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M.Phil. in Modern Middle Eastern Studies **

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M.Phil. in Modern Middle Eastern Studies ** UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD FACULTY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES M.PHIL. IN MODERN SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES HANDBOOK 2014-2015 1 CONTENTS 1. Course objectives 3 2. Teaching staff 4 3. Admission to the course 5 4. Structure of the course 6 5. Teaching and academic support 9 6. Examination and assessment 11 7. Library resources 12 8. Collections for the study of material culture 14 2 1. COURSE OBJECTIVES The course aims: (i) to provide intensive training in one or more of the languages of South Asia, and to develop reading skills to attain a research proficiency; (ii) to develop an in-depth understanding of the histories, societies and cultures of South Asia and neighbouring regions and a broad expertise in the intellectual disciplines through which these may be studied; (iii) to enable students to pursue particular areas of specialisation through a wide range of optional courses; (iv) to foster skills in research, writing, analysis and interpretation, through a combination of lectures, tutorials, essay-writing and supervision of a thesis on a subject of the student’s choice. In Year 1 of the course, students will take a Core Language Course, in one of the following languages: Elementary Hindi, Literary Hindi, Brajbhasha and Old Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian or Tibetan. In addition, students will take a Core Course, ‘Themes in the History and Culture of South Asia’, and two optional subjects chosen from the list on pp. 7-8. In Year 2, students will continue with their Core Language Course, and choose in addition a third optional subject. The main focus of this second year will be the preparation of a 20,000 word dissertation. The programme is designed either to be taken in preparation for doctoral work, or to offer a terminal degree in preparation for professional work in which knowledge of the societies and languages of South Asia and their associated intellectual disciplines may be an advantage. 3 2. TEACHING STAFF Course Director Prof. Polly O'Hanlon The Oriental Institute Pusey Lane, Oxford OX1 2LE Tel. 01865 288215 Email: [email protected] Language Teaching staff in the Faculty of Oriental Studies Professor Edmund Herzig Soudavar Professor in Persian Dr Sima Orsini Language Teaching Officer in Persian Dr Dominic Brookshaw University Lecturer in Persian Dr Imre Bangha University Lecturer in Hindi Ulrike Roesler University Lecturer in Tibetan Dr James Benson University Lecturer in Sanskrit Professor Christopher Minkowski Boden Professor of Sanskrit Professor Alexis Sanderson Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics Teaching staff in other Faculties Dr Faisal Devji Faculty of History Dr Gavin Flood Hindu Studies Centre Professor David Gellner Department of Social Anthropology Dr Nandini Gooptu Department of International Development Additional Hindi Teaching Mrs Kalpana Pant 4 3. ADMISSION TO THE COURSE (i) Competition for places on graduate courses in Oxford, and for membership of Colleges, is strong. Applicants are therefore advised to apply as early as possible. For admissions deadlines, please consult the Faculty’s admissions website. (ii) It is expected that applicants to this course will come from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Normally, applicants will be expected to have a good honours degree in a humanities or social science subject (an upper second or above) or an equivalent degree from an overseas university, together with excellent academic references. Previous experience in a South Asian language is not essential, but applicants will be expected to be able to demonstrate strong experience and aptitude in language learning in other languages. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the course directors if they are uncertain as to whether their previous experience is appropriate to the course. (iii) Applicants are also asked to submit with their application two recent samples of their written work. Application Materials and further information on applications for admission are available from the University Graduate Admissions Office or its website: Graduate Admissions Office University of Oxford Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/ 5 4. STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE Overview1 In the first term, students will begin intensive language learning, and in addition attend a weekly seminar for the Core Course, ‘Themes in the History and Culture of South Asia’. These seminars will involve both reading preparation and written assignments. In the second term, students will continue intensive language learning. Weekly seminars for the Core Course will continue up until the fourth week of the term. In this term, students will take the first of their three Optional Subjects. In the third term, students will continue intensive language learning, will take the second of their three Optional Subjects, and will decide on the topic for the second year thesis, in consultation with supervisors. At the end of this term, students will sit the Qualifying Examination in their core language. During the summer, students will be expected to continue with their language learning, and where possible to conduct some of the primary research towards the thesis and to consolidate their language skills in India. In the fourth term, students will continue language learning, and will take the third of their three Optional Subjects. In the fifth term, students will focus on the writing of the thesis. Towards the end of this term, all students will make a preliminary 20 minute presentation of their thesis topic to the weekly seminar in the History of South Asia held at St Antony’s College. In the sixth term, students will submit the thesis in the third week of the term, and then spend the remainder of the term preparing for the final examinations. Students are in addition expected to attend the weekly seminar in the History of South Asia, held on Tuesdays at 2.15 during Full Term in St Antony’s College. YEAR 1 1. Core Language Course2 Teaching: through small classes. Course Teacher: Dr Imre Bangha and others 1 There may be minor changes in this schedule where the teaching of the Optional Subjects is concerned. Formal teaching for some Optional Subjects may extend over more than one term. 2 To be chosen from the following: Elementary Hindi, Literary Hindi, Brajbhasha and Old Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit, Tibetan. Students taking Hindi will be assigned to the elementary or the advanced course after consultation with Dr Bangha. 6 Assessment: Qualifying examination at the end of the third term, and final written examination at the end of Year 2. 2. Core Course: Themes in the History and Culture of South Asia Teaching: lectures/seminars and tutorials Course teachers: Prof Polly O'Hanlon and Dr Faisal Devji. Assessment: three hour written examination at the end of the third term. 3. Optional Subjects 1 and 2: topics selected from the list on p. 8 Teaching: lectures/seminars and tutorials Assessment: two submitted essays of 5000 words each, or a three-hour examination at the end of Year 2, as specified by the course tutor. 4. Thesis. All students are required to submit a thesis of no more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board. The thesis should be based on extensive research in primary and secondary sources and include a full scholarly apparatus of references and bibliography. Research and writing for the thesis is carried out over the second year, but the title needs to be approved by the Faculty Board, and should be submitted, via the Graduate Administrator, to the Faculty Board by the Monday of the 6th week of the third term in the year preceding the examination. YEAR 2 1. Optional Subject 3, topic selected from the list on p. 8 Teaching: lectures/seminars and tutorials Assessment: Two submitted essays of 5000 words each, or a three hour examination, as specified by the course tutor. 2. Core Language Courses (continued) Assessment: written examination at the end of Year 2. 3. Thesis. The main focus of the second year will be the preparation of the thesis, to be submitted in third term of Year 2. The thesis must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by 12 noon on the Friday of Third Week in Trinity Term. OPTIONAL SUBJECTS3 (i) Brajbhasha and Old Hindi * (ii) Advanced Hindi * 3 Courses are subject to availability. 7 (iii) Urdu Literary Texts* (iv) History and Civilisation of Tibet and the Himalayas (From MPhil in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies) (v) The Social Anthropology of a Selected Region: South Asia (From MPhil in Social Anthropology, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology) (vi) Societies and Economies in India, 1600-1800 (vii) Islamic History in South Asia (viii) Scientific knowledge systems and their history in India (ix) History and Politics of South Asia (set by MPhil in Politics, Department of Politics and International Relations) (x) Gender and Society in Colonial India, c. 1800 to the present. (xi) Approaches to the History of Hinduism in India (xii) Shaivism (xiii) Gender and Experience in Hindi Literature (xiv) Material and Visual Culture of South Asia (xv) Any other subject approved by the Faculty Board Courses marked with an asterisk are assessed by three-hour examination at the end of the second year. Others may be assessed either by three-hour examination at the end of the second year, or on the basis of two essays of not more than 5,000 words each, excluding footnotes and references, on topics selected by the candidate from a list offered by the course tutor. The essays must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by 12 noon on the Friday of Noughth Week of the term following that in which formal teaching for the Optional Subject is completed. The list of essay topics will be issued from the Oriental Studies Faculty Office on the Friday of Eighth Week of the term in which the Optional Subject is taught, or, if formal teaching extends over more than one term, on the Friday of the week in which formal teaching is completed.
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