by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Irish Studies covers Irish Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of Ireland And The Irish Diaspora, From The Early Christian Period To The Present. Read on to learn the important information every irish studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering irish studies programs.
Across the country, irish studies is a widely-pursued major, with 5 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Irish Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for irish studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of irish studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Irish Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations irish studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a irish studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a irish studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several irish studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to irish studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in irish studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in irish studies can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to irish studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to irish studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of irish studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $54,317 |
| 5 years | $64,382 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for irish studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers irish studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 1 different irish studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased irish studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering irish studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,156 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 705 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 680 |
| Area Studies, Other | 630 |
| East Asian Studies | 581 |
| Latin American Studies | 498 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 317 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
