Programme specification
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
Music in Development
MA
N/A
1 Year Full time; 2 or 3 Years Part-time
N/A
N/A
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?
This programme aims to provide an in-depth
understanding of the roles that
creative/musical processes can play in
improving the quality and clarity of
development communications, as well as in
enabling communities to address obstacles to
their self-development and selfrepresentation to the wider world.
Who would it suit?
This programme will suit applicants with a
demonstrably strong background in music
and evidence of a serious, sustained interest
1
in development and creative communication.
An undergraduate training in
ethnomusicology, music psychology or music
sociology would be an advantage, although
significant fieldwork experience may off-set
the absence of formal academic qualifications
in this area. We particularly welcome those
who have worked for some time in the field
of music and/or development.
The programme will be of use to students
who are interested in a career in international
agencies, humanitarian organisations, and
(local and international) NGOs, UNESCO,
audio and audio-visual archiving, media for
development and community music. It would
also provide a useful background for those
wishing to proceed to MPhil/PhD in
disciplines such as Ethnomusicology,
Anthropology of Development and
Theatre/Media for Development.
Programme structure
Full-time students take a selection of courses
comprising:




a core course on Music in
Development
a course in the music of a specific
region
a course or courses in Music (including
further regional and/or non-regional
courses), Development Studies,
Anthropology, Gender Studies and/or
Media Studies
An 11,000-word supervised
dissertation, which will be based in
part on research conducted in a
relevant public sector environment.
Part-time students take the same number of
course units over two or three years, with the
core course being taken in the first year.
Through coursework and research essays and
a 11,000-word dissertation. Coursework may
be presented in the form of essays or an audiovisual project.
Assessment summary
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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 of upper second class honours (or equivalent) in an undergraduate degree in a
cognate subject.
PROGRAMME AIMS
What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve?




Aim one To develop critical enquiry into the value and potential applications of
music as a tool and process for development;
Aim two To develop a critical understanding of relevant theories in Ethnomusicology
and allied disciplines;
Aim three To develop research and practical/applied skills from a specialist
practitioner; and
Aim four To develop knowledge of the musical genres, meanings and performance
contexts from select regions of the world.
The programme is designed to prepare students for entry into work in International
Development, Social Music Therapies, Cultural Policy, Sound Archives, Media for
Development, Research Consultancy; UNESCO, etc.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
What will the student learn?
Knowledge
 To acquire critical understanding of music as a human resource that may be used to
structure social relations, to negotiate economic and political situations and to
mobilise action,
 To develop a deep knowledge of musical practices and processes in select regions of
Asia and Africa and their diasporas;
 To critically understand intersecting theories and methods in Ethnomusicology and
allied disciplines (esp. Development Studies and Anthropology).
 To develop research skills; to critically assess data and solve problems of conflicting
sources and interpretations;
 To acquire relevant practical skills in participatory research, and workshop design
and management.
 To gain experience in practical implementation of music research and action through
specialist workshops and empirical research, and to draw on this experience as
primary data for a written dissertation.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
 Students should become critical in their assessment of evidence, and understand
through practice what audio and audio-visual recordings, live performance events and
written documents (including internet resources) can and cannot tell us.
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


Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess
evidence for themselves.
Students should acquire sensitivity towards the perspectives of Asian and African
communities and development professionals in their understanding of musical
meanings and values, and critically think through the problems involved in matching
European and Asian and African understandings and practice. They should at all
times be cognisant of ethical dimensions in their work, maintaining best practice as
defined both by UK universities and the relevant international authorities.
Students should develop an interdisciplinary theoretical understanding of
development issues in Asia and Africa, and be able to extend these understandings to
include culture/music as an empowering communication process.
Subject-based practical skills
 Effective communication in writing and verbal presentation; the ability to retrieve,
sift and select information from a variety of sources.
 Critical assessment and listening skills to extend their understanding of issues
introduced during seminars.
 Develop practical skills in workshop design and management skills.
Transferable skills
 Write critical and insightful research essays.
 Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
 Understand a broad range of cross-disciplinary approaches towards culture and
development issues.
 Work effectively within the development or community music environment.
 Develop workshop design and management skills to be applied in a variety of
potential vocational areas
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING AN
AWARD
How will the student’s study be structured? How will they achieve 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
15PMUC034
45
Core
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PMUC999
Music in
Development
Dissertation in
Music
45
Core
4
Notes
COURSES TO THE VALUE OF 90 CREDITS SELECTED FROM LISTS A AND B,
INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE COURSE FROM EACH LIST
LIST A: AREA COURSES
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15MUC009
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PMUH016
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PMUH015
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Atlantic Africa:
P/layers of
Mediation in
African Popular
Music
Musical
Traditions of
East Asia
Pop and Politics
in East Asia
45
Optional
22.5
Optional
22.5
Optional
Popular and
Fusion Music in
South East Asia
Aspects of Music
and Religion in
South East Asia
Central Asian
Music
22.5
Optional
22.5
Optional
22.5
Optional
Music of the
Near and Middle
East and North
Africa
Music, Place and
Politics in Cuba
45
Optional
22.5
Optional
15PMUC027
Indian Classical
Music
45
Optional
15PMUH011
Klezmer Music:
Roots and
Revival
Music in South
Asian Culture
22.5
Optional
45
Optional
Popular Music
and Politics in
Israel
22.5
Optional
15PMUC004
Ethnomusicology
in Practice
45
Optional
15PMUH017
Aspects of Music
and Religion in
South East Asia
Performance
22.5
Optional
45
Optional
15PMUH014
15PMUH018
15PMUH017
15PMUH008
15PMUC033
15PMUC005
15PMUH010
LIST B: ADDITIONAL COURSES
7
7
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
15PMUC002
5
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15MUC009
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Atlantic Africa:
P/layers of
Mediation in
African Popular
Music
Central Asian
Music
45
Optional
22.5
Optional
15PMUC027
Indian Classical
Music
45
Optional
15PMUH009
Gender and
Music
22.5
Optional
15PMUH003
The Music
Business
22.5
Optional
15PMUH004
Analysing World
Music
22.5
Optional
15PMUH013
Composition
22.5
Optional
15PMUH019
Music and
Healing
22.5
Optional
15PMUH015
Music, Place and
Politics in Cuba
22.5
Optional
15PMUH016
Musical
Traditions of
East Asia
Pop and Politics
in East Asia
22.5
Optional
22.5
Optional
Popular Music
and Politics in
Israel
Global Media
and Postnational
Communication:
Theoretical and
Contemporary
Issues
Transnational
Communities
and Diasporic
Media:
Networking,
Connectivity,
Identity
Media
Production Skills
22.5
Optional
45
Optional
22.5
Optional
Option in the
Centre for
Film and
Media
Studies
22.5
Optional
Anthropology of
Development
45
Optional
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PMUH008
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PMSH004
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH050
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANC090
15PMUH014
15PMUH010
15PMSC003
6
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Department
of Music
Option in the
Centre for
Film and
Media
Studies
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANC093
Cultural
Understandings
of Health
45
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH027
Therapy and
Culture
22.5
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH041
Food, Body and
Society
22.5
Optional
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH032
22.5
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH024
Issues in
Psychoanalysis
and
Anthropology
Issues in the
Anthropology of
Gender
22.5
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PANH033
Perspectives on
Development
22.5
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PGNC002
45
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PGNH002
Gender Theory
and the Study of
Asia, Africa and
the Middle East
Gendering
Migration and
Diasporas
22.5
Optional
7
1 or 2 (for
part time
students)
15PDSC001
Theory, Policy
and Practice of
Development
45
Optional
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Department
of
Anthropology
Option in the
Centre for
Gender
Studies
Option in the
Centre for
Gender
Studies
Option in the
Department
of
Development
Studies
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
What methods will be used to achieve the learning outcomes?
Knowledge
 Acquisition through attending the core course (Music in Development) and related
Floaters, coupled to public seminars, through guided and independent reading, and in
the preparation of coursework addressing issues within the Development sector.
 Acquisition through specialist practical training that will be built into the core course.
 Through coursework and research essays and a 10,000-word dissertation.
Coursework may be presented in the form of essays or an audio-visual project.
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Intellectual (thinking) skills
 Acquisition is fostered in all courses offered as part of the degree programme.


Acquisition is fostered through regional course at SOAS and through independent
research. The learning experience is enhanced through practical sessions within the
core course, through sessions with invited speakers and through primary research.
Acquisition is fostered by the combination of theoretical and thematic coverage in
the core course and the content of the regional or culture-specific music course
chosen by the student
Subject-based practical skills
 Acquisition through library research, class presentations, use of music archives and
internet resources.
 Acquisition of 2 through seminar presentations, through discussion, and through the
setting of clear deadlines for the submission of written work.
 Acquisition of 3 through in-class training and empirical research.
Transferable skills
 Acquisition through class and seminar presentations, practical sessions, discussions
and essays.
 Acquisition through relevant readings and course lectures, and through practical
sessions and residencies.
REFERENCE POINTS
What has been the basis for the design of this programme?
1. Staff research
2. QAA framework for higher education qualifications
3. Discussions with academic staff from relevant subject areas (Development Studies,
Anthropology, Media)
4. Discussions with practitioners of ‘community music’ across a range of specializations
in the UK
5. Feedback from current MMUS students
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.
8
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





SOAS Vision and Strategy Statement;
Postgraduate Handbook;
Quality Assurance Handbook;
UCAS website;
QAA website;
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