Programme Specification 2013/14
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
Anthropological Research Methods
MA
N/A
Full time or part time
N/A
N/A
December 2013
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?
The MA in Anthropological Research
Methods (MA Res) may be taken either
as a free standing MA or as the first part
of a PhD [e.g. as a 1 + 3 research training
programme]. In the latter case, the MA
Res therefore serves as a shortcut into the
PhD. It is designed to train students in
research skills, including language
training, to the level prescribed by the
ESRC’s research training guidelines.
Most students would be expected to
progress to PhD registration at the end of
Who would it suit?
Programme structure
the degree.
This Masters is designed for students
wishing to pursue a PhD in social
anthropology. The programme might also
be taken as a stand-alone MA for those
wanting training in anthropological
research methods for professional
development or practical application.
It is intended for students with a good
first degree (minimum of a 2.1) in social
anthropology or a taught Masters degree
in social anthropology.
Exceptionally this course may be taken as
a conversion MA. Students wishing to
take this path must demonstrate a solid
grounding in the discipline as well as the
regional and language expertise necessary
for continuing onto a PhD.
The student must successfully complete
the following core course:
Research Methods in Anthropology (15
PAN C011).
This full unit course is composed of
Ethnographic Research Methods (15
PAN H002, a 0.5 unit course) and
Introduction to Quantitative Methods in
Social Research (15 PPO H035, a 0.5
unit course, offered by the Department
of Politics and International Studies
http://www.soas.ac.uk/courseunits/15PP
OH035.html ).
MA Anthropological Research Methods
students and first year MPhil/PhD are
also required to attend the Research
Training Seminar which provides training
in the use of bibliographic/online
resources, ethical and legal issues,
communication and team-working skills,
career development, etc. The focus of the
Research Training Seminar is the
development and presentation of the
thesis topic which takes the form of a
PhD-level research proposal.
The MA dissertation is submitted no later
than mid-September of the student’s final
year of registration.
A typical program of study would involve
enrolling and passing three full units (this
includes the two half units on research
methods) and submitting a dissertation.
Students can choose to study any African
or Asian language that is normally
available to students taking one of the
taught masters programs.
Assessment summary
Language courses are assessed though a
mixture of written papers and oral
examinations.
Non-language courses are assessed on the
basis of coursework essays and written
papers, typically 30% and 70%
respectively.
The MARes dissertation is 15 000 words.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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/
Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Social Anthropology
or a taught Masters degree in social anthropology. This Masters is designed for
students wishing to pursue a PhD in Social Anthropology. Exceptionally this course
may be taken as a conversion MA. Students who would like to take this path must
demonstrate a solid grounding in the discipline as well as the regional and language
expertise necessary for continuing onto a PhD.
PROGRAMME AIMS
What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve?




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To prepare students for a PhD in social anthropology.
To train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s
research training guidelines.
To enable students to understand key issues in anthropological method and
theory, and to understand the epistemological issues involved in using
different methods.
To enable students to achieve practical competence in a range of qualitative
and quantitative research methods and tools.
To provide students with the theoretical, practical and linguistic training
necessary for conducting field research.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge
1. 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.
2. The Research Methods course focuses on teaching the various research
methods associated with anthropological fieldwork including: participant
observation, historical research, qualitative interviewing, quantitative data
collection, Rapid Participatory Assessment, how to design questionnaires and,
especially, on how to formulate a research question and design a project and
consider the ethical issues involved. The Statistics course works on how to
compile statistics, and how to critically assess statistics.
3. The Research Training course, which is assessed by the Masters dissertation,
works on students’ writing skills with an emphasis on thinking of the history
of the discipline, writing to schedule, writing to requested word count, how to
formulate a research question based on the material gathered, as well as how
to do a presentation, how to comment on presentations and how to apply for
funding. Term three looks at the strategies for working on the Masters’
dissertation and how to be upgraded at the start of the MPhil year.
4. Students can choose an option (or two half units) which they and their
supervisor think necessary to hone their expertise in either a region or subject
area. This should result in a good grounding in the history and contemporary
sociocultural and political issues of the chosen country or region of study, and
familiarity with the scholarly literature on these topics.
5. Many students work on their language skills with a language option in this
MA. Students are expected to achieve proficiency in an African or Asian
language sufficient for the purposes of anthropological field research: ability
to conduct conversations and interviews, and to read and synthesise
information from written sources in that language.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
1. Students should become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence,
and to understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us.
2. Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess
evidence for themselves. They should be able to design a research project, set
a timetable, understand the principles of fieldwork, and consider questions of
ethics.
3. Students should learn to read each other’s work for both its strengths and
weaknesses, develop their skills as public speakers, learn how to compose
short abstracts of their project (for funding applications), be able to think
critically and yet be open to being critiqued themselves.
Subject-based practical skills
The programme aims to help students with the following practical skills:
1.
Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources in both English
and, to a less advanced level, their chosen language of fieldwork.
2.
Present seminar papers.
3.
Listen to and discuss ideas introduced during seminars.
4.
Practice research techniques in a variety of specialized research libraries and
institutes.
5.
Be prepared to conduct fieldwork for a PhD in anthropology.
Transferable skills
The programme will encourage students to:
1. Write good essays and dissertations.
2. Communicate effectively in writing.
3. Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
4. Understand unconventional ideas.
5. Present (non–assessed) material orally.
6. Function as a student and researcher in a radically different environment.
7. Be able to apply for funding to do a PhD.
8. Be prepared to enter an Anthropology PhD programme and to be upgraded
from MPhil to PhD in the shortest possible time.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING AN
AWARD
Structure, duration and requirements for gaining an award
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
Programme structure diagram
Below is a structure diagram for this programme.
Level
Year
of
study
Course code
Course title
Credit
Status
7
1
15PANC011
Research
Methods in
Anthropology
45
Core
Notes
This full unit course
is composed of:
Term 1
Ethnographic
Research Methods
(15 PAN H002)
and
7
1
15PANC998
7
1
Language
Training
7
1
Anthropology
Options
MA Res
Dissertation
African and
Asian
language
options listed
in School
prospectus
45
Comp
45
Comp
Anthropology
Options
45
Option
Term 2
Introduction to
Quantitative
Methods in Social
Research
(15 PPO H035, a
course hosted by
the Department of
Politics and
International
Studies)
15 000 words
If language
training is deemed
unnecessary for
proceeding to PhD
fieldwork, this
unit may be
replaced with
Anthropology
options
MA
1
Res
/
MPhil
MPhil
Training
Seminar
Comp
(but not
for
credit)
Weekly seminar
attendance
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 1 and 4 through seminars and classes. Students are required to attend
all classes, study extensively on their own and prepare non-assessed work regularly.
Acquisition of 2 through the Research Methods course works, through lectures,
practical assessments (including mini ethnographies), and seminar discussions.
Acquisition of 3 through a seminar course in which, aside from the sessions devoted
to lectures on fieldwork as an experience, the students do presentations, and comment
on each others’ work. The course also devotes several sessions to looking a funding
applications and how to best to approach these.
Acquisition of 5 through language courses.
Assessment: through unseen examinations, long essays, course work and a
dissertation. The Research Methods course also assesses a mini-ethnography – an
exercise in participant observation and writing it up.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
Acquisition of 1 and 2 is fostered in all courses offered in the Programme, in that all
courses will introduce information that will need to be assessed critically and will
demonstrate how conflicting interpretations arise from the same information.
Acquisition of 3 through weekly practice at presenting seminars, discussing each
others’ work.
Assessment: through unseen examinations, course work, long essays and a
dissertation. The Research Methods course also assesses a mini-ethnography – an
exercise in participant observation and writing it up.
Subject-based practical skills
Acquisition of 1 through the writing of long essays and dissertations in academic
English.
Acquisition of 2 through sessions with the SOAS library, practice of reading
ethnographies and each others’ work.
Acquisition of 3 through regular seminar presentations.
Acquisition of 4 through seminar discussion.
Acquisition of 5 through the setting of clear deadlines for the submission of written
work.
Assessment: by unseen examination, dissertation, long essays and course work.
Transferable skills
Acquisition of 1 to 4 through long essays, course work and dissertation writing,
seminar presentations and discussions and through the study of a variety of written
and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have
used as undergraduates.
Assessment: through unseen examinations, dissertation, long essays and course work.
REFERENCE POINTS
What has been the basis for the design of this programme?
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
1. School learning and teaching strategy
2. Staff research
3. QAA framework for higher education qualifications
4. ESRC designated pathways through research degree
Relevant subject benchmark – This is an ESRC recognised Masters programme, and
part of the 1+3 recognised MA and PhD programme.
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;
FURTHER INFORMATION
Add in links to other relevant information, both internal and external, including:
 SOAS Vision and Strategy Statement;
 Postgraduate Handbooks;
 Quality Assurance Handbook;
 UCAS website;
 QAA website;
 MA Anthropological Research Methods webpage
http://www.soas.ac.uk/anthropology/programmes/maanthresmethods/
 Anthropology Research Student Handbook
http://www.soas.ac.uk/anthropology/student-handbooks-guides/researchhandbook/