Boston College-Ireland’s three week summer studies program in Ireland is a great opportunity for students to travel abroad while receiving course credit.  The university’s unmatched connections with leading scholars at Irish universities, as well as B.C.’s own renowned Irish studies faculty, make this a particularly worthwhile trip for students interested in Irish and Europeans studies, political science, history, business, and the arts.  Students will have the opportunity to tour Ireland over the course of their three weeks in the country, experiencing and learning about different aspects of regional culture on the island. 

We invite you to explore the information below to learn more about this opportunity to see and experience Irish culture. 

Course
Broadly defined as "Contemporary Irish Culture," this three week course covers a broad spectrum of fields in Irish society.  Students will benefit from the chance to study with B.C. Irish Studies faculty while traveling throughout Ireland.  Additionally, Boston College's close partnership with Ireland's top universities allows students to hear from and converse with the country's leading scholars. 

Topics covered in lectures and discussions with faculty are uniquely diverse.  Students will learn about and experience the Irish film industry, traditional and contemporary Irish music, and the politics of Northern Ireland.  Other subjects include but are by no means limited to ancient traditions, drama, literature, sport, and tourism in Ireland. 

The course carries 3 course credits towards a minor in Irish Studies at Boston College but is open to all majors.  Students with an interest in Irish or European studies, political science, history, business, and the arts will find this course especially engaging. 

Social Program
One of the most significant strengths of the B.C. Summer Studies in Ireland program is the opportunity for students to interact with one another and Irish society.  In addition, they will experience three weeks of scheduled events, including nights at traditional music venues, evenings in the pub, walking tours of literary and historic Dublin, water cruises, and visits to the theatre. 

Also included in the program are a number of day trips throughout Ireland.  Students will venture to the rugged Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland and see firsthand island community life.  In Belfast, students will see the cityscape and famous Murals of the Northern Irish capital.  Other trips include visits to County Clare, Newgrange in County Meath, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and the essential stop at the Guinness Storehouse. 

In addition to these scheduled events, students will have the additional benefit of meeting and socializing with Boston College’s large alumni community in Ireland.  While in Dublin, students will visit the B.C.-Ireland Centre at 42 St. Stephens Green, which is the university's lifeline in Ireland and a hub of academic and cultural activity in the city.