexander Thein
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Research/Capstone Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module gives students - as individuals and in groups - the opportunity to work hands-on with materials in the UCD Cultural Heritage Collections, particularly UCD Library Special Collections. Building on basic research skills embedded at Stage One of the BA Arts and BA Humanities, the module will introduce students to the research potential of the rare books, periodicals, and archival materials in the UCD Library. It will develop key skills and competencies in handling and interpreting old and rare primary sources, in researching their object histories, and in creating an online digital exhibition to communicate their literary or cultural significance to a public audience.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to demonstrate:
1. Knowledge of the UCD Cultural Heritage Collections and the different repositories, collections, and materials preserved there.
2. Primary source literacy, including the ability to name, define, and provide examples of the different kinds of primary sources, and the critical skills of identifying and applying key questions to the interpretation of primary sources.
3. Developing research skills, including the ability to identify, locate and utilize appropriate primary and secondary materials in the analysis of primary sources.
4. Analytical skills, including the abilities to assess the distinctive values and methodologies of different disciplines and critically analyse a range of primary sources within their social, cultural and historical contexts.
5. Group work skills, including working effectively as part of a team, making an equitable individual contribution to group activities and supporting others to do the same, and dealing with difficulties.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover topics including:
> UCD Cultural Heritage Collections
> Primary Source Literacy
> Materiality of Objects
> Collections and Repositories
> Exhibitions

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

8
Small Group

12
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be taught through a series of themed lectures and weekly tutorials where students work in smaller groups. There will be hands-on work with primary sources. AI is not to be used for the two midterms, and only with prior permission for the final exhibition project.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Primary Source Research A (HUM20040), Primary Source Research B (HUM20050)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Individual Report on a pre-1900 item in UCD Special Collections (500-1,000 words) Week 6 Graded No
40
 No
Group Work Assignment: Group exhibition on a primary source from UCD Special Collections (max. 12 slides and 3,000 words) Week 12 Graded No
60
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback to individuals and groups after assignments. There will be opportunities for informal feedback throughout the semester including self and peer assessment/review.

You do not need to purchase any books for the module. All readings will be available through Brightspace or the library.

Name Role
Dr Marta Bustillo Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Edward Coleman Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Lucy Collins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Lorraine McLoughlin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Elizabeth Mullins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Taylor Follett Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Lecture Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Lecture Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Lecture Offering 4 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.