MA Iranian Studies

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 MA in Iranian Studies Final award MA Intermediate awards NA Mode of attendance Full-time (one year), part time (two or three years) UCAS code N/A Professional body accreditation N/A Date specification created/updated March 2012

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? Among all universities in Europe and North America SOAS host the biggest concentration of research and teaching staff working on Iranian history, politics, economics, religions, art and archaeology, linguistics, Persian language and literature, media, film, anthropology and music. SOAS has the resources to offer a comprehensive, critical perspective on a variety of aspects of Iranian society and culture and go beyond the contemporary

public debates around this country. Who would it suit? National and international NGOs, government service employees seeking in- depth knowledge about Iran, media professionals, international students seeking a career in government, media, NGOs, finance, diplomacy. The programme can also lead to further research on the doctoral level.

Programme structure i) one core course on Iran: History, Culture, Politics, co-convened by Nima Mina and Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, and co-taught by them and other staff at SOAS; ii) one course (major) among the following list of Iran-specific courses: Zoroastrianism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (1 unit, 15PSRC052); Text and Context in Zoroastrianism (1 unit, 15PSRC036) ; Iranian Cinema (Half unit, 15PMSH010) Classical Persian Poetry (1 unit, 15PNMC401); Elementary Persian Texts (1 unit 15PNMC384); Persian Intermediate (1 unit, 15PNMC033); EITHER Avestan (1 Unit, 15PSRC033) OR Pahlavi (1 unit, 15PSRC034); iii) one course EITHER from the list above OR courses to the valur of one unit from the following existing options relating to the Middle East: Modern Trends in Islam (1 unit) Gender in the Middle East (0.5 unit) International Politics of the Middle East (1 unit) Islam and Political Ideologies (0.5 unit) Culture and Society of the Near and Middle East (1 unit) Economic development of the Middle East (1 unit) Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East, 1839-1958 (1 unit) Central Asian Music (0.5 unit) Problems of Development in the Middle

East and North Africa (0.5 unit) Migration and Mobility in the Middle East and North Africa (0.5 unit) iv) a 10,000-word dissertation on Iranian Studies Assessment summary The balance between coursework and exams will vary from course to course. The dissertation will count for 25% of the final mark.

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? • Critically assess the historical development of Iranian society, economics and culture within the context of the wider west Asian area. • Appreciate the complexity of the history and cultural make up of Iran. • Analyse Iran in accordance with an interdisciplinary curriculum and a flexible study programme. • Enhance their knowledge about the religious and politico-cultural influences affecting contemporary Iran and the region it is embedded in.

PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES What will the student learn? Knowledge • Acquire specific factual knowledge about modern Iranian history and politics, religion and society, arts, literature, media, economics. • Appreciate the diversity and complexity of contemporary Iranian society and culture. Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Critically assess the historical development of Iranian society, economics and culture within the context of the wider west Asian area. • Analyse Iran in accordance with an interdisciplinary curriculum and a flexible study programme encompassing the full range of historical, cultural and socio- economic aspects of the country in past and present.

Subject-based practical skills

• Learn to use Iran-related reference materials and research tools, the most recent research in various areas of Iranian studies presented in the core course and in the optional units.

Transferable skills

• The ability to organise research, formulate arguments, gather and evaluate data, formulate conclusions and present these in a coherent and clear manner.

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 Course Course Credit Status Notes study code title 7 1 (full not Iran, 1 core time and assigned History, part-time) yet Culture, Politics NEW COURSE 7 1/2/3 part Courses to major time the value of 1 unit from List A 1/2/3 part Courses to Option time the value of 1 unit from either List A or List B 7 1 full- Dissertatio 1 core time n in 2/3 part Iranian time 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.

List A : Iran-specific courses: • Zoroastrianism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (1 unit, 15PSRC052) • Text and Context in Zoroastrianism (1 unit, 15PSRC036) • Iranian Cinema (Half unit, 15PMSH010) • Classical Persian Poetry (1 unit, 15PNMC401) • Elementary Persian Texts (1 unit 15PNMC384) • Persian Intermediate (1 unit, 15PNMC033) • EITHER Avestan (1 Unit, 15PSRC033) OR Pahlavi (1 unit, 15PSRC034)

List B: courses relating to the Middle East: • Modern Trends in Islam (1 unit, 15PNMC228) • Gender in the Middle East (0.5 unit, 15PGNH001) • International Politics of the Middle East (1 unit, 15PPOC027) • Islam and Political Ideologies (0.5 unit, 15PPOH007) • Culture and Society of the Near and Middle East (1 unit, 15PANC097) • Economic development of the Middle East (1 unit, 15PECC341) • Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East, 1839-1958 (1 unit, 15PHIC019) • Central Asian Music (0.5 unit, 15PMUH008) • Problems of Development in the Middle East and North Africa (0.5 unit, 15PDSH019) • Migration and Mobility in the Middle East and North Africa (0.5 unit, 15PDSH028)

TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT What methods will be used to achieve the learning outcomes? Knowledge • The acquisition of knowledge about the historical, cultural, social, political development of Iran through lectures and seminar participation. This knowledge will be tested through coursework essays (40%), a final exam (60%), through the dissertation if the student chooses a topic in this field. • The critical engagement with Islam and other historical Iranian relgions, with classical and modern Persian poetry and prose literature, modern film and media will be acquired through lectures and seminars, and will be tested through oral presentations (20%), coursework essays (40%), a final exam (40%), and through the dissertation if the student chooses a topic in this field. • Knowledge of Shia Islam in Iran, modern literature inside Iran and in exile will be acquired through specialist courses, involving lectures, seminars, oral presentations, coursework essays and final exam, and through the dissertation if the student chooses a topic in this field. • Persian language skills will be enhanced and tested through language classes and regularly tested though weekly homework, classroom tests, a final oral and written exam and a dissertation.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Theoretical approaches to politics, economics, cultural and literary studies will be introduced in lectures and seminars, and their application tested in seminar discussion, oral presentations and critical review of written essays. • Systematic analysis of cultural products from Iran with a multitude of perspectives and methods in case studies in seminar discussion, oral presentations and critical review of written essays. • The ability to evaluate and apply independent research methods, to demonstrate originality in research on themes from literary and cultural studies. The ability to formulate interpretations of selected themes from Iranian history, cultural studies, literary, media and film studies. These skills will be tested in seminar discussions, oral presentations and in the critical review of written essays, in the final dissertation.

Subject-based practical skills

• Writing skills will be developed and tested in essays and in the final dissertation. • The ability to identify and retrieve relevant information from a variety of sources will be developed and tested in lectures. • The ability to communicate in front of a group will be developed and tested through regular seminar presentations. • The ability to formulate arguments and defend or change them in critical discussions will be developed and tested in seminar discussions. • The ability to identify and access relevant resources will be developed in specialized research libraries.

Transferable skills

• The ability to formulate and discuss arguments in essays and dissertations will be developed and tested through long essays, course work and dissertation. • The ability to communicate ideas in oral and written presentations will be developed and tested through seminar presentations, lecture-based discussions and essays. • The ability to study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes will be developed and tested though the provision of detailed reading lists and references to on-line materials.

REFERENCE POINTS What has been the basis for the design of this programme?

The following reference points were used in designing the programme: • School’s learning and teaching strategy • QAA framework for higher education qualifications • Staff research

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 ;