Celtic Studies

Celtic Studies is a renowned, interdisciplinary program that focuses on the rich history, mythology, literature, politics, languages, and culture of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The program is open to all undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.

Celtic Studies attracts visiting professors from across the world, is home to a very popular speaker series, and hosts numerous co-curricular events centred around language, sport, food, and culture. Every year, the program summer scholarships for students to study across the Atlantic. We are delighted to provide intellectually stimulating courses in a personal, student-friendly learning environment. Many of our students have gone on to graduate study in Celtic Studies, English literature, History, Medieval Studies, Archaeology, Politics… and more!

  • Special to our Program

    Celtic Studies Course Union

    The Celtic Studies Course Union aims to unite students enrolled in the Celtic Studies program and classes. The union provides a social environment for students with common interests through free lectures and events like music sessions, movie nights, dances, and professor/student socials.

    Garm Lu

    Garm Lu is a Canadian Celtic Arts Journal published by the Celtic Studies Course Union. It showcases Canadian-Celtic works, ranging from papers to poems and photos and has been in print since 1986.

  • Scholarships and Awards

    Denis Leyne Celtic Studies Scholarship

    To provide financial assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in the Celtic Studies Program at St. Michael’s College.

    Value:  Approx. $600-$700

    Application- In-course Application

    The John Ward McGovern and Irene J. McGovern Scholarship in Celtic Studies

    Value $5000, open only to students registered at St. Michael’s College.

    This scholarship is awarded to a registered full-time student at St. Michael’s College who will have completed their second year or higher of an undergraduate program by May 2024, and whose course of study involves a concentration or major focus in Celtic Studies. Students qualifying for the scholarship will have high academic achievement, particularly in the areas of Celtic History and Literature.

    Application- In-course Award Application

    The Eileen Allen Scholarship

    Open to all students in the Faculty of Arts and Science who are registered in Celtic Studies courses.

    This scholarship is awarded to a student who wishes to attend the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Irish Studies. Information regarding the conference can be obtained from the Celtic Studies Office or from the Canadian Association for Irish Studies.

    St. Michael’s College Scholarships for Summer Study

    Open to all students in the Faculty of Arts and Science who are registered in Celtic Studies courses.

    These scholarships are funded by St. Michael’s College and are available to students who wish to study overseas during the summer. The staff of the Celtic Studies Program must approve the course of study requested by the student. Information on various summer school options is available at the Celtic Studies Office.

    Students who are applying to attend the Irish Summer Language School in An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway may be eligible for the Ireland Canada University Foundation scholarship. The successful students will be selected from the applicants for the St. Michael’s College Summer Scholarship and do not need to submit a separate application. Likewise students who wish to attend a Summer School in Scotland may be eligible for the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto scholarship; the successful student will be selected from the applicants for the St. Michael’s College Summer Scholarship.

  • 2024-2025 Program Requirements: Specialist

    Enrolment Requirements:
    Enrolment in the Celtic Studies Specialist will be administratively suspended as of January 1, 2024 and students will no longer be able to enrol in the program. Students presently enrolled in the Specialist will be able to complete the program requirements as described below. Students who are not enrolled in the Specialist but are interested in Celtic Studies are strongly recommended to consult St. Michael’s College for advising, as well as consider pursuing the Celtic Studies Major or Minor instead.

    You are responsible for fulfilling the program requirements of the year you first joined the Celtic Studies program. Both the CLT and SMC program courses you have completed count toward your program requirements. Please check your specific program requirements and progress on Degree Explorer.

    For the most up-to-date requirements and current course offerings, please see the University of Toronto Timetable Builder and Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar.


    If you have any questions, please contact us at smc.programs@utoronto.ca

    Examines the literature, languages, history, music, folklore and archaeology of the peoples of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the ancient and modern worlds, including the transmission of Celtic traditions to Canada and the United States.

    Enrolment Requirements:

    This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

    Completion Requirements:

    (10.5 credits including 4.0 credits at the 300+level, 1.0 of which must be at the 400-level)

    1. CLT240H1 and CLT241H1

    2. 2.0 credits from the following language courses: CLT141Y1/​ CLT242Y1/​ CLT243Y1/​ CLT251H1/​ CLT252H1/​ CLT331H1/​ CLT332H1

    3. 6.0 credits from the list above and/or SMC165H1/​ MST226H1/​ CLT250H1/​ CLT333H1/​ CLT334H1/​ CLT335Y1/​ CLT337H1/​ CLT338H1/​ CLT341H1/​ CLT342Y1/​ CLT343H1/​ CLT344Y1/​ CLT345H1/​ CLT346H1/​ CLT347H1/​ CLT348H1/​ CLT350H1/​ CLT351H1/​ CLT355H1/​ CLT356H1/​ CLT373H1/​ CLT374H1/​ CLT375H1/​ CLT376H1/​ CLT377H1/​ CLT378H1/​ CLT395Y1/​ CLT396H1/​ CLT411H1/​ CLT412H1/​ CLT413H1/​ CLT416H1/​ CLT440H1/​ CLT441H1/​ CLT444H1/​ CLT445H1/​ SMC441Y1/​ SMC457H1

    4. CLT451Y1

    5. 0.5 credit from CLT341H1/​ CLT348H1/​ CLT377H1/​ CLT378H1/​ CLT444H1/​ CHC232H1/​ CHC370H1/​ CHC371H1/​ CHC383H1/​ MST341H1/​ SMC385H1 or 0.5 credit 200+ level from Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes.

    Note: Effective Fall 2021, courses associated with St. Michael’s College’s Celtic Studies, Christianity and Culture, and Mediaeval Studies programs will have the new “CLT,” “CHC,” and “MST” designators respectively.

  • 2024-2025 Program Requirements: Major

    Examines the literature, languages, history, music, folklore and archaeology of the peoples of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the ancient and modern worlds, including the transmission of Celtic traditions to Canada and the United States.

    Enrolment Requirements:
    This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

    Completion Requirements:
    (6.5 credits, including at least 2.0 credits at the 300+level, of which 0.5 credit must be at the 400-level)

    1. CLT240H1 and CLT241H1

    2. 4.0 credits from the list below: CLT110H1/​ CLT141Y1/​​ CLT242Y1/CLT243Y1/​​ CLT251H1/​​ CLT252H1/​​ CLT331H1/​​ CLT332H1/​ CLT333H1/​​​ CLT337H1/​​ CLT338H1/​​ CLT339H1/​ CLT340H1/​ CLT341H1/​​​ CLT345H1/​​ CLT346H1/​​ CLT347H1/​​ CLT348H1/​​ CLT350H1/​​ CLT353H1/​ CLT374H1/​​ CLT378H1/​​ CLT395Y1/​​ CLT396H1/​​ CLT411H1/​​ CLT413H1/​​ CLT420H1/​ CLT440H1/​ CLT441H1/​​ SMC165H1/​ SMC441Y1/​ SMC457H1/​ MST226H1

    3. 0.5 credit from CLT341H1/​​ CLT348H1/​​ CLT377H1/​​ CLT378H1/​​ CLT418H1/​ CLT444H1/​ CHC232H1/​​ CHC370H1/​​ CHC371H1/​​ CHC383H1/​​ MST341H1/​ SMC385H1 or a 0.5 credit at the 200/300/400-level from Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes.

  • 2024-2025 Program Requirements: Minor

    Examines the literature, languages, history, music, folklore and archaeology of the peoples of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the ancient and modern worlds, including the transmission of Celtic traditions to Canada and the United States.

    Enrolment Requirements:
    This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.

    Completion Requirements:
    4.0 credits chosen from those listed below, including at least 1.0 credit at the 300+ level

    CLT110H1/​ CLT141Y1/​​ CLT242Y1/​ CLT243Y1/​​ CLT244H1/​ CLT251H1/​​ CLT252H1/​​ CLT331H1/​​ CLT332H1/​ CLT333H1/​​​ CLT336H1/​ CLT337H1/​​ CLT338H1/​​ CLT339H1/​ CLT340H1/​ CLT341H1/​​​ CLT345H1/​​ CLT346H1/​​ CLT347H1/​​ CLT348H1/​​ CLT350H1/​​ CLT353H1/​ CLT374H1/​​ CLT378H1/​​ CLT395Y1/​​ CLT396H1/​​ CLT411H1/​​ CLT413H1/​​ CLT420H1/​ CLT440H1/​ CLT441H1/​​ SMC165H1/​ SMC441Y1/​ SMC457H1/​ MST226H1

  • Course Offerings 2024-2025

    Proposed course offerings and information for the 2024/2025 academic year are detailed in the PDF below. For the most up-to-date course listings please see the Faculty of Arts and Science Timetable.

    As of the 2021/2022 academic year all Celtic Studies courses have new course codes. Both the old SMC program courses and new CLT courses will count toward your Celtic Studies program requirements. If you notice a course not being counted in Degree Explorer please contact us at smc.programs@utoronto.ca.

    The course re-coding is taking place across all St. Michael’s College courses. As of Fall 2021, Mediaeval Studies courses are coded as MST courses, Celtic courses are CLT courses, and Christianity and Culture courses are CHC courses.

    ProposedCelticCourseOfferings2024-25

  • Program Contacts

    Faculty

    Irene Morra, Professor and Program Director

    Odette Hall, room 127

    irene.morra@utoronto.ca

    Mark G. McGowan, Professor and Program Coordinator

    mark.mcgowan@utoronto.ca

    Brent Miles, Associate Professor

    Odette Hall, room 025
    brent.miles@utoronto.ca

    Pa Sheehan

    Odette Hall, room 027
    pa.sheehan@utoronto.ca

    David A. Wilson, Professor

    Odette Hall, room 021
    david.wilson@utoronto.ca

    Ann Dooley, Professor Emerita

    Odette Hall, room 023
    ann.dooley@utoronto.ca

    Kelly Library Liaison

    Richard Carter
    Kelly Library, room 127
    416-926-1300 ext. 3444
    richard.carter@utoronto.ca

    Contact Richard with any library-related questions, including using online resources, arranging library instruction, ordering new titles, and getting help with research.

    SMC Programs

    For more information about the program, including queries about enrollment and completion, contact smc.programs@utoronto.ca.

  • Course Offerings Summer 2024

    Proposed course offerings and information for the Summer 2024 academic year are detailed in the PDF below. For the most up-to-date course listings please see the Faculty of Arts and Science Timetable.

    ProposedSMCCourseOfferingsSummer24