The MA in Local History (part-time) is a two-year programme (90 credits) in which participants complete a combination of compulsory and optional modules as well as a minor thesis on a topic agreed with the programme director and an assigned expert supervisor.
This programme comprises two parts: taught modules in year 1, and a minor research thesis in year 2 (90 credits in total).
Year 1 [50 credits]
Core modules introduce participants to key elements of historical research including literature review, historiography, theoretical concepts, methodological and ethical issues, bibliography, referencing and presentation. Lectures, seminars and in-class discussion illuminate the nature and main classes of evidence for local history, the background and biography of the sources, their potential and limitations, and the skills required to identify, assemble, examine and interpret them professionally and effectively.
Optional modules (10 credits each) cover aspects of Irish history from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, typically including the following topics: heritage, conservation and cultural tourism; the evolution of the urban landscape; landed estates and designed landscapes; domestic architecture; war and revolution; rural settlement; the archaeology and history of medieval Ireland.
Year 2
A total of 40 credits are awarded for thesis preparation (semester 1, 10 credits) and thesis completion (year-long). Students will be assigned a research supervisor on an individual basis in year 1, but do not complete the thesis preparation module or the thesis itself until year 2.
Course Duration: 2 years part-time
Duration: 2 years part-time
Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually. Please check periodically for updates.
 | Year 1 |
| | ‘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. | HYLP6 - LOCAL HISTORY P/T | Credits: n/a Not compulsory:  | |
| | Year 2 |
| | ‘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. | HYLP62 - LOCAL HISTORY P/T | Credits: n/a Not compulsory: | |
LOCAL HISTORY P/T 
