My Celtic Studies Masters Degree Work

University of Wales
Trinity St. David

To earn a Masters Degree in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales Trinity St. David, I am able to work mostly on-line. I need to complete 120 credits in the 'taught' courses (of 20 credits each) which require the completion of at least one 5000 word essay per course. After this is completed, then a 20,000 word dissertation is to be written, worth 60 credits.

The marking system is very different from what I have been used to in the past. At the University, a mark of 70% or over is distinction level (usually with a top possible grade of 74%), with 40-69% needed for a passing grade and 39% or lower a failing grade. A couple of my professors told me that they never give a mark higher than 75%.

My coursework

I have decided to take the following courses. I have also been asked by the University to remove the links to the papers, and the papers themselves, from my website. It hadn't occurred to me, but there is some fear that future students might be tempted to plagerize bits of them, and this could be a valid concern.

Study and Research Methodology (required for all students - I received a total mark of 69%)

Book Review (1250 words; 30% of grade - I received a 74% mark)
Review of Dying For the Gods, by Miranda Green
Encyclopedia Article (1250 words; 30% of grade - I received a 70% mark)
Pwyll, patterned after the Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by James MacKillop
Formating a Paper for Publication (n/a; 10% of grade - 64%)
I decided to use my paper for my Y Mabinogi course (below).
Internet Assignment (1250 words; 10% of grade - 64%)
Dissertation Proposal (1250 words; 20% of grade - 64%). Needless to say, it morphed quite a lot by the time I got the paper written.

Dead Virgins: Feminine Sanctity in Medieval Wales

Essay title no. 5. “Would it be fair to say that St. Gwenfrewy (Winefride) is one of the most important Welsh female saints? What light does the extant evidence shed on the importance of her cult?”

I received a 72% and a 68% for this course, making it a final mark of 70%.

Essay title no. 6. “In what ways were the Welsh saints associated with healing?”

I received a 68% for this course.

Camu at y Gymraeg

This is a beginner's Welsh language course. I spent two weeks in Lampeter taking the oral part of this course in June, 2006, and then went home to complete the workbook with 16 assignments over the course of almost a year. As these assignments are proprietary, I won't be posting them here.

I received a mark of 63% for this course.

The Celtic Arthur

Essay MAAS0120-3(b): 'Does the Historia Brittonum and its possible sources imply the early
historicizing of a legendary figure or the early accretion of legendary material around an
arguably historical figure?'

I received a mark of 68% for this course.

Y Mabinogi

Essay 3: 'Acccording to R.L. Valente,

"The women of the Mabinogi – whose personalities range from the mysteriously elusive to the humorously practical – are among the most vivid characters in the world of the Four Branches."

Do you agree? In your answer you should refer in detail to at least FOUR characters that appear in Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi. What specific techniques are used in relation to characterization?'

I received a mark of 68% for this course.

The Celts: Origins to Modern Era

Essay 2: Discuss in detail the religious beliefs of the ancient Celts paying particular attention to the role of the druid.

I received a mark of 71% for this course.

Dissertation (Thesis)

druidkirk.org