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

Structure

Students take three course units (three full units, six half units, or a combination). One of the units is designated as a major, in relation to which students complete a 10,000 word dissertation. Note that some courses can only be taken as a major and some, notably language courses, only as a minor.

As the emphasis in the Regional Studies programmes is on interdisciplinary study, students are required to select their three courses from more than one discipline. The two minor units can be taken from the same discipline, but students cannot take a minor unit in the same discipline as their major.

One minor unit can be chosen from a different MA programme, for example the MA Chinese Studies or Korean Studies, subject to the approval of the MA Japanese Studies convenor and the relevant course convenor.

Some disciplines, such as Anthropology, Economics, or Politics, require an appropriate qualification (such as part of a first degree) if any of their courses are to be taken as the major subject. Students interested in such courses are advised to refer to the relevant webpage for details and, if necessary, to contact the convenor. Please note that convenors have discretion in deciding if an applicant's background is sufficient for the course concerned.

All courses are subject to availability

Course Options

Anthropology and Sociology

Available as a minor only

• Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Art

• Japanese Ceramics Past and Present - 15PARH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period - 15PARH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts - 15PARH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Economics

Available as a major only

• Economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region - 15PECC334 (1 Unit) - Full Year

History

• Japanese Modernity I - 15PHIH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Japanese Modernity II - 15PHIH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Sex and Gender in the 20th Century: Contemporary Japan - 15PHIH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013

Language

Available as a minor only

• Basic Japanese 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PJKC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Basic Japanese 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PJKC009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Intermediate Japanese 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PJKC010 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Intermediate Japanese 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PJKC011 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Advance Japanese: Contemporary Topics (Postgraduate) - 15PJKC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Advanced Japanese: Readings in Modern Japanese History - 15PEAC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Advanced Practical Japanese (Masters) - 15PEAC021 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Practical Translation: Japanese into English - 15PJKH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Linguistics

• Syntactic Structure of Japanese 1 - 15PEAH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Syntactic Structure of Japanese 2 - 15PEAH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013

Literature

• Japanese Traditional Drama (Masters) - 15PEAH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) - 15PEAH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Readings in Pre-Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) - 15PJKC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Modern Japanese Literature - 15PJKC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Management

• Management in Japan I - 15PFMC018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Management in Japan II - 15PFMC077 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Media

• Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli - 15PMSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde - 15PMSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Japanese Television since 1953 - 15PJKC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Music

Available as a minor only

• Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH016 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Politics

• International politics of East Asia - 15PPOC251 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan - 15PPOC253 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Religion

• East Asian Buddhist Thought - 15PSRH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Readings in Japanese religion - 15PSRH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers - 15PSRC071 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

• MA Japanese Studies- Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 30kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Lectures and Seminars

The style of teaching in the Japanese Studies programme varies according to subject and teacher, but in most courses there is one 2-hour class each week. This may be an informal lecture followed by a discussion or student presentation.
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 has its own Japan Research Centre and shares the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures with the University of East Anglia. Both can be of great benefit to students.

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

A postgraduate degree in Japanese Studies from SOAS provides its students with competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Postgraduate students develop linguistic and cultural expertise which will enable them to continue in the field of research.  Equally, they develop a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers. 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:

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