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Department of History

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Joint Honours

Richard Parkes Bonington, Francis I and Marguerite de Navarre, 1827

The Joint Honours programme in history deals with various periods of Irish, European, American, and world history, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day.

In the first year of study students take a methodological module on 'Doing History' in each term; they also have a choice of several 10 ECTS modules on the Middle Ages in the first term and on the early modern period in the second. In the second year students take modules on the modern period. They have a choice of several pathways, and if they choose a History Major they also participate in a group project. As in the Junior Freshman, so in the senior Freshman year students learn through a mixture of classroom-based lectures and tutorials, as well as through independent learning, preparing for classes and written work in our excellent library facilities. Specifics of the module offerings can be seen on our Joint Honours Pathway chart.

In the third year, where there is a growing emphasis on seminar discussion, students choose a ‘List 2’ module each term from a wide list that may change from year to year. A sample list is below. They also take a two-semester sequence ‘Researching History’ that treats historiography and methodology.

For those who decide to take the final year in History, the programme includes a pair of List 1 modules, which together run all year and include an intensive discussion of primary sources. They also take two further List 2 modules and write a Dissertation based on a critical survey of original sources.

It is possible to spend all or part of the second or third year at one of our partner institutions in other countries. Results from these universities are recognised as part of your TCD degree - so spending time abroad does not lengthen the times needed to obtain a degree. For further details, see the links for Outgoing Erasmus Students and Outgoing Non-EU Exchange Students on the International section of our website.

Modules offered in 2025-26

Freshman (Year One)

Michaelmas Term

  • SH students take all six 5-credit modules for 30 ECTS
  • JH students take either History in the Present or Imagining History, plus two of the 5-credit modules for 15 ECTS

All 5-credit modules consist of one lecture per week plus 4 tutorials over the course of the term.

Hilary Term

  • SH students take the 10-credit Research Project module plus four 5-credit modules = 30 ECTS
  • JH students take the 10-credit Research Project module plus one 5-credit module = 15 ECTS

All 5-credit modules consist of one lecture per week plus 4 tutorials over the course of the term.

Senior Freshman (Year Two)

The following is the single honors route.

Michaelmas Term

  • Students taking 20 credits take Writing History and one 5-credit module in MT
  • Students taking 40 credits take Writing History and three 5-credit modules in MT

Hilary Term

  • Students taking 40 credits in History choose one Special Subject option for 10 credits and two 5-credit modules
  • JH and 20-credit SH students choose one Special Subject option for 10 credits

Special Subject Options

Sophister Specialist (Years Three & Four)

List I, Year Long
Available to: all SS students except NMS; JS Single Honours Students

Assessment pattern in all List I modules: Michaelmas term source analysis 40%, essay 60%; Hilary term essay 50%, exam 50%.

List II
Michaelmas term. Available to all JS students and to SS NMS students

Michaelmas Term. Available to SS Single Honours and Majors taking 60 ECTS in History

Hilary Term
Available to all JS students and to SS NMS students

Hilary Term
Single Honours and Majors taking 60 ECTS in History

List III.
Available to JS History Majors taking 40 ECTS in History
Michaelmas term

Hilary Term