MA African Studies
Duration: One calendar year (full-time); Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)
Overview
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Minimum Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)
Start of programme: September intake only
Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time
The MA in African Studies provides an unrivalled programme of advanced courses on Africa; one of the world’s most fascinating and challenging regions. The opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the continent is a particular advantage of the degree. Students can choose from a range of about 30 courses in fourteen disciplines. Our former students have chosen to study Africa at this level for a wide range of reasons. For some a deep interest in the history and culture or political economy of a particular region is sufficient motivation, but for many students the programme has, in addition, been followed with the intention of furthering their career opportunities. Some go on to work either in Africa or in fields related to Africa. The opportunity to combine study of particular African subjects with an African language is very useful, although some evidence of competence in learning a foreign language is usually required.Structure
Learn a language as part of this programme
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
Students take three taught course units, one of which is considered a major, and complete a 10,000-word dissertation related to the major.
As the emphasis in the Regional Studies programmes is on interdisciplinary study, students are required to select their three course units from more than one subject. One course unit may be made up of two 0.5 unit courses. The subjects of the programme are: Anthropology, Art, Economics, History, Law, Literature, Media, Politics, Religious Studies, and Language.
The two minor course units can be taken in the same subject (but different to that of the major), or two different ones.
A language course can only be taken as a minor course, and only one language course can be taken.
Candidates who wish to take a language at other than introductory level will be assessed at the start of term to determine which is the most appropriate level of study.
When applying, applicants are asked to specify their preferred major and minor subjects, and asked to give alternative choices as practical considerations such as time tabling and availability of courses may limit freedom of choice.
Once enrolled, students have two weeks to finalise their choice of subjects and have the opportunity of sampling a variety of subjects through attending lectures etc.
All courses are subject to availability.
Course Options
Anthropology (minor only)
- Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World - 15PANH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- African and Asian Cultures in Britain - 15PANH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Art
- Art and Society in Africa - 15PARC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Painting and Architecture in Christian NE Africa: 2nd - 17th Centuries - 15PARC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Economics
- Economic development in Africa - 15PECC203 (1 Unit) - Full Year
History
- Colonial Conquest and Social Change in Southern Africa - 15PHIH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Social and Cultural Transformations in Southern Africa Since 1945 - 15PHIH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Warfare and the Military in African History - 15PHIC070 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Slavery in West Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries - 15PHIH028 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Historical Perspectives on Gender in Africa - 15PHIH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Language (minor only)
- Amharic 1 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC130 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Amharic 2 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC131 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- The structure of Bantu languages (Masters) - 15PAFC126 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Hausa 1 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC136 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Hausa 2 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC138 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Somali 1 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC132 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Somali 2 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC133 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Swahili 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC140 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Intermediate Swahili 2A (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC141 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Swahili 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC142 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Practical translation from and into Swahili - 15PAFC029 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Yoruba 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC134 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Yoruba 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC135 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Zulu 1 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC128 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Zulu 2 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC129 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Zulu 3 (postgraduate) - 15PAFC137 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
Law
- Islamic law (MA/LLM) - 15PLAC121 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Literature
- Literatures in African languages - 15PAFC124 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo - 15PAFC139 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Media
- Aspects of African film and video 1 - 15PAFH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Aspects of African film and video 2 - 15PAFH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Politics
- Government and politics in Africa - 15PPOC205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Religious Studies
- Preaching Prayer and Politics: Independent Christians in Southern Africa - 15PSRH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2011/2012
Programme Specification
Teaching & Learning
Teaching & Learning
Teaching is normally provided by lecture or seminar and students are required to attend such classes. Each student will be assigned a supervisor in connection with his or her dissertation.
Lectures and Seminars
Most courses involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes. At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work where students may be expected to make full-scale presentations for units they take.
Dissertation
The 10,000-word dissertation on an approved topic linked with one of the taught courses.
Learning Resources
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
Recipients of the MA African Studies have entered various professions after leaving the Department. Some have been able to pursue careers directly related to their study area while others have made use of the general intellectual training provided by the advanced study of cultures for involvement in analysing and solving many of the problems contemporary societies now face. Among a variety of professions, career paths may include:
- Academia
- Charity
- Community
- Government
- NGO's
- Media
- Publishing
- UN Agencies
SOAS Careers Services
The School has a careers service available to all SOAS students while they are at the school, free of charge.The Careers Service will help with job listings, interviews during ‘milk rounds’, putting together CVs, and even organising postgraduate study.
How to apply
How to apply
- How to Apply
- Online Application
- Funding options
- English language requirements
- Tuition Fees
- Admissions Contacts
D.G.E. Hall Scholarship
Application Deadline: 2012-01-31 00:00
Felix Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2012-01-31 00:00
Ferguson Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2012-01-31 00:00
Standard Chartered Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2012-01-31 00:00
A Student's Perspective
Nuren Sherali ParpiaBeing at SOAS is a privilege I have greatly appreciated academically as well as socially. It really is a gem that surfaces unheard voices and unseen faces.
