MA in Cultural Studies, SOAS

Overview

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Convenor

Minimum Entry Requirements: Equivalent of a UK 2:1 degree

Start of programme: September intake only

This Cultural Studies programme focuses on Asian, African and Middle Eastern cultures. The core course will introduce a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the literature, film and media of these areas. It also complements the Comparative Literature and Gender programmes by offering a focus on anthropological, political, sociological, media, gender and Cultural Studies, as well as cultural theories. The programme will consist of courses valued at 3 units and a dissertation of 10,000 words. Full-time students will be allowed to enrol for four courses during term one (part-time students two or three), if one of the courses is a language acquisition course. At the end of term one they will have to withdraw from one, leaving three courses (pro rata for part-time students) and a dissertation.

Structure

The Programme will consist of courses valued at 3 units and a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Full-time students will be allowed to enrol for four units during term one (part-time students two or three), if one of the courses is a language acquisition unit. At the end of term one they will have to withdraw from a course, leaving courses to the value of three units (pro rata for part-time students) and a dissertation.

Core Courses

Cultural studies theories and the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PCSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Dissertation in Cultural Studies - 15PCSC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Optional Courses

Choose two courses from the Lists below. No more than 1 unit can be taken from Group B or C.

Group A (From the Faculty of Languages and Cultures)

Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo - 15PAFC139 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Japanese Traditional Drama (Masters) - 15PEAH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) - 15PEAH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation - 15PCHC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (MA) - 15PCHH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Modern Film from Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora - 15PCHH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation - 15PCHC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Literatures in African languages - 15PAFC124 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Literatures of South Asia - 15PSAC284 (1 Unit) - Full Year
The Politics of Culture in Contemporary South Asia - 15PSAC314 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Modern Arabic Literature and the West - 15PNMC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Film and Society in the Middle East - 15PNMC230 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Post-crisis Thai Cinema (1997-2007) - 15PSEH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
(Post) Colonialism and Otherness in South East Asia on Screen - 15PSEH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film - 15PSEH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
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 - Not Running 2012/2013
Japanese Television since 1953 - 15PJKC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Indian Cinema: Its History and Social Context - 15PSAH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
Indian Cinema: Key Issues - 15PSAH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
Research Methods In Translation Studies - 15PLIH046 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Group A (From the Faculty of Arts and Humanities)

Department of the Study of Religions

Critical Theory and the Study of Religions - 15PSRC037 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Myth and Mythmaking - 15PSRC164 (1.0 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
Muslim Britain: Perspectives and Realities - 15PSRC158 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Department of History

Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia I - Making States and Building Nations - 15PHIH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia II - Non-National Perspectives - 15PHIH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Social and Cultural Transformations in Southern Africa Since 1945 - 15PHIH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
The End of Empire in the Middle East & the Balkans - 15PHIC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Japanese Modernity I - 15PHIH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Japanese Modernity II - 15PHIH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China - 15PHIH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China - 15PHIH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Department of Art and Archaeology

Diaspora Contexts and Visual Culture - 15PARH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter Disciplinary Approach - 15PARH039 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts - 15PARH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
Painting and Visual Culture in China - 15PARC043 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013

Group B

One African or Asian PG Language unit or one Language-based MA Literature/Film/Media unit may be included as one of the options. See the relevant language department website for course lists.

Group C

One theory unit may be included as an option.

Gender theory and the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PGNC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Postcolonial Theory and Practice - 15PCSC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Theory and techniques of Comparative Literature - 15PCSC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

MA Comparative Programme Specification 2012/2013 (pdf; 40kb)

Teaching & Learning

Destinations

A postgraduate degree in Cultural Studies from SOAS provides its students with expertise in non-European cultures, in-depth regional knowledge, and strong research and critical analysis skills. As well as subject expertise, Postgraduate students are equipped with the transferable skills needed to continue in research as well as the skills needed to enable them to find professional careers in the private and public sectors. These include familiarity with methods of research; the ability to absorb and analyse large quantities of information; organisational skills. A postgraduate degree is a valuable experience that provides students with a body of work and a diverse range of skills that they can use to market themselves with when they graduate.

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

How to apply

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section

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

Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies (CCLPS)