MSc International Politics at SOAS| University of London

Overview

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Convenor

Minimum Entry Requirements: The qualification for entry is normally a first or upper-second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Politics or International Relations, or a related social science discipline. Applicants without such a background may be considered for admission depending on their academic training and undergraduate performance.

Start of programme: September intake only

The Department of Politics and International Studies offers seven linked masters programmes in politics and the international politics of Asia and Africa. The MSc in International Politics might be classified as a disciplinary MSc. In it, the objective is to give the student the opportunity to undertake a rigorous training in political theory, with special reference to the study of politics outside Europe and America. 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 substantial papers that often require significant independent work.

Structure

All MSc Politics Course Descriptions

Students take taught courses to the value of 3 full units + dissertation:

ONE half-unit from A (compulsory) and ONE half-unit from B
ONE unit from C
ONE unit (or 2 half-units) from D
Dissertation (compulsory) on some aspect of International Politics

A. Compulsory Course:

International theory - 15PPOH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

B. ONE from the following:

Conflict, rights and justice - 15PPOH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Foreign policy analysis - 15PPOH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
International migration and diaspora politics - 15PPOH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Power in world politics - 15PPOH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Security governance - 15PPOH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Violence, justice and the politics of memory - 15PPOH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Comparative International Political Thought - 15PPOH021 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15PPOH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Islam and politics - 15PPOH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

C. ONE from the following Regional International Politics courses:

China and international politics - 15PPOC018 (1 Unit) - Full Year
International politics of Africa - 15PPOC009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
International politics of East Asia - 15PPOC251 (1 Unit) - Full Year
International politics of the Middle East - 15PPOC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year

D. ONE from the following Regional Politics courses (or two half courses):

Government and politics in Africa - 15PPOC205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Government and politics of modern South Asia - 15PPOC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Government and politics of modern South East Asia - 15PPOC247 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan - 15PPOC253 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Politics & society in Central Asia - 15PPOC007 (1 Unit) - Full Year
State and development in Asia and Africa - 15PPOC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
State & society in Asia & Africa - 15PPOC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
State and society in the Chinese political process - 15PPOC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year
State and transformation in the Middle East - 15PPOH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Taiwan's politics and cross-strait relations - 15PPOC252 (1 Unit) - Full Year

E. Dissertation- this would be focused on some aspect of International Politics raised by the compulsory course 15PPOH014:

Dissertation in Political Studies - 15PPOC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

Programme Specification 2011/2012 (pdf; 137kb)

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 50-minute 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.

Learning Resources

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.

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

Department of Politics and International Studies