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MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries

Pending Approval

Overview

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Keith Howard

Keith Howard

Convenor

Start of programme: 2013-14

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries is a unique and tailored programme. Sitting within the SOAS School of Arts, it allows students to benefit from the combined expertise of the Department of Music, the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology, and the Centre for Media and Film Studies, while also accessing regional courses that build on the world-renowned expertise of SOAS as a centre for the study of the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Courses designed to develop a thorough understanding of the creative and cultural industries are supplemented with ‘pathways’ that allow students to focus on music, art/archaeology, media or film, and a set of practical multimedia skills courses. Students can also elect to take the optional ‘Directed Study in Industry’ to take maximum advantage of the opportunities available in London as a global creative capital city.

The MA is designed for two types of students. The first will typically be interested in pursuing careers as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The second will typically be more concerned with developing academic research in the creative and cultural sectors, and the intersections between industry, cultural policy and international development.

The MA has a core component comprising two half-unit courses, the first (‘Analytical Approaches to the Global Creative and Cultural Industries’) taken by all students, and the second allowing students to develop their expertise in a ‘pathway’ (chosen from ‘The Music Business’, ‘Asia and Africa on Display: Objects, Exhibitions and Transculturation’, ‘Studies in Global Media and Post-National Communication’, ‘Global Film Industries’). Practical/skills courses can then be chosen in multimedia (film/editing), sound recording, and digital and broadcasting communications; while optional, one of these will be required if a student elects to take the optional half-unit course ‘Directed Study in Industry’ but lacks appropriate skills training on entry. ‘Directed Study in Industry’ allows students to undertake an internship with an institution, organisation or enterprise. Additional regional and theoretical courses are available from existing School of Art and other SOAS MA/MMus programmes. The Dissertation will be on a topic relating to the creative and cultural industries. It may either be on a theoretical topic or develop from the ‘pathway’ chosen by the student, and it has the option to incorporate multimedia materials.

For further details, contact Professor Keith Howard (kh@soas.ac.uk; 020 7898 4687).

Email: kh@soas.ac.uk

Phone: 020 7898 4687

Structure

The MA has a core component comprising two half-unit courses, the first taken by all students, and the second allowing students to choose a ‘pathway’ – focusing on music, media, film, or art/archaeology. One half-unit practical/skills course can then be chosen in multimedia (film/editing), sound recording, digital and broadcasting communications; while optional, one of these courses is required if a student elects to take the optional half-unit course ‘Directed Study in Industry’ but lacks the appropriate practical/skills training on entry to the programme. ‘Directed Study in Industry’ allows students to undertake an internship with an institution, organisation or enterprise. Additional regional and theoretical courses are available from existing School of Art and other MA/MMus programmes that supplement the available choices in the programme. The Dissertation will be on a topic relating to the creative and cultural industries, and may either be on a theoretical topic or will develop from the ‘pathway’ chosen by the student; it has the option to incorporate multimedia materials.

Core Courses

In addition to the dissertation and the half unit "Analytical Approaches..." course, at least one further half unit Pathway course must be chosen.

Music Pathway Course
Art Pathway Course
Media/Film Pathway Course

Students on the Media/Film pathway will take at least one of these two courses.

Skills & Internship Courses
Optional Courses

Any remaining units may be chosen from this optional courses list.

Programme Specification

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Students will likely fall into two types. The first group will typically be interested in pursuing careers as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Such students will typically take advantage of the potentials to hone practical/core skills, to develop their knowledge base about creative and cultural industries in a global context, and to maximise the ‘Directed Study in Industry’ opportunity.

The second group will typically be more concerned with developing academic research in the creative and cultural sectors, and the intersections between industry, cultural policy and international development. Such students will most likely concentrate their programme of study on the regional and theoretical courses available.  

The MA, then, is suitable for those seeking employment as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries, and for those who aspire to a Research degree.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge
  • Broad knowledge of the creative and cultural industries in the global context.
  • Detailed knowledge of the creative and cultural industries of Asia, Africa or the Middle East.
  • Through the choice of a ‘pathway’, specialist knowledge of creative and cultural industries as they pertain to music, media, film or art/archaeology.
  • Through the independent research and writing of a dissertation, profound knowledge of one pertinent aspect of the creative and cultural industries.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
  • To analyse and assess the creative and cultural industries.
  • To write critically about the creative and cultural industries, and about the music, media, film, or arts of Asia, Africa or the Middle East.
  • To read critically a wide range of sources, to critically appraise music, media, film and art sources, and to synthesise different perspectives.
  • To discuss and debate in seminar and tutorial contexts, and to present materials to peer groups.
Subject-based practical skills
  • Practical skills in one or more of film/video production and editing, radio and digital media skills, music recording skills.
  • To appraise and discuss the development and operation of the creative and cultural industries, with a focus on one or more of the music, media, film, art/archaeology components.
  • To read and critique the writing of prior researchers and commentators
Transferable skills
  • To understand and critique the development and operation of the creative and cultural industries.
  • The ability to address and understand non-Western creative and cultural industries, and thereby to have an openness towards non-Western cultures.
  • As an option, work experience through the ‘Directed Study in Industry’ course.
  • As options, practical skills in one or more of film/video production and editing, radio and digital media skills, and music recording skills.
  • To function effectively as a researcher of and contributor to the creative and cultural industries.

How to apply

How to apply
Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section

A Student's Perspective

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