Columbia Dual Degree

Overview

What is the Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University Dual BA Programme? 

The Dual B.A. Programme between Trinity and Columbia University offers students a unique opportunity to earn two B.A. degrees while spending the first two years at Trinity and years three and four at Columbia University in New York.

Participants are awarded two B.A. Honours Bachelor Degrees (NFQ Level 8) by Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, and Columbia University.

The Dual BA: The course for you?

This course is for those interested in expanding their experience to gain a truly international education. Students in the Dual B.A. Programme graduate with two B.A. degrees, one from Trinity and one from Columbia. After the first two years in Trinity, students then spend a further two years at Columbia, where they fulfil the requirements for one of the approved majors while also completing Columbia’s core curriculum. Students also undertake additional study to meet the requirements of the Trinity BA, including a Capstone project. 

Your degree and what you’ll study 

Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Neuroscience) 

At Trinity students take courses in integrative neuroscience, psychology, mathematics and statistics as well as study core concepts fundamental to biological systems. Biology topics include cell biology, genetics and evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, metabolism, microbiology, physiology, neurobiology, ecosystems and environmental biology. Students expand their knowledge in social sciences, history and philosophy of science, and foreign languages. At Columbia, students undertake further study in Neuroscience and Behaviour. 

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology 

At Trinity students are introduced to the study of Greek and Roman literature, history, art and architecture through broad-based survey and skills modules, and undertake modules in Greek and/or Latin. In the second year, students choose more specialised historical, archaeological, and literary/cultural modules. Flexible pathways enable students to pursue their own interests. At Columbia students choose one of four majors: Classics; Archaeology; Ancient Studies; Classical Studies. Students also undertake a summer school or a multidisciplinary-taught module.

English Studies 

At Trinity students take all English Studies core modules and open/elective modules as required. At Columbia, students continue to follow a major in English. Students continue to develop their skills and deepen their engagement with the core discipline, while also undertaking classes across humanities subjects. Students will also complete a multidisciplinary-taught module and a Capstone project in their final year. 

European Studies 

At Trinity, alongside modules in the social sciences, modern European history, and the history of Ideas, students choose two languages from French, German, Italian, Irish, Polish, Russian, and Spanish. French and Irish are not offered at a beginner level; no student may study more than one language as a beginner. At Columbia, students choose one of eight majors: History; Political Science; Hispanic Studies with Specialisation; French; German Literature and Cultural History; Italian; or Slavic Studies. Students opt for a period of study abroad in Europe, an internship or a multidisciplinary-taught module. 

Film 

At Trinity students undertake foundational modules in film history and theory, including the history of Hollywood, trends in European and Non-Western cinema, screenwriting and film production, editing, and documentary making. Students are encouraged to engage creatively with the course and express themselves through podcasts, blogs, class debates, and digital portfolios in addition to conventional essays. At Columbia, students major in Film and Media Studies. Students also opt between a multidisciplinary-taught module and a summer film festival project.

Geography and Geoscience (Geoscience) 

At Trinity students acquire a broad grounding in geology, physical geography, and human environment interactions via classroom, laboratory, online, and field-based teaching. Students learn about issues such as climate change, natural hazards, energy, sustainability, and natural resources whilst studying the origins and development of our planet and the processes shaping its environments. In addition, students will expand their knowledge in the social sciences and a language. At Columbia, students will major in Earth Science. 

History 

At Trinity students are introduced to advanced historical study through modules that focus on periods ranging from the medieval to the contemporary. History is studied alongside other disciplines, including the social sciences and languages. Columbia’s comprehensive History curriculum in years three and four complements students’ time in Dublin, covering most areas of the world and most periods of history. Students also complete a Capstone essay in their final year. 

History of Art and Architecture 

At Trinity students are introduced to a broad range of artworks and buildings from Ancient Greece to the present day, and the critical and methodological frameworks of the discipline. Students choose one of three majors at Columbia: The 3 Majors are Art History; Art History and Visual Arts Architecture, History and Theory and can take modules that cover global art across most periods of history. Students also undertake a summer school, internship or a multidisciplinary-taught module. 

Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures 

At Trinity students are introduced to the cultures and societies of the Middle East through the study of history, politics, literature and religion from ancient times to the present alongside courses on European culture and history. In year one students take a European language, from French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, or Polish, and in year two, they study a Middle Eastern language from Arabic, Hebrew or Turkish. At Columbia, students can major in history; religion; political science; or Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African studies. Students can also undertake an internship or a multidisciplinary-taught module. 

Mathematics 

At Trinity students take courses in algebra, analysis, mechanics, computation and statistics. Students will expand their knowledge in social sciences, and foreign languages. At Columbia, students undertake further study in the field of Mathematics and can major in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Mathematics-Statistics or Economics-Mathematics. 

Religion

At Trinity students will undertake a programme designed to facilitate a broad-based study of Religion structured around four pillars: The Study of Religion; Religions in Antiquity and Biblical Studies; Ethics and the Politics of Religion; and Christian Theology. Students can study Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian sources, as well as examine the place of religion in the world today. Students can choose one of two majors at Columbia: Religion or Philosophy. Students also undertake an intensive summer school, based in Trinity. 

Philosophy 

At Trinity students will receive a thorough grounding in the history of Western philosophy as well as engaging with philosophical problems such as free will, the nature of morality, and the existence of God. From the beginning, students will take small seminars on current topics of philosophical research. At Columbia, students will have the opportunity to choose advanced seminars on a wide range of philosophical topics to suit their interests.