Certificate in Armenian Studies
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Minimum Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement is the ability to demonstrate the potential to study at undergraduate level. However, programmes may have their own specific requirements, such as, in the case of language-based studies, a proven ability to learn a language.
Start of programme: September 2009
Duration:
1 year full time or 2 years part time.
Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time
Who is this programme for?: This programme is for students with no previous knowledge of Armenian studies but with a keen interest in the area and its culture and language.
Description
The aim of this certificate is to provide undergraduate level students with a basic knowledge of Armenian history, literature and culture as well as an introduction to the West Armenian language. Students will have the opportunity to study Armenia in the context of the neighbouring cultures that have shaped its history. To this effect the programme offers a choice of options covering the history and culture of Eastern Christianity, Russia, Iran, the Ottoman Empire and the Arab world.
This certificate has been made available at SOAS thanks to a generous donation from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. For 2010 entry, three bursaries are available consisting in a remission of fees equivalent to £1,500 for full time students or £750 for those registered part-time. Please go to the following web page for further information http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/scholarships/
Structure
The programme consists of the following course units
- Elementary Western Armenian (155901347) (one unit)
- Introduction to Armenian History (155901348) (one unit)
- Introduction to Armenian Literature in translation (155901349) (half unit)
- Introduction to Armenian Culture (155901350) (half unit)
One further unit to be chosen from an approved list of courses
- Eastern Christianity(158000132) (half unit)
- Orthodox Christianity (158000131) (half unit)
- Martyrs and monks in eastern Christian writings (158000130) (one unit)
- Syriac for beginners (with the consent of the certificate convenor) (158000034) (one unit)
- Zoroastrianism in the ancient and modern worlds (158000029) (one unit)
- The Middle East in the Period of the Crusades, 1050-1291 (154800254) (one unit)
- Cities of paradise and empire: Ottoman, Saravid and Mughal polities 1453-1797 (154800211) (one unit)
- Turks, Mongols and Mamluks, 1054-1500 (154800222) (one unit)
- Aspects of Turkish culture (155900616) (one unit)
- Introduction to Arabic culture (155901205) (one unit)
- The making of the Modern Middle East (154800227) (one unit)
- Minority religions in the contemporary Near East (158000163) (half unit)
- Literatures of the Near and Middle East (155900991) (one unit)
Not all the optional courses listed above will run every year. Please contact the relevant faculty office for information.
Part-time students may take the certificate over a two year period by registering for the equivalent of two full course units in each year. Students with a prior knowledge of Western Armenian may replace the language unit with a further unit chosen from the list of options.
Teaching & Learning
At the end of this certificate programme students should have acquired the following:
- A basic knowledge of the West Armenian language
- Knowledge of the key stages in Armenian History
- A basic understanding of Armenian culture both in the diaspora and in Armenia proper
- Basic knowledge of the history of Armenian literature and first hand acquaintance with certain major works to be read in English translation.
Email: lm2@soas.ac.uk
Phone: 02078984080
