Immerse yourself in the Celtic world.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Celtic Studies in the College of Letters & Science allows students to immerse themselves in the rich languages, literatures, histories, and cultures of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the whole of the Celtic world. Celtic Studies is a wide-ranging field with areas of study relevant to those interested in anthropology, linguistics, creative writing, history, book history, folklore, literature, medieval studies, and digital humanities.
UC Berkeley has the first degree-granting Celtic Studies program in North America, starting in 1911. The Celtic Studies Program brings together faculty and students with interests in the cultures, languages, literature, and history of the Celtic regions. As a smaller department, students enjoy small classes, getting to know peers and faculty, and more attention from instructors.
Highlights
- Apply for a FLAS award to support your language study.
- Immerse yourself in Celtic language and literature through study abroad.
- Pursue an honors thesis as part of the Celtic Studies Honor Program.
Curriculum
The major in Celtic Studies is designed to give students both a broad understanding of the place of Celtic languages and cultures in the world and a firm grounding in one or more of the Celtic languages. In addition to at least four semesters of language study and the other major requirements, students will be required to organize their studies with reference to one other methodological or disciplinary area chosen from Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, History, Rhetoric, Scandinavian, or another language and literature. The program has an innovative linkage of language and literature-in-translation courses intended to allow students maximum flexibility in pursuing their studies. Students are encouraged to pursue independent study and research, as well as study abroad to Celtic destinations such as Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.
Learn more at celtic.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate-major
Study Options
In addition to the major, the Celtic Studies Program offers:
- Minor program in Celtic Studies
- Language study in Irish and Welsh, and other Celtic languages
- Courses that fulfill Reading & Composition and L&S breadth requirements
Students who already have an intended major can add Celtic Studies as a second major; frequent pairings for double majors include Linguistics, English, History, and Anthropology.
Declaring the Major
Upon acceptance to UC Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. To declare the Celtic Studies major, contact the Undergraduate Student Services Advisor as early as possible to review the major declaration process and plan an individualized course of study.
The Celtic Studies Program accepts both first-year admits and transfer students; no prior knowledge of Celtic languages is required. The major is not impacted and welcomes applications from Celtic Studies enthusiasts.
The knowledge and skills you gain with a Celtic Studies degree are applicable to a variety of careers, both academic and non-academic. Celtic Studies majors and minors have gone on to medical school and law school, and to careers in documentary filmmaking, computer programming, literary publishing, banking, and teaching at the high school and university levels. Students have also pursued graduate school in related fields at Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews, Aberystwyth University, NUI Galway, and other institutions.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Celtic Studies. The College of Letters & Science spotlights career pathways for students in the Arts & Humanities, and offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Banker
- Environmental Educator
- Independent Filmmaker
- Professor
- Software Engineer
- Teacher
- Technical Editor
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Archeology
- Celtic Languages & Literatures
- Comparative Literature
- English
- Law
- Linguistics
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
Fiona, class of 2025
Fiona Murphy transferred to UC Berkeley from Cabrillo College and graduated with a double major in Celtic Studies and English.
How did you become interested in Celtic Studies? A professor of mine in community college assigned some Irish literature and I ended up having a question that no one could answer, so I decided to do it myself.
Highlights, successes, or lessons learned through your Berkeley experience? I've had so many opportunities for research funding and even travel through studying Celtic. The community in this department is also just absolutely supportive and welcoming. I would highly recommend going to office hours for all of your professors and just chatting with them.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and first-year guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the Celtic Studies major; begin lower division language courses in Irish or Welsh.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or A&H Compass or Gateway course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a student organization like Le Cheile Celtic.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Browse Celtic Studies resources.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad; see resources from the department and options in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor such as Medieval Studies.
- Complete CELTIC 70 and lower division language requirements, and declare the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend an event at the Irish Studies Program or Center for British Studies.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Check out the Townsend Center for the Humanities.
- Apply for a FLAS award.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin upper division requirements in Celtic cultures, Irish literature, and Celtic mythology; enroll in an upper division Celtic language course.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Consider applying to the Celtic Studies Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Check out the Public Service Internship Program, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Explore the Berkeley Language Center.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Look into the Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates Cambridge scholarships for graduate study in the UK.
- Join a professional association such as the Celtic Studies Association of North America.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Townsend Center or Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course.
- Spend the summer in the UK or Ireland through UCEAP or study at a UK university with the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Digital Humanities and Journalism.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and transfer guides from L&S and Arts & Humanities.
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in CELTIC 70 and a lower division language course in Irish or Welsh.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Contact the major advisor about declaring the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a student organization like Le Cheile Celtic.
- Find support at the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Browse Celtic Studies resources.
Pursue your career goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Begin exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Arts & Humanities website.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with language study; work on upper division requirements in Celtic cultures, Irish literature, and Celtic mythology.
- Look into study abroad; see resources from the department and options in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
- Enrich your studies with a course thread, certificate, or minor such as Medieval Studies.
- Consider applying to the Celtic Studies Honors Program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend an event at the Irish Studies Program or Center for British Studies.
- Check out the Townsend Center for the Humanities.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS website; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Check out the Public Service Internship Program, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Apply for a FLAS award.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to develop skills and explore fields.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with upper division requirements, including language study.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a Transfer Peer Advocate or member of the A&H Dean’s Leadership Team.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the Celtic Studies Association of North America.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; look into the Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates Cambridge scholarships for graduate study in the UK.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Townsend Center or Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Start connecting with alumni groups and events.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Thinking about a PhD? Apply to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before your first semester.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course.
- Spend the summer in the UK or Ireland through UCEAP or study at a UK university with the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Digital Humanities and Journalism.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Celtic Studies or choosing a major?
The Celtic Studies Program offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the major or minor. The Undergraduate Student Services Advisor is available for in-person and remote appointments for help with major, double major, and minor planning and declaration; study abroad course and requirements planning; and other matters. Email issaug@berkeley.edu for advising hours, contacts, and additional information.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
Related Programs
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