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

Structure

Overview

There are four main components to this degree: three taught courses and a 10,000 word dissertation. All students take a core course,  Globalisation and Development. They then select one of two further courses: Political Economy of Development or Theory, Policy and Practice of Development. Through these courses students build their analytical skills and knowledge of the main issues and debates in Development Studies.

Specialisation

Students also take optional courses (one full course or two half courses), allowing them to specialise in particular areas of development and possibly use them to develop a dissertation in a related theme. By tying optional courses to their individual dissertation topic, students design their degree to suit their own interests and career development goals.

Core Courses

All students take Globalisation and Development. Then select either Political Economy of Development or Theory, Policy and Practice of Development. The dissertation is compulsory.

• Globalisation and development - 15PDSC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Political economy of development - 15PDSC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Theory, policy and practice of development - 15PDSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Dissertation in Development Studies - 15PDSC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Non-Assessed Courses

All MSc students in Development Studies are eligible to attend the one-term , non-assessed course, Economics for Beginners,which introduces students to basic concepts in microeconomics, macroeconomics, development economics, and statistics and econometrics.

Optional Courses - Development Studies

Students may choose optional courses (one full course or two half courses) from the list below. Please check to ensure that any course in which you have a special interest is running in the year that you wish to study. In addition, access to relevant courses in other departments may be negotiated subject to the agreement of both Convenors.

• Agrarian Development, Food Policy and Rural Poverty - 15PDSH026 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Aid and development - 15PDSH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Borders and Development - 15PDSH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Civil society, social movements and the development process - 15PDSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Contested natural resources, rural livelihoods and globalisation - 15PDSH031 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Development practice - 15PDSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• East Asia and globalisation - 15PDSH025 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Famine and food security - 15PDSH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Fundamentals of research methods for Development Studies - 15PDSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Gender and development - 15PDSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• HIV and AIDS, culture and development - 15PDSH021 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Industrial globalisation and development - 15PDSH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in forced migration - 15PDSH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Migration and Policy - 15PDSH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Problems of development in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PDSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Security - 15PDSH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The politics of water resources management in Asia - 15PDSH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The working poor and development - 15PDSH030 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Understanding economic migration: Theories, Patterns and Policies - 15PDSH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Water Law and Governance Reform in Asia - 15PDSH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Open Options in Other Departments

Economics Department

• Economic development in Africa - 15PECC203 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region - 15PECC334 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic problems and policies in modern China - 15PECC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic development of modern Taiwan - 15PECH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Politics and International Studies Department

• Government and politics in Africa - 15PPOC205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of modern South Asia - 15PPOC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• State and development in Asia and Africa - 15PPOC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Taiwan's politics and cross-strait relations - 15PPOC252 (1 Unit) - Full Year

School of Law

• Human rights in the developing world - 15PLAC111 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Anthropology and Sociology Department

• Food, Body And Society - 15 PAN H041 (0.5 Unit) - Cannot be taken with Food Development and the Global Economy
• Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with Food Body and Society.
• Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

History Department

• History of Environment and Globalisation in Asia and Africa - 15PHIH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Programme Specification

• Programme Specification 2012/2013 (pdf; 39kb)

Teaching & Learning

Materials

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.

Teaching & Learning

Courses are taught by a combination of methods, principally lectures, tutorial classes, seminars and supervised individual study projects.

The MSc programme consists of three taught courses (corresponding to three examination papers) and a dissertation.

Lectures

Most courses involve a two hour lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

Seminars

At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students make full-scale presentations for each unit that they take, and are expected to write papers that often require significant independent work.

Dissertation

A quarter of the work for the degree is given over to the writing of an adequately researched 10,000-word dissertation. Students are encouraged to take up topics which relate the study of a particular region to a body of theory.

Destinations

A postgraduate degree in Globalisation and Development from SOAS provides graduates with a portfolio of widely transferable skills sought by employers, including analytical skills, the ability to think laterally and employ critical reasoning, and knowing how to present materials and ideas effectively both orally and in writing. Equally graduates are able to continue in the field of research, continuing their studies either at SOAS or other institutions.  An MSc in Globalisation and Development 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.

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

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

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

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section