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

Structure

Programme Specification

The MA Music in Development programme involves taking three courses and writing a 10,000-word dissertation. In addition to these formal elements, students are expected to attend regular postgraduate and public seminars and may also participate in performance ensemble classes and other activities.

Course Detail
The four formal elements of the MA Music in Development programme are:

• The full unit core course Music in Development: Taught as a weekly two-hour lecture/seminar with additional tutorials. Part-time students must take this in their first year.
• The Dissertation in Music: A special study 10,000 words in length on a topic agreed with the candidate's supervisor. Part-time students normally take this in their final year.
• A "Major Region" specialization:
Students must select one of the following six as their "major region": East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, Jewish Music and take a course or courses to the value of 1 unit from this list.  Part-time students normally take this in their first year, but because not all regional courses will necessarily be available in any one year, this may also be taken in year 2 or 3 if Department approval is obtained.
• An approved "Minor" course: This is chosen from the "Minor Courses" list below, and may consist of one full course or two half-courses taken in any year of registration.  Students may also choose courses from other departments in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities or MA Area Studies courses in the Faculty of Languages & Cultures, subject to the agreement of the course convenor.
• Students may also take approved courses from Kings College Department of Music" see this link for available options:  http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/music/study/pgt/mods12-13.aspx

One compulsory Core Course

• Music in Development - 15PMUC034 (1 Unit) - Full Year

One compulsory Area Course

Selected from the following

• Aspects of Music and Religion in South East Asia - 15PMUH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Atlantic Africa: (P)Layers of Mediation in African Popular Music (PG) - 15PMUC009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Central Asian Music - 15PMUH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Indian Classical Music - 15PMUC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Klezmer Music: Roots and Revival - 15PMUH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Music in South Asian Culture (Masters) - 15PMUC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Music of the Near and Middle East and North Africa - 15PMUC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Music, Place and Politics in Cuba - 15PMUH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH016 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Popular and Fusion Music in South East Asia (PG) - 15PMUH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Popular Music and Politics in Israel - 15PMUH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

A dissertation of 10,000 words

based on practice-based research (preferably based on a consultancy for a commissioning agency)

• Dissertation in Music - 15PMUC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

One full-course option or two half-course options

Music

• Analysing World Music: Transcription & Analysis in Ethnomusicology - 15PMUH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Aspects of Music and Religion in South East Asia - 15PMUH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Atlantic Africa: (P)Layers of Mediation in African Popular Music (PG) - 15PMUC009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Central Asian Music - 15PMUH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Composition - 15PMUH013 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Ethnomusicology in Practice - 15PMUC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Gender and Music (MMus) - 15PMUH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Indian Classical Music - 15PMUC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Music and Healing - 15PMUH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Music, Place and Politics in Cuba - 15PMUH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH016 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Performance - 15PMUC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Popular Music and Politics in Israel - 15PMUH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The Music Business (Masters) - 15PMUH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Development Studies

Courses available still to be confirmed. See Development Studies programme pages for a full list of available courses.

• Theory, policy and practice of development - 15PDSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Centre for Media and Film Studies

• Theoretical and Contemporary Issues in Media, Information Communication Technologies and Development - 15PMSC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Global Media and Postnational Communication: Theoretical & Contemporary Issues - 15PMSC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Transnational Communities and Diasporic Media:Networking, Connectivity, Identity - 15PMSH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Anthropology

• Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Cultural Understandings of Health - 15PANC093 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Food, Body And Society - 15 PAN H041 (0.5 Unit) - Cannot be taken with Food Development and the Global Economy
• Issues in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology - 15PANH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in the Anthropology of Gender - 15PANH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not to be combined with 15PDSH010 Gender & Development.
• Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Perspectives On Development - 15PANH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Gender Studies

• Gender theory and the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PGNC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Gendering migration & diasporas - 15PGNH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Languages

Programme Specification

• MA Music and Development Programme Specification 2012-13 (vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document; 35kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

The aim of the programme is to develop:

1. critical understanding of music as a culturally embedded system that has wide-ranging application as a communication tool and process in a variety of development contexts;
2. a critical understanding of relevant theories in Ethnomusicology and allied disciplines, such as Development Studies and Anthropology;
3. a critical understanding of participatory research methodologies and applications;
4. the development of workshop modelling and management skills aimed at linking musical performances and meanings to social action and advocacy work; and
5. a critical knowledge of the musical practices, meanings and performance contexts from select regions of the world.

The programme is designed to prepare students for entry into a range of professional sectors, namely International Development, Social Music Therapies, Cultural Research and Policy, Sound and Audio-Visual Archiving, Media for Development, and documentation and research for the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Programme.

More information will be added soon...

Destinations

An MA in Music in Development from SOAS gives students greater intercultural awareness and a better understanding of global music which will enable them to continue in the field of research or engage in related work. Equally, they develop a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and creative capacities including interpersonal skills, communication skills, focus, team work, passion and dedication. 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

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