SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Structure

Students must take 4 course units each year.

Students must pass at least three course units in order to proceed to the following year, including any core courses.

Students who fail Language I are not required to continue with Language II in the second year. Students attaining 40-50% in Language I may be exempted from Language II, if they wish, after consultation with their Personal Tutor and/or the Undergraduate Tutor.

Students must take a course for the year for which it is intended. Occasionally exceptions can be made in consultation with the Undergraduate Tutor and the approval of the Associate Dean.

Degree title

If a student passes Language in Africa and 4 course units in one language then the language may optionally be named in the degree title, e.g. African Studies (Swahili). This option is available for Swahili, Hausa and Somali only. One of the four courses may be an Independent Study Project in which the language is used to a large extent. If this is important to you, please discuss it with your Personal Tutor at the end of year 1 or the beginning of year 2 of your degree.

Year 1

Core Course

This course must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

• Culture in Africa - 155900838 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Language Course 1

A course unit at a suitable level in an African language

Compulsory Course

• Language in Africa - 155900867 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Open Option

Choose an open option course at an appropriate level.

Year 2

Language Course 2

An African language unit following on from Language I

Optional Courses

Choose 2 units from the list of optional courses.

Open Option

Choose an open option unit or a course from the list of optional courses

Year 3

Compulsory Course

• Perspectives on African experience - 155900933 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Advanced Language

Take an advanced language course or a course from the list of optional courses.

Optional Course

Choose a course from the list of optional courses

Open Option

Choose an open option unit or a course from the list of optional courses

List of Optional Courses

Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.

• Contemporary African literature - 155900839 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• History in African and Caribbean literature - 155901013 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• African language literatures (oral and written) - 155900677 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Representations and transformations: South African drama and film - 155901165 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The structure of Bantu languages - 155901257 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Theory and practice of Swahili translation - 155901259 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Religions of Africa - 158000119 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Religion in Africa - 155901151 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Extended essay in African studies (a) - 155900762 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Extended essay in African studies (b) - 155901188 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Independent study project in African studies - 155900763 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Directed study of an African language - 155900934 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Black urban studies - 151230001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Introduction to Pan-Africanism - 151230002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Music in Africa - 155800022 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The World of Cuban Music - 155800058 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Music in the Mande Cultural World - 155800056 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• African Art I: Context and Representation - 154900105 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• African Art II: West Africa & the Atlantic World; History, Historiography and the Visual Arts. - 154900124 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• African Art III: the Art and Architecture of North Eastern Africa - 154900132 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Africans in the Americas: Identities and Representation - 154900166 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Amharic 1 - 155900832 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Amharic 2 - 155900378 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Hausa 1 - 155900834 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Hausa 2(a) intermediate - 155900324 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Hausa 2(b) survey of hausa literature - 155900818 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Hausa 3(a) advanced - 155900327 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Hausa 3 (b) selected texts - 155900603 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Somali 1 - 155900831 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Somali 2 - 155900811 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Advanced somali: literature and culture - 155901292 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Swahili 1 - 155900985 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Swahili 2a intermediate - 155900986 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Swahili 2b - introduction to Swahili literature - 155900987 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Swahili 3 - 155900635 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Swahili 4 - 155900636 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Theory and practice of Swahili translation - 155901259 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Yoruba 1 - 155900833 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Yoruba 2 - 155900935 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Zulu 1 - 155900840 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Zulu 2 - 155900851 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

• BA African Studies- 2012/13- Programme Specifications (pdf; 39kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Teaching is normally provided by lecture or seminar and students are required to attend such classes. Most courses involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Destinations

As a student specialising in the continent of Africa, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of Africa. Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please
visit the Careers Service website.

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section