Photos of university / #soasuni
Advertisement
This MA provides an understanding of the ways in which anthropological approaches and debates inform the study of meanings and concepts in development, its priorities, policies and practice. It attracts students with diverse backgrounds and study/work experiences which makes for a lively and challenging atmosphere.
The degree is designed to acquaint students with anthropology, development issues, research methods and either an ethnographic region (and/or language) and/or thematic interest in health/gender/food/ media. Advice will be given to match the choice of optional components to the requirements, interests, and qualifications of individual students whose background may be in general social science, regional, language or other studies. While the focus of the degree is on development issues and practice, its disciplinary orientation remains anthropological.
Students explore the contribution of anthropology to contemporary development debates, for example, on poverty, scientific and indigenous knowledge, human rights, violence and complex emergencies, and the market as a core metaphor of globalised development. Anthropological studies provide the basis for understanding issues of state and governance in development, as well as the meaning of community development, popular participation and empowerment.
We also look at technology and development, environmental policy and natural resources management. The significance of local institutions, social capital and NGOs are examined. Throughout the programme, the role of, and opportunities for, anthropologists as professionals in development are discussed.
Note: Students wishing to apply for ESRC funding to undertake a subsequent research degree must take the MA Anthropological Research Methods instead.
The programme consists of four elements: three assessed course units and a dissertation of 10,000 words.
The degrees core course Anthropology of Development provides an up-to-date and in-depth understanding of anthropological perspectives on policy and practice in contemporary international development, and gives a theoretical overview of the relationship between development and anthropology. The course examines the politics of aid, shifting aid frameworks, and concrete intervention programmes, bridging the disparate worlds of planners and beneficiaries. This involves close reading of anthropological studies throwing light on the nature of policy-making, bureaucracy and programmes in a variety of sectors health, agriculture, water and others paying attention to the specific cultural contexts of intervention.
The programme consists of four units in total: three units of examined taught courses and a one unit dissertation of 10,000 words.
Core Courses:
* Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1.0 unit).
* Dissertation in Anthropology and Sociology - 15PANC999 (1.0 unit). This is a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic agreed with the Programme Convenor of the MA Social Anthropology of Development and the candidates supervisor.
* Additionally all MA Anthropology students 'audit' the course Ethnographic Research Methods during term 1 - this will not count towards your 4 units.
Foundation Course:
* Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology - 15PANC008 (1.0 unit). This is compulsory only for students without a previous anthropology degree.
Option Courses:
* The remaining unit(s) of your programme can be selected from the Option Courses list below.
* A total of either 1 unit of option courses (if taking Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology) or 2 units (if exempted from Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology), may be selected.
* Your 1 or 2 total units may be made up of any combination of 0.5 or 1 unit option courses.
* However, courses without a "15PANxxxx" course code are taught outside of the Anthropology Department. No more than 1 unit in total of these courses may be selected.
* Alternatively, one language course may be taken from the Faculty of Languages and Cultures.
Detail
Core Courses
* Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Dissertation in Anthropology and Sociology - 15PANC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Foundation Course
* Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology - 15PANC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Option Courses
Students select the equivalent of one full unit (i.e., two half-unit courses or one full-unit course) from the lists below. Students exempted from Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology take one additional unit of optional courses.
* African and Asian Cultures in Britain - 15PANH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World - 15PANH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Anthropology of travel and tourism A - 15PANH051 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Anthropology of travel and tourism B - 15PANH052 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Anthropology of Urban Space, Place and Architecture - 15PANH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Comparative Media Theory - 15PANH028 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters) - 15PANH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives B (Masters) - 15PANH048 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013 - Must be taken with the first term course - 15PANH047 Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters)
* Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Ethnographic Research Methods - 15PANH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Issues in the Anthropology of Film - 15PANH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Anthropological Approaches to Agriculture, Food and Nutrition - (0.5 Unit)
* Food, Body And Society - 15 PAN H041 (0.5 Unit) - Cannot be taken with Food Development and the Global Economy
* Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with Food Body and Society.
* Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Courses taught outside the Department of Anthropology
These courses may be chosen subject to the approval of the course convenor. A language unit taken in the Faculty of Languages & Cultures may also be taken instead of the options below.
* Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) as Development Agencies - 15PDSH014 (0.5 Unit)
* Gender and development - 15PDSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Development practice - 15PDSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* History of Environment and Globalisation in Asia and Africa - 15PHIH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Issues in forced migration - 15PDSH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme has been extended to cover the MA Social Anthropology of Development. For further information, please visit:
Currency
EUR
GBP
KZT
INR
RUB