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 base-line 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
Traditions of Yoga and Meditation
MA
n/a
full-time, part-time
not yet available
n/a
October 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
holds 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.
The MA ‘Traditions of Yoga and Meditation’
is the only programme of its kind in the UK.
It is unique in its thematic focus and
cross/inter-regional scope.
The programme’s thematic, but interregional, focus provides students with an
advanced knowledge of the traditions of
yoga and meditation in India, Tibet, China
and Japan. It promotes the academic study
of the different traditions through the
deployment of a wide range of regional
perspectives. The core unit explores the
methodological foundations at the heart of
yoga/meditation practice.
It brings together the expertise of three
members of staff on three board regions of
Asia, and thus encourages students to
evaluate religious experience across cultures.
It integrates analysis of both theory and
practice in the domain of yoga and
meditation.
It is taught in the evening, allowing students
with busy daytime commitments to attend the
lectures without difficulty.
The MA ‘Traditions of Yoga and Meditation’ is
designed both as an end qualification in itself and
What is special about this programme?
Who would it suit?
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as a platform preparing students for more
advanced graduate work.
It typically suits students falling into one of the
following categories:
• Experienced practitioners of yoga and
meditation who wish to gain a deeper
understanding of the historical and
cultural contexts that shaped their
traditions.
• Students with a background in
psychology seeking to gain knowledge
of meditation and mindfulness for their
clinical work.
Students planning to pursue further
research, which may involve at a
subsequent stage the acquisition of a
doctoral degree and a career in higher
education.
Students seeking to pursue a career or
professional activity for which advanced
knowledge of the yoga and meditation
traditions of Asia is required.
Students who wish to pursue the
academic study of these traditions as a
complement to their personal experience.
Programme structure
Students are required to follow taught units to the
equivalent of three full courses and to submit a
dissertation of 10,000 words.
Assessment summary
All courses in this MA are assessed through a
combination of short and long essays. An overall
percentage mark is awarded for each course,
based on the marks awarded for individual
assessment items within the course. The MA may
be awarded at Distinction, Merit or Pass level in
accordance with the common regulations for
MA/MSc at SOAS.
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/
The entrance requirements for the MA ‘Traditions of Yoga and Meditation’ are in line with those of
SOAS. However, due consideration is given to the applicants’ individual profiles, and to the fact that
great potential for the successful undertaking of the academic study of religions is not necessarily
acknowledged or certified through the applicant’s academic qualifications. Interviews can be arranged
for applicants who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements, and early contact with academic
members of staff is generally encouraged.
PROGRAMME AIMS
What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve?
•
•
Advanced knowledge and understanding of the traditions of Yoga and Meditation as they
developed in ancient India, Tibet and East Asia.
Advanced skills in researching and writing about topics in yoga/meditation studies, also as a
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•
platform for further research at doctoral level.
Advanced skills in presentation or communication of knowledge and understanding of topics
in yoga/meditation studies.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
What will the student learn?
Knowledge
•
•
•
Students will learn how to assess data and evidence critically, locate and synthesise source
materials, critically evaluate conflicting interpretations and sources, use research resources
(library catalogues, journal databases, citation indices) and other traditional sources.
Subject specific skills, for instance, text analysis, comparative investigations, interpretation of
art-historical evidence, familiarity with the study of the traditions of yoga and meditation as a
field of critical enquiry in its various regional and historical contexts.
Aspects of literature in the study of yoga and meditation with its manifestations in philosophy,
religion, iconography and history, as well as the impact of these traditions on religious
societies.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
•
•
•
•
•
Students should become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence, and to
understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us.
Students will develop the capacity to discuss theoretical and epistemological issues in an
articulate, informed, and intellectual manner.
Students will learn to become precise and critical in their assessment of scholarly arguments
and to question interpretations, however authoritative, in order to reassess evidence for
themselves.
Students will learn to present complex theoretical arguments clearly and creatively.
Students will acquire both theoretical and regional expertise in order to develop and apply
self-reflexive approaches to the issues raised by the cross-cultural study of yoga and
meditation traditions.
Subject-based practical skills
The programme aims to help students with the following practical skills:
• Academic writing
• IT-based information retrieval and processing
• Presentational skills
• Independent study skills and research techniques
• Reflexive learning
Transferable skills
The programme will encourage students to:
• Write concisely and with clarity.
• Effectively structure and communicate ideas (oral and written).
• Explore and assess a variety of sources for research purposes.
• Work to deadlines and high academic standards.
• Assess the validity and cogency of arguments.
• Make judgements involving complex factors.
• Develop self-reflexivity.
• Develop an awareness of the ethical complexity of representational practices.
• Question the nature of social and cultural constructs.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR GAINING AN AWARD
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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
MA Traditions of Yoga and Meditation: General Structure
Students are required to follow taught units to the equivalent of three full and to submit a
dissertation of 10,000 words.
Students may only take courses approved for this particular MA.
The following courses have been submitted for approval to be available for the MA ‘Traditions of
Yoga and Meditation’
Level
7
Course
Year of
code
study
1
TBA
7
any
TBA
7
any
TBA
7
any
TBA
7
any
TBA
Course title
Credit
Status
Yoga and Meditation:
Perspectives, Context
and
Methodologies
Origins
and
Development of Yoga in
Ancient India
Buddhist Meditation in
India and Tibet
22.5
Core
45
Compulsory
45
Compulsory
East Asia Traditions of
Meditation: From
Taoism to Zen
Dissertation in the
Traditions of Yoga and
Meditation
22.5
Compulsory
45
Dissertation
Notes
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 lectures and occasional seminars. Students are required to attend all
classes, study extensively on their own and prepare non-assessed work regularly.
Acquisition through preparation of essays and dissertations.
ASSESSMENT: Students will be assessed through a combination of long and short essays.
(The dissertation is a required method of assessment for the MA).
Intellectual (thinking) skills
•
•
Acquisition of all skills will be fostered directly through the programme’s core option and
indirectly through both the additional options, and supervision of the students’ dissertations.
The development of intellectual skills will be facilitated through lectures (and seminars), and
students’ progress will be monitored through close assessment and supervision of coursework
as well as through non-assessed seminar presentations. All courses will introduce information
that will need to be assessed critically and will demonstrate how conflicting interpretations
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arise from the same information.
5
•
ASSESSMENT: The emphasis on assessed written work by essay is in order to ensure
advanced level training in skilled cognitive argumentation as a core contribution to
preparation for further postgraduate study at the MPhil/PhD level.
Subject-based practical skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Acquisition of academic writing skills through the preparation of long essays and the
dissertation.
Acquisition of information retrieval skills through course teaching and training sessions
offered by the Library and Information Services staff.
Acquisition of presentational skills through seminar and tutorial presentations.
Acquisition of essays writing techniques through skill workshops offered by the Learning and
Teaching Unit.
Acquisition of independent study skills and research techniques through supervised individual
research and writing (dissertation and long essays).
Acquisition of reflexive learning through discussion and supervised coursework.
ASSESSMENT: Combination of short and long essays.
Transferable skills
Acquisition of transferable skills through
Lectures
Regular monitoring and feedback on student progress during each stage of the programme’s
courses.
Substantial elements of independent learning, with feedback
Occasional seminar discussion and individual supervision
ASSESSMENT: Combination of short and long essays, dissertation and course work.
REFERENCE POINTS
What has been the basis for the design of this programme?
1. School Learning and Teaching Strategy
2. Faculty Learning and Teaching Strategy
3. Staff research
4. QAA framework for higher education qualifications
5. Relevant subject benchmark
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;
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•
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;
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Handbooks;
• Quality Assurance Handbook;
• UCAS website;
• QAA website;
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