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

Structure

The single-subject degree is a three-year programme. Candidates are expected to complete twelve course units, four in each year. In the first year students begin the study of Persian language with an intensive language-learning course. A survey course on literatures of the near East and a non-language course from the list of approved options complete the year's study. In the second year the learning of Persian language continues. Two other courses introduce the study of prose and poetry. A fourth unit is chosen from the list of approved options or from the School's list of other options ("open option units"). The third year continues the study of language and literature. A fourth unit is again chosen from the list of approved options or from the School's list of other options ("open option units"). Students who enrol with a competence in Persian already equivalent to Persian language I are permitted to make up the number of language units in the syllabus from a range of Old and Middle Persian language options, e.g. Bactrian, Pahlavi, Sogdian, subject to availability

NB: Permission to take any optional course is at the discretion of the course convenor and the undergraduate tutor.

Year 1

Core Course

• Persian Language 1 - 155901242 (2 Unit) - Full Year

Compulsory Course

• Literatures of the Near and Middle East - 155900991 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Optional Course

Take the following course OR another approved non-language unit from the lists of Persian related options (Lists B and C).

• Introduction to Islam - 157400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Year 2

Core Course

• Persian Language 2 - 155900801 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Compulsory Course

• Classical Persian Prose Texts - 155900334 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Choose one of the following

• Modern Persian Poetry - 155901379 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Classical Persian Poetry - 155901372 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Open Option

Choose one unit from the list of Persian related options (List B or C) OR an approved open option unit.

Year 3

Core Course

• Persian Language 3 - 155900802 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Compulsory Courses

• Modern Persian Prose Literature - 155900336 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Independent Study Project in Persian Studies - 155901184 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Open Option

Choose one unit from the list of Persian related options (List A,B or C) OR an approved open option unit.

List A. List of Persian-language courses

• Persian Language 1 - 155901242 (2 Unit) - Full Year
• Persian Language 2 - 155900801 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Persian Language 3 - 155900802 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Classical Persian Poetry - 155901372 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modern Persian Poetry - 155901379 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Classical Persian Prose Texts - 155900334 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Modern Persian Prose Literature - 155900336 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Independent Study Project in Persian Studies - 155901184 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Persian courses for students on other degrees (open options)

• Elementary Written Persian - 155901053 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Persian Texts - 155901155 (1 Unit) - Full Year

List B. Approved options in the NME department

Please note that some of these courses will be subject to pre-requisites.

• Introduction to Arabic Culture - 155901205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Old Persian - 155900573 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Middle Persian - 158000183 (1 unit Unit)
• Sogdian - 155901005 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Bactrian - 155901099 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Khotanese - 155901004 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Elementary Written Turkish - 155901051 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Arabic 100 - 155901202 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Arabic 200 - 155901203 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Arabic 300 - 155901204 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Hebrew - 155900916 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Georgian - 155900813 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to Sufism - 155901375 (1 Unit) - Full Year

List C. Other Persian and Middle East-related courses

These are taught by the Departments of History, Study of Religions, Art and Archaeology, Music, Law, Politics and International Studies, and Economics. Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.

• H130 Introduction to the History of the Near and Middle East - 154800230 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• H248 The Making of the Modern Middle East - 154800227 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• H346 History of Iran: Qajars to the Islamic Republic (I) - 154800245 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Zoroastrianism in the Ancient and Modern Worlds - 158000029 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to Islam - 157400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Shi'a Islam: Religious Authority and Community Identity - 158000147 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to the Art and Archaeology of the Near and Middle East - 154900101 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Islamic Architecture - 154900107 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Islamic Painting - 154900009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The Sources of Islamic Art and Architecture - 154900108 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• The Decorative Arts of Islam - 154900109 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Art and Material Culture of the Islamic World: 7th to 14th Centuries - 154900138 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Mosaics, Manuscripts, and Wall Painting in Islamic Art - 154900134 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
• Music of the Middle East and North Africa - 155800068 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Islamic law - 155200037 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of the Middle East - 153400060 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic development of the modern Middle East - 153400031 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

• BA Persian - Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 43kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

Destinations

As a graduate who specialised in Persian, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. 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. Some recent students have found employment in governmental institutions in Britain and elsewhere, others in non-governmental organisations, for instance, the Red Cross. Some have continued in the academic world; others have entered teaching or other professions.

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