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

Structure

Students take 12 course units over a three-year degree, 4 units in each year.

Students take core or compulsory courses which are designed to build up a knowledge of the history of the discipline and relevant theoretical, methodological and empirical aspects. They can additionally choose from a range of optional courses.

Year 1:

Single-subject students usually take 3 compulsory introductory units and an open option (i.e. a course in a subject or language other than those named in the student’s chosen degree title).

1. Introduction to Social Anthropology (1 unit)
2. Voice and Place (1 unit)
3. Social Theory (1 unit)
4. 1 approved unit in a language or other discipline

Year 2:

Single-subject students take 2 compulsory units and 2 full or 4 half units from a list of available options, or may decide to do a open option course. The courses in this year are more advanced theoretically and offer a wide choice of ethnographies.

1. Theory in Anthropology (1 unit)
2. One of the following ethnography courses (1 unit)
   Ethnography of a selected region - China
   Ethnography of a selected region - Japan
   Ethnography of a selected region - South Asia
   Ethnography of a selected region - South East Asia
   Ethnography of a selected region - Near & Middle East
   Ethnography of a selected region - East Africa
   Ethnography of a selected region - West Africa
3. 1 unit (or 2 half units) from Year 2 Optional Units List
4. Either
   1 further unit (or 2 half units) from Year 2 Optional Units List
   Or
   1 approved unit in a language or other discipline

Year 3:

The theoretical courses in this year are yet more advanced, and offer a wide range of themes. Single-subject students take Contemporary Trends in the Study of Society, and 2.5 units of optional courses or 1.5 units and a 'open option' course. 

1. Contemporary Trends in the Study of Society (1.5 units)
2. 1.5 units (in total) from the Year 3 Optional Units List
   Either
   1 further unit (or 2 half units) from Year 3 Optional Units List
   Or
   1 approved unit in a language or other discipline

Year 2 Option Units List

• African and Asian Cultures in the Diaspora - 151802052 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology and Film - 151802026 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Anthropology of travel and tourism A - 151802071 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology of travel and tourism B - 151802072 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives (A) - 151802067 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives (B) - 151802068 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Principles of Social Investigation - 151802024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• New Media and Society - 151802070 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• New Religious Movements in Africa, Asia and the Middle East - 151802073 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Psychoanalysis and Anthropology - 151802017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The Anthropology of African and Asian Communities in British Society - 151802035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Year 3 Option Units List

• Advanced Ethnographic Study - 151802022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• African and Asian Cultures in the Diaspora - 151802052 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology and Film - 151802026 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Anthropology of travel and tourism A - 151802071 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology of travel and tourism B - 151802072 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives (A) - 151802067 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives (B) - 151802068 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Independent Study Project in Social Anthropology - 151802039 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• New Media and Society - 151802070 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Principles of Social Investigation - 151802024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Psychoanalysis and Anthropology - 151802017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The Anthropology of African and Asian Communities in British Society - 151802035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The Anthropology of Gender - 151802031 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The Anthropology of Space, Place and Architecture - 151802058 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• The Other in Horror and Science Fiction Films - 151802061 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• New Religious Movements in Africa, Asia and the Middle East - 151802073 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Programme Specification

• Programme Specification 2012/2013 (pdf; 111kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

No

Teaching & Learning

The courses are taught by lectures and group discussions, the two often being taken by different teachers to provide a variety of angles on the subject. Students become active in class through their reading and essay-writing as well as their participation in discussion groups. Ethnographic studies of China, Japan, South East Asia, South Asia, the Near and Middle East, West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa are available.

Pre Entry Reading

• J La Fontaine, What is Social Anthropology, Edward Arnold, 1985
  An introduction explaining the scope, methods and aims of social anthropology and clears up some popular misconceptions, as well as providing a practical guide to available courses and the kinds of jobs open to a qualified anthropologist.
• M Carrithers, Why humans have cultures: explaining anthropology and social diversity, OUP, 1992
• A Cheater, Social Anthropology: an alternative introduction, Routledge 1989, 2nd edition
• E R Leach, Social Anthropology, Fontana Masterguides (1976)
  A personalised introduction, giving one anthropologist's view of his subject and leading the reader through theory; humanity and animality; kinship; debt; power relationships; marriage and alliances thus formed; cosmology
• I M Lewis, Social Anthropology in Perspective, Penguin 1976, 2nd edition
  Clear introduction to modern social anthropology as a comparative study of the beliefs and customs of alien societies as well as those more familiar native communities. The underlying theme is the social setting and cultural expression of identity.
• D Pocock, Understanding Social Anthropology, Teach Yourself Series, Hodder and Stoughton, 1975
  This book introduces anthropology by promoting an awareness of the assumed notions that each one of us has about social values, and encouraging a consciousness and questioning of such values through the use of anthropological approaches and data.
• J Hendry, An Introduction to Social Anthropology: other people's worlds, Macmillan 1999
  A good general introduction with useful explanation of jargon and clarification of many of the subject's main themes.

Destinations

A degree from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS will develop your understanding of the world, other peoples’ ways of life and how society is organised. Skills gained during your degree will transfer well to areas such as information and technology, government service, teaching or work in the media and tourism. This is in addition to your detailed subject knowledge, which will vary according to the regional and theoretical focus of your degree. Your degree will equip you with a set of specific skills, including: analytical and critical skills; ability to gather, assess and interpret data; a high level of cultural awareness; and the ability to solve problems.

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

Home Office Barclays Wealth International Department for Work and Pensions The Random House Group NHS Partnerships in Health Information Kyushu University Menas Borders Lamont Design Company United Nations System Staff College Ethical Media Group

he Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile Youth Offending Team Project for Street Children Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary OrganisationsInternational School of Tianjin Health Improvement Project Zanzibar (Hipz) United Nations ESCAP British Red Cross Society Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Victoria and Albert Museum War Child

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

(Fast Stream) Civil Servant Adult Parliament Coordinator Africa Director, Social & Public Research Analyst Assistant Private Secretary, Minister of State Curator (Africa) Museum Development Administrator Freelance copywriter

Head, Peace and Security Lecturer and Arabic Flagship Language Coordinator Community Adviser Policy and Projects Officer Producer Professor Project Manager Senior Consultant

Other recent SOAS career choices have included commerce and banking, government service, the police and prison service, social services and health service administration. Opportunities for graduates with trained awareness of the socio-cultural norms of minority communities also arise in education, local government, libraries and museums.

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