University College Dublin

This course presents a history of music in film by examining the development of key trends and significant composers from the "silent" era to the present day. It considers the place of music, and the soundtrack more generally, in the film production process and in terms of the relationship between composer and director. A focus on Hollywood, with its proclivity for bespoke orchestral scores, are supplemented by investigating a range of other styles (e.g. pop, jazz, electronica) and international (primarily European) examples. It provides an overview of the field while alighting upon case studies, for which fundamental theoretical concepts are introduced. Major mainstream film composers are featured alongside more experimental recent practitioners and composers better known for their work in the concert hall.

This course explores Italian cinema and the evolution of Italy’s film industry through the critical analysis of key genre categories and filmmaking modes (neorealism, auteur cinema, comedy, spaghetti western, the thriller, political film, migration cinema). These genre categories are represented by a series of films that span from the post-war period to today. Students are introduced to the critical concepts that underpin film analysis, while also developing a strong understanding of genre theory. Through close readings of individual films the course explores how genre categories and conventions can be used to discuss issues of social change and progress throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. In particular, it examines questions of national identity, gender representation and the reception of popular genres.

This course trains students to put traditional Irish music theory into practice. Students are introduced to a wide range of traditional repertoire, styles and techniques, taught by leading artists in the field. Students then apply these skills to their own performances, compositions or arrangements, which are submitted at the end of the semester. Students work on one major project and one minor project, choosing any two of the following options:

- Performance
- Composition/Arrangement
- Essay

Performance:
Major Performances will be a set of tunes, to be performed and recorded in Weeks 11-12, showcasing a variety of the playing styles studied in class.
Minor Performances will be a single tune or song demonstrating some of the techniques taught in class

Composition/Arrangement
Major Compositions will be an original work or set of tunes, exploring a variety of the instrumental and regional playing styles studied in class. Minor Performances will be a single original tune or song demonstrating some of the techniques taught in class.
Major Arrangements of traditional material will be written for at least 6 of instruments available from among the ensemble. Minor arrangements will be written for at least 2 of instruments available from among the ensemble.

Essay
Major Essays will be 5000 words, researching a topic covered in class (or closely related topics, to be approved by MC).
Minor Essays will be a 1000-word commentary on the student's recording or composition, outlining the styles and techniques demonstrated.

This course offers an exploration of the derivation, development and practice of Irish foreign, security and defense policies, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges. Students gain a detailed insight into Ireland's place in the contemporary world order, the transformation of Irish national foreign, security and defense policy through its membership of the European Union and the efforts of Irish policy makers to pursue Irish interests and values within an evolving global order. This includes an analysis of Irish foreign policy strategy, policy making and economic, political and military engagement. This course provides a solid theoretical and empirical grounding for further advanced study, and encourages students to compare and to evaluate critically competing understandings of Ireland in the world. Transferable skills are developed through independent research, teamwork, communications and role play.

This course examines the causes and consequences of climate change in relation to agriculture, recognizing agriculture as both a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and a sector highly vulnerable to climate impacts. With particular attention to Ireland, where agriculture accounts for a substantial share of national emissions, the course explores innovative land-use solutions and strategies for mitigation and adaptation at local and global scales. Topics include livestock management, food systems and dietary choices, agricultural efficiency, bioenergy, and policy pathways toward carbon neutrality, including those proposed by Teagasc. The course also emphasizes the development of research skills, including the sourcing, critical evaluation, and synthesis of information related to agriculture and climate change.

This course provides students with an overview of the origins, languages, literatures, and mythologies of the Celts from prehistoric to medieval times. This course begins with a survey of the main periods of Celtic archaeology and then considers how the Celts were portrayed by Classical Greek and Roman authors, our only written sources for the history of ancient Celtic Europe. Following this, English translations of legal and historical texts composed in Ireland from the seventh century onwards are drawn upon to build up a picture of life in the medieval Celtic world, considering topics such as the structure of early Irish society and the role of women. In the second half of the course, students are introduced to the main genres of early Irish literature. This rich tradition will complement insights gained in the first half of the course. Students will focus on reading texts within the contemporary medieval context and will become familiar with the diversity of the early Irish literary tradition. The course also addresses recent scholarship in relation to the interpretation of the relevant literature.
 

This course is for students who have no previous knowledge of Korean and offers an introduction to Korean language and culture. It enables students to develop competence in a range of everyday tasks in Korean. The course focuses on oral communication and on acquiring essential listening and speaking abilities. Students develop and practice basic reading and writing techniques. The stimulus material (oral, aural and written) provide an introduction to Korean grammar and syntax and contribute to giving the students an insight into aspects of Korean life and culture. This course is delivered via small group teaching with classes having a maximum of 16 students.

This course introduces students to the core challenges and responses associated with climate change, with an emphasis on the interplay between science, policy, politics, and communication. It explores four main dimensions: the scientific and socio-political foundations of climate change; the environmental, social, and economic impacts it creates; strategies for mitigation and adaptation; and the political and institutional contexts in which these responses are developed and contested. Students examine climate governance at multiple levels, from international negotiations under the UNFCCC to national action plans and local government climate strategies, with attention to the political dynamics that shape ambition and implementation. The course also considers the role of communication in influencing public understanding, political debate, and policy effectiveness, including how climate issues are framed, contested, and mobilized across different actors and scales. By combining conceptual perspectives with applied case studies, students gain the knowledge and critical skills to evaluate climate policies, understand the political struggles underpinning them, and reflect on the role of communication in advancing effective and equitable climate action.