MA Islamic Societies and Cultures
Duration: One calendar year (full-time), or two or three years (part-time, daytime only)
Overview
Minimum Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)
Subjects Preferred: Applicants are not required to have previous academic experience of this subject, although a strong interest in Islamic societies and cultures is of course expected.
Start of programme: September intake only
This MA programme studies many aspects of the world of Islam, from its early development to its modern trends. Its primary objective is to approach the study of Islam through a variety of disciplines, cultural contexts and periods. The programme examines Islamic tradition, law and art, as well as the place of Islam in modern politics and alongside other religions. The degree may be considered as a preparation for research or as a way of completing a liberal education.Structure
Learn a language as part of this programme
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
Candidates will take three taught courses (one major and two minor) and write a dissertation of 10,000 words. The major must be a course from List A, each of which treats subjects of general interest throughout the Islamic world.
The MA Islamic Societies and Cultures is an interdisciplinary (multi-subject) degree. Therefore applicants must choose their Major in a subject different from their Minors. Both Minors may be in the same subject, but not the same subject as the Major. Students may not take more than one language course, and may not take a language course as their Major. The subjects available are: Development Studies, Economics, Gender Studies, History, History of Art/Archaeology, Islamic Studies, Language, Law, Music and Politics. '
All courses will be taught subject to availability. Courses in relevant languages can be taken as an integral part of the MA where appropriate. This Masters degree may be considered either as a preparation for research or as a way of completing a liberal education.
When applying, applicants are asked to specify their preferred major, and asked to give alternative choices. Once enrolled, students have one week to finalise their choice of subjects and have the opportunity of sampling a variety of subjects through attending lectures etc.
For further information on the courses listed, applicants are advised to consult the Course Descriptions on the website. For more information on the departments which offer the subjects, see the Departments section.
Major Options (List A)
- Origins and Development of Islam in the Middle East: Problems and Perspectives - 15PHIC040 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Modern Trends in Islam - 15PNMC228 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Islamic law (MA/LLM) - 15PLAC121 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Law and society in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PLAC130 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Minor Options (List B)
Near and Middle East
- Problems of development in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PDSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Human rights and Islamic law - 15PLAC150 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Islamic Philosophical Theology:studies In Muslim Doctrine & Heresiology - 15PNMC052 ( Unit)
- Economic development of the Middle East - 15PECC341 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts - 15PARH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
- Art and Architecture of the Fatimids - 15PARH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Art and Architecture of Egypt and Syria 13th To 16th Centuries - (1.0 Unit) - Not Running 2013/14
- Ottoman Art - 15PARC011 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Studies in Early Islamic Art and Archaeology - 15PARC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Gender in the Middle East - 15PGNH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Music of the Near and Middle East and North Africa - 15PMUC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Comparative politics of the Middle East - 15PPOC026 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Central Asia
South Asia
- Islam in South Asia - 15PHIC042 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Languages- Only one language option can be chosen
N.B. all courses designated ‘PG’ require the student to attend an extra series of lectures and to write an essay or, for more advanced courses, possibly prepare a translation with commentary to count for 30% of the overall mark for the course
- Introduction to Standard Modern Arabic - 15PNMC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Arabic 200 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC389 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
- Arabic 300 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC390 (1 unit - 45 cats Unit)
- Arabic 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC382 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Arabic 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC402 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Arabic 4 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC391 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Swahili 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC140 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Intermediate Swahili 2A (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC141 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Swahili 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC142 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Urdu Language 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PSAC300 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Urdu Language 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PSAC301 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Indonesian Language 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Indonesian Language 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Indonesian Language 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC034 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Indonesian Language 4 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Programme Specification
Teaching & Learning
Teaching & Learning
Students take three taught courses (one major and two minor) and write a dissertation of 10,000 words. Each course has its own series of classes and seminars, and in addition students attend general lectures and seminars organised by the Middle East Centre. In most courses there is one two-hour class each week. This may be an informal lecture followed by a discussion or a 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. The dissertation is on an approved topic linked to one of the taught courses. For further details on the structure of the programme and the courses available, see the menu at left.
Learning resources
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
Graduates in MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies have entered various professions after leaving the School. Some have been able to pursue careers directly related to their study area while others have made use of the general intellectual training provided by the advanced study of cultures for involvement in analysing and solving many of the problems contemporary societies now face. Among a variety of professions, career paths may include academia, charity work, community, government, NGOs, media and publishing, UN agencies SOAS Careers Services The School has a careers service available to all SOAS students while they are at the school, free of charge. This office helps with job listings, interviews during "milk rounds", putting together CVs, and even organising postgraduate study.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
D.G.E. Hall Scholarship
Application Deadline: 2013-03-22 00:00
Felix Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2013-01-31 00:00
The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary
Application Deadline: 2013-03-22 17:00
A Student's Perspective
Farkhanda MohiyuddinNothing can truly describe your own personal SOAS experience, but one thing I can say is that it will be something you will remember for a lifetime and learn from not only your classes, but through life experience while being here.
