Senior Sophister (SS) – fourth year

In the fourth and final year, students take one subject in which they major, taking all 60 ECTS credits in that subject. The Senior Sophister programme facilities a degree of specialization unavailable in earlier years. The special subject module is designed to develop a more advanced level of understanding and interpretation, and to provide more advance experience of presenting and of researching.

Art History majors take one Special Subject (20 ECTS) chosen from a range of four or five on offer each year, as well as two further Options (10 ECTS each) modules from those on offer and. In addition, students research and write a dissertation of c.10,000 words (20 ECTS).

Special Subject Modules

The Special Subject is available only to Senior Sophisters. It is designed to explore art-historical issues at a more specialized level than other modules. Where possible, students are given the opportunity of studying primary sources for themselves and particular emphasis is placed on personal observation of original works of art or architecture. Each special subject module is taught as a 2-hour weekly seminar. Students are required to undertake a substantial amount of preparatory reading for each seminar and they will be required to make verbal presentations on a regular basis supported by a digitally projected presentation which they have prepared with images and other material as required. In the event of oversubscription to a particular special subject, places may be allocated by lottery.

Note that as Special Subject modules are developed around specialist interests of staff, normally when a staff member is on sabbatical their Special Subject will be unavailable for that year.

• HA4002 Studies in Irish Architecture and Ornament 1700-1830
• HA4004 Painting in Ireland and Britain, c.1800-c.1900: artists, institutions and audiences
• HA4007 Irish Modern and Contemporary Art - not available 2012-13
• HA4010 Art and Religion in the Hispanic World
• HA4013 The Art of Sanctity

Options

In all, ten optional subjects will normally be available to students during the course of their degree. These are offered over a two-year cycle, with up to five optional modules offered in alternate years. Students choose two in each of SF, JS and SS years. Students should aim to take at least one architectural subject, and a spread in terms of historical period. See Handbook for the guidelines on subject choice. See the Handbook also for options available in Classics, and the conditions applying.

Coursework Requirements & Deadlines (PDF, 57kb)

Dissertation

Late Essay Policy

Deadlines must be met. Extensions will be granted by the Head of Department ONLY on medical or ad misericordiam grounds only.
Extensions on medical grounds must be supported by a doctor’s certificate.
An extension must be sought at least 24 hours before the deadline, even if only by e-mail. Late essays will automatically be marked as 0%, UNLESS accompanied by an authorised extension sheet (.doc, 37kb).
Late essays will not be accepted or marked unless accompanied by an Authorized Extension sheet (.doc, 37kb).