Revised postgraduate 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 MA Korean Studies Final award MA Intermediate awards N/A Mode of attendance Full time (1 year) or part time (2 or 3 years) UCAS code N/A Professional body accreditation N/A Date specification created/updated February 2011 WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAMME? Why study at SOAS? What is special about this programme? Who would it suit? 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. Click here for more information. Given its specialist nature, the School has experts in various departments working on Korea and can therefore offer a programme that gives students a unique portfolio of courses on both traditional and modern Korea, covering a wide variety of topics such as language, literature, history, music, art, politics and development. Given the wide range of courses 1
Programme structure Assessment summary provided, the programme suits students with a background in Korean Studies who want to deepen their knowledge of Korea and further their Korean language skills, as well as students that come from another discipline and rather want an introduction to Korea and its language at an advanced academic level. Students take three taught courses (one Major, two Minor) and write a 10,000 word dissertation. The taught courses are usually assessed through coursework and exam, and the balance between the two varies slightly between courses, with the exam counting for between 50 and 70%. In non-language courses the coursework is usually in the form of longer essays whereas the language classes assess students, and keep track of their progress, through frequent tests and translation assignments. 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/ PROGRAMME AIMS What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve? Provide students with an advanced knowledge and understanding of Korea, past and present, including its language, literature, culture, history, and society Prepare students academically and linguistically for further research degrees in Korean Studies Provide students with the background knowledge and linguistic skills needed to work with Korea professionally PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES What will the student learn? Knowledge 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 sources. 2
To obtain a theoretical introduction to the disciplines offered as part of the degree: Linguistics, literature, history, art history, music, or politics. To obtain an empirical grounding of the disciplines cited above as they relate specifically to the study of Korea. To acquire/develop language skills at beginner, intermediate or advanced level and the ability to read, translate and critically assess Korean texts in the original. Intellectual (thinking) skills Students will learn to become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence, and understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us. Students will learn to question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves. Students will acquire a sensitivity to non-eurocentric perspectives on a range of intellectual problems in the history, linguistics, literature, art history, music or politics of Korea. Subject-based practical skills Communicate effectively in writing. Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources. Present seminar papers. Listen and discuss ideas introduced during seminars. Practice research techniques in a variety of specialized research libraries. Transferable skills Write good essays and dissertations. Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing. Understand unconventional ideas. Study a variety of written and digital materials in libraries and research institutes. 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 Students take three taught courses, with one designated as a Major; they also must complete a 10,000-word dissertation on an approved topic linked to the Major course. Students taking the programme part-time over 2 years tend to take 2 units in their first year and the remaining unit and the dissertation in their second year. Students taking the programme part-time over 3 years tend to take one course unit per year. Below is a structure diagram for this programme. 3
Level Year of Course Course title Credit Status Notes study code 7 n/a n/a n/a 45 Course option from list below 7 n/a n/a n/a 45 Course option from list below 7 n/a n/a n/a 45 Course option from list below 7 n/a n/a Dissertation 45 Compulsory linked to the Major course The following is the full list of courses currently approved for the MA Korean Studies. There are no core courses. Students should note that not all courses are offered every year. List A (Majors or Minors) Courses marked with an asterisk (*) can count as Majors only if both half-unit courses in the same discipline (music or literature) are taken. Otherwise, they will count as a Minor. Topics in Modern Korean History Topics in the History of Traditional Korea Topics in the History and Structure of the Korean Language Topics in Korean Material Culture International Politics of East Asia Readings in Korean Literature (Masters) Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) (half-unit term 1); can be taken as Major course only together with Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) (half-unit term 2); can be taken as Major course only together with Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (Masters) (half-unit term 1); can be taken as Major course only together with Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature (Masters) Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature (Masters) (halfunit term 2); can be taken as Major course only together with Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (Masters) List B (Minors only) East Asia and Globalisation (half-unit, term 1) Korean Advanced Practical Translation from and into Korean Directed Readings in Korean Studies One from: Elementary Korean (PG) Intermediate Korean (PG) Introduction to Mixed Script Korean (PG) Special Course in Chinese I (PG) Reading Classical and Literary Chinese (PG) 4
Basic Japanese 1 (PG) TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT What methods will be used to achieve the learning outcomes? Knowledge Through seminars and classes. Students are required to attend all classes, study extensively on their own and prepare non-assessed work regularly. Students will be strongly encouraged to make use of Library and Web throughout the course and to extend their independent learning skills. Provision of detailed reading lists, which include, where appropriate, reference to on-line materials, and compulsory reading assignments that familiarize students with secondary sources related to the Major subject. Discipline-specific theoretical knowledge will be developed in the unit chosen as Major. Assessment of knowledge is through unseen examinations, long essays, assessed coursework involving short essays, library data retrieval and other exercises where appropriate, oral presentation and a dissertation. The dissertation constitutes the full expression of the skills that students have acquired: it requires breadth and complexity of knowledge and understanding, analytic ability and the fluent presentation skills in an appropriate academic style. Intellectual (thinking) skills 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, and through class room discussion of readings and the critical review of students written work Assessment through unseen examinations, coursework, long essays and a dissertation. Subject-based practical skills Communicative and analytical skills obtained through long essays, coursework, dissertation, seminar presentations, and lecture-based discussions. Assessment through unseen examination, dissertation, long essays and coursework. Transferable skills Writing skills fostered through long essays, coursework and dissertation. Oral skills fostered through seminar presentations, discussions and tutorials. Assessment through unseen examinations, dissertation, long essays and coursework including regular seminar presentations. REFERENCE POINTS 5
What has been the basis for the design of this programme? School learning and teaching strategy Staff research QAA framework for higher education qualifications 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 SOAS Vision and Strategy Statement; Postgraduate Handbook; Quality Assurance Handbook; UCAS website; QAA website. 6