Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Email: yw11@soas.ac.uk

Students take 180 credits, 60 of which are a dissertation and a 120 from taught modules. 

Of the taught modules:

• 30 credits are selected as a core module from List A
• 30 further credits are taken as a minor module from List A
• 30 further credits' worth of minor modules are taken from List A or B
• Finally, 30 credits are selected from the approved open options list.

Dissertation

Taught Component

Core Module

Choose module to the value of 30 credits from List A as a major.

Guided Option

Choose modules to the value of 30 credits from List A as a minor.

AND

Choose module(s) to the value of 30 credits from List A OR B as a minor.

Open Option

Choose module(s) to the value of 30 credits from the Postgraduate Open Options list.

List of Modules (subject to availability)

List A

List B

Arab Language Module (PGT level)

Students may also select an module in an Arabic Language, as long as it is at PGT level. Please speak to the department for more information.

Programme Specification

• MA Israeli Studies Programme Specifications 2018/19 (pdf; 223kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours

One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary. 

More information is on the page for each module.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• Acquire specific factual knowledge about the history, political structure, development, culture and society of Palestine (see aim four above)
• Comprehend the complex global and local historical and political context of Palestine and the Palestine-Israel Conflict (see aim three above)
  Appreciate the diversity of contemporary Palestinian society and cultures (see aims three and four above).

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Critically assess the historical development of Palestinian society and culture, and the global context of Palestine-Israel conflict (see aims three and four above).
• Engage with the study of Palestine in accordance with a multidisciplinary curriculum and a flexible study programme encompassing a comprehensive range of issues relevant to law and human rights, politics, development studies, gender, social and economical transformation, media, language, literature and cinema (see aims one and two above).

Subject-based practical skills

• Learn to use Palestine-related reference materials and research tools, the most recent research in various areas of Palestine Studies presented in the core course and in the optional units (see aim two above).

Transferrable skills

• The ability to organise research, formulate arguments, gather and evaluate data, formulate conclusions and present these in a coherent and clear manner (see aims one and two above).

Linguistic skills

• To acquire/develop skills in Arabic language to Effective Operational Proficiency level
• To demonstrate awareness of the conceptual and communicative underpinnings of Arabic and through this interlinguistic and intercultural understanding.
• Communicate in written and spoken medium in contemporary Arabic.
• Engage with people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, understand the role of different frames of reference.

As a student specialising in Israeli Studies, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of the Middle East.

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 in both business and 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.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.