MA Programs in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Studies

[Roos3]

I'm currently trying to find master's programs that will give me a grounding in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic languages, medieval literatures, and cultures in preparation for pursuing a doctorate in English Lit that draws on this background. I know that Cambridge has a department for this, but I'm looking to put together a list of everywhere that covers these areas so that I can look into more schools. Does anyone have suggestions of where I should look? I'm American, but location isn't an issue. Thanks!

[isabelarcher]

University College Cork has an MA in Irish Studies. Not sure if that's exactly what you're looking for.

[EloiseGC]

FSU's Anne Coldiron (she's amazing) could help you with that, though you might as well dive straight into your Lit PhD to work with her. I had her for a few undergraduate courses, and she was one of the best professors I've ever worked with. 

 

http://www.english.fsu.edu/faculty/acoldiron.htm

[GeoLing]

Texas Tech has an Anglo-Saxonist and a Middle English prof.

[repentwalpurgis]

Get in contact with Thomas Toon at the University of Michigan. 

[Roos3]

Thanks for the advice!

[guinevere29]

Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo (the location of the big medieval conference every year in May) offers both a medieval studies MA and a medieval lit MA. They obviously don't have big, impressive rankings as far as a graduate school goes because they don't even offer a PhD, but their program is a great gateway to top-tier medieval PhD programs. I know a graduate student who went there and after she finished her MA she got into some top-tier PhD programs and she recommended I apply. Another big plus is that they offer funding for their top MA students. I was offered a stipend and tuition remission to get my MA there. I ended up turning them down because I got into a good PhD program, but it wouldn't have been a bad choice academically or financially. Definitley something to consider if you want to get your MA before you apply to PhD programs.

[Roos3]

Thanks, I'll look into it. 

[dr. t]

Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo (the location of the big medieval conference every year in May) offers both a medieval studies MA and a medieval lit MA. They obviously don't have big, impressive rankings as far as a graduate school goes because they don't even offer a PhD, but their program is a great gateway to top-tier medieval PhD programs. I know a graduate student who went there and after she finished her MA she got into some top-tier PhD programs and she recommended I apply. Another big plus is that they offer funding for their top MA students. I was offered a stipend and tuition remission to get my MA there. I ended up turning them down because I got into a good PhD program, but it wouldn't have been a bad choice academically or financially. Definitley something to consider if you want to get your MA before you apply to PhD programs.

I'm curious about this because I've been to Kzoo for the conference and heard some good things, but I also got the impression that the output quality of the program varies greatly. I knew a person with a degree from there who was looking at applying to history PhD programs, and had essentially no Latin, and no German or French. That raised a lot of flags for me.

[guinevere29]

I'm curious about this because I've been to Kzoo for the conference and heard some good things, but I also got the impression that the output quality of the program varies greatly. I knew a person with a degree from there who was looking at applying to history PhD programs, and had essentially no Latin, and no German or French. That raised a lot of flags for me.

 

I unfortunately can't speak in general terms regarding the quality of Kzoo's output. The one graduate student I knew who received an MA from their program is an Anglo-Saxonist and I know she was accepted into a number of good medieval PhD programs. In the end, I was happy to have the option of a funded MA from Kzoo, even though I don't know if I would have chosen it over any of my other options. 

 

Also, I completely forgot to mention to look into the University of Toronto. They have a world-class medieval program and one of the best for Latin studies. I don't think they offer much in the way of funding to international MA students though. At least, they didn't offer me anything. 

[Marie-Luise]

I'm currently trying to find master's programs that will give me a grounding in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic languages, medieval literatures, and cultures in preparation for pursuing a doctorate in English Lit that draws on this background. I know that Cambridge has a department for this, but I'm looking to put together a list of everywhere that covers these areas so that I can look into more schools. Does anyone have suggestions of where I should look? I'm American, but location isn't an issue. Thanks!

 

Roos, you could look at MA programs at Notre Dame as well. They just got a new Old Norse/Anglo-Saxon specialist and the Keough-Naughton Institute just got an Old Irish/Medieval Welsh specialist. They are both lovely people. You can also contact me for more information about Notre Dame.

 

I also know the ASNaC crowd at Cambridge; they only do MPhils in the subject, ie research masters but you should definitely contact Paul Russell for that.

 

My own university in Cork (UCC) also has an MA in Early Irish or Celtic Civilisation with the option to do Middle Welsh. I think the English Department in UCC has an Old Norse specialist now. So contact them for more information.

 

Let me know if you need anything else.