Programme specification 2012/2013
School of Oriental and African Studies
The following information forms the programme specification at the School of
Oriental and African Studies, University of London. It gives definitive
information relating to a programme of study and is written for a public
audience, particularly prospective and current students. It is also used for other
purposes such as initial programme approval, and is therefore produced at the
start of the programme development process. Once approved, it forms the baseline information for all statements relating to the programme and is updated as
approved amendments are made.
CORE INFORMATION
Programme title
Final award
Intermediate awards
Mode of attendance
UCAS code
Professional body accreditation
Date specification created/updated
MSc State, Society & Development
MSc
N/A
Full or part time
N/A
N/A
April 2011
WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAMME?
Why study at SOAS?
SOAS is unique as the only higher
education institution in the UK
specialising in the study of Africa, Asia
and the Middle East. The School also has
the largest concentration of specialist
faculty concerned with the study of these
areas at any university in the world.
SOAS is consistently ranked among the
top higher education institutions in the
UK and the world and it also offers a
friendly, vibrant environment for students
in a diverse and close-knit community.
What is special about this programme?
Politics at SOAS enables students to
examine the concepts and methods of the
discipline against the historical and
contemporary conditions of Asia
(including the Middle East) and Africa.
By contrast, most Politics degrees in the
tend to UK focus on Europe and the US,
rather than the the non-western world.
The Department Staff members are all
well-recognized specialists in their sub-
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
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fields, having studies at leading
institutions around the world. Most have
knowledge of one or more of the
languages of their regions of interest.
This MSc programme seeks to explain
state-society relations and development in
Asia, Africa and (where appropriate)
Latin America through the subdisciplines of comparative political
sociology and comparative/international
political economy.
Students will be exposed to the principal
analytical perspectives of political
science such as historical institutionalism,
rational choice theory and Marxism.
They will gain a sound understanding of
Asian and African political phenomena
such as: state collapse and criminalisation
in Africa; cronyism in Southeast Asia and
Latin America; religious fundamentalism
in South Asia; economic take-off in East
Asia; linguistic nationalism in Central
Asia; the ‘third wave’ of democratisation;
global financial instability; and the
relationship between the Washington
Institutions and the South.
Who would it suit?
Programme structure
Recipients of the MSc have entered a
wide variety of professions after leaving
the Department. Some have been able to
pursue careers directly related to Asia and
Africa, including government
departments (of both the UK and other
countries), and in firms requiring
particular skills and knowledge related to
trading, investment and promotional
interests outside Europe. Others have
gone to work for various charitable and
human rights/development agencies such
as OXFAM, Amnesty International and
the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees. The general intellectual
training provided by a degree in politics
is useful for analyzing and solving many
of the problems contemporary societies
now face.
Students take three full-unit courses (one
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
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Assessment summary
core and two optional) and write a
dissertation of up to 10,000 words.
Students are assessed by a combination
of: regular assignments; closed
examination; and 10,000 word
dissertation.
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.
SOAS has general minimum entrance requirements for registration for a postgraduate
taught degree and these can be viewed at
http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/
PROGRAMME AIMS

To enable students to understand the political processes of Asia, Africa and
(where appropriate) Latin America by using the concepts, theories and
methods of comparative political sociology and comparative/international
political economy.

Using empirical evidence from the regions studied, to test the applicability and
limitations of the analytical toolkits of comparative political sociology and
comparative/international political economy beyond the North AmericanEuropean confines from which they are largely derived.

To enable students to develop deeper knowledge of how political problems are
analyzed as well as knowledge of the regions themselves.

Offer candidates the opportunity of conducting independent research based on
the analytical foundations learned from their taught courses.

Facilitate entry into various types of professional employment and into further
research.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge

Of how to assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts and digital
sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations,
locate materials, use research sources (particularly research library catalogues)
and other relevant traditional sources;
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
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
Of the origins and nature of common political problems facing Asian, African
(and where appropriate) Latin American societies;

Of the different intellectual perspectives and methodologies for studying
comparative political sociology and comparative/international political
economy.
Intellectual (thinking) skills

Students should acquire skills in reading the relevant academic literature,
identifying underlying assumptions and developing their own assessment of
these works.

Students should learn to reason critically and interpret materials coming from
a variety of intellectual perspectives.

Students learn to exercise greater independence of thought, including greater
readiness to challenge their own previous assumptions about political issues.
They also learn how to engage in debates about political and other issues
Subject-based practical skills

Ability to communicate effectively in writing by obtaining, selecting and
synthesizing information from a variety of sources.

Ability to understand and utilize ideas introduced during lectures and
seminars, and to present relevant and convincing academic arguments.
Transferable skills

Engage in independent research.

Structure and communicate ideas effectively both verbally and in writing.

Work effectively under time constraints.

Critically understand and evaluate ideas and their underlying premises.

Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research
institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING AN
AWARD
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
4
SOAS has standard requirements relating to the structure and duration of taught
postgraduate programmes and for the award and classification of these programmes.
Details can be found at
http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/degreeregulations/file60379.pdf
ONE or TWO from the disciplinary politics courses:
7
1 or 2
15PPOC008 State and
45
Compulsory
(for
society in
partAsia and
time
Africa
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOC017 State and
45
Compulsory
(for
development
partin Asia and
time
Africa
students)
And a choice of ONE or TWO of the following regional politics courses
7
1 or 2
15PPOC205 Government
45
Optional
(for
and politics in
partAfrica
time
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOC003 Government
45
Optional
(for
and politics of
partmodern South
time
Asia
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOC247 Northeast
45
Optional
(for
Asian politics
partand society:
time
Japan, the
students)
Korean
peninsula and
Taiwan
7
1 or 2
15PPOC247 Government
45
Optional
(for
and politics of
partmodern South
time
East Asia
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOC007 Politics and
45
Optional
(for
society in
partCentral Asia
time
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOC252 Taiwan’s
45
Optional
(for
politics and
partcross-strait
time
relations
students)
7
1 or 2
15PPOH008 Political
22.5
Optional
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
5
(for
society in the
partMiddle East
time
students)
1 or 2
15PPOC012 State and
45
(for
society in the
partChinese
time
political
students)
process
1 or 2
15PPOH011 State and
22.5
(for
transformation
partin the Middle
time
East
students)
7
7
Optional
Optional
AND
7
1 or 2
15PPOC999 Dissertation in 45
(for
Political
partStudies
time
students)
Compulsory Subject
should on
some aspect
of state and
development,
or state and
society.
The availability of optional/elective courses may vary in a given academic session due
to factors such as staff absence and student numbers. For an up to date list of
courses running in a given academic session please refer to the degree structures as
listed on the SOAS website for the degree programmes taught by each Department.
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Knowledge



Acquisition of data and evidence assessment skills through lectures and
seminars. Students are required to attend all classes, study extensively on their
own and prepare non-assessed oral presentations and assessed assignments
regularly.
Acquisition of knowledge of the sub-disciplines of comparative political
sociology, comparative political economy and IPE through lectures and
discussion sessions which students are expected to attend and contribute to.
Students write two essays and make at least one formal seminar presentation.
Additional and targeted assistance is provided to help in the preparation of
theses. Throughout, the learner is encouraged to undertake independent
reading both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught and learnt
and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
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
Acquisition of skills of critical reading and analysis through attending lectures,
independent reading of scholarly and other relevant literature, and synthesis of
that information through class discussion and assessed work.
Subject-based practical skills


Acquisition of communication skills through the writing of essays
assignments, extended essays and independent study projects.
Acquisition of conceptual analytical skills through regular seminar
presentations and discussion, and through post-lecture questions and
discussions.
Transferable skills


Acquisition of skills of independent research, communication, critical thinking
through independent reading and writing for coursework and through regular
seminar discussions
Acquisition of research skills through the use of primary sources in the writing
of the dissertation at a level more advanced than undergraduate level.
REFERENCE POINTS
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
1. Department learning and teaching strategy.
2. Academic experience of teaching and research.
3. Disciplinary benchmarks of the Political Studies Association.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ENHANCEMENT
SOAS has internal procedures to assure the quality of provision to be offered to
students and to enhance the quality in the light of experience following delivery,
taking into account the input of external experts and students. The procedures are set
out in the School’s Quality Assurance Handbook and can be viewed at
http://www.soas.ac.uk/add/qualityassurance/quality-assurance-handbook/.
SOAS is also subject to periodic external review from bodies such as the Quality
Assurance Agency for Higher Education and relevant professional and statutory
regulatory bodies.
The procedures described in the Quality Assurance Handbook are in place to provide
a high quality student experience for those choosing to study at SOAS, and student
input and evaluation of their experiences is greatly valued. Students make an input to
the ongoing development of their programmes, and the environment in which they
operate, in a number of ways, including:
 formal student evaluation as part of the annual programme review;
 student representation on School committees at various levels (through the
Students’ Union) where many relevant issues are discussed;
 student representation at departmental meetings
MSc State, Society and Development Programme Specification
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FURTHER INFORMATION
Add in links to other relevant information, both internal and external, including:
 SOAS Vision and Strategy Statement;
 Postgraduate Handbook;
 Quality Assurance Handbook;
 UCAS website;
 QAA website;
 Departmental homepage
 Information on studying Asian and African Politics at SOAS
 Programme webpage
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