Idea Transcript
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 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
Japanese Literature MA NA full time (1 year) or part-time (2 or 3 years) N/A N/A 18 March 2011
UCAS code Professional body accreditation Date specification created/updated
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 is a specialist programme aimed at preparation for PhD research, for people who aim to enter employment that would benefit from a knowledge of Japanese culture, and for those with a general interest in Japan. The student will learn research methods and will be able to choose to focus on modern or pre-modern literature as their major area. This programme is for students with relatively advanced levels of Japanese language. It provides a solid foundation
Who would it suit?
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in advanced language and methodological skills to pursue a PhD programme, as well as those wishing to pursue a work in an area dealing with Japanese culture. Students take three taught courses (one major, two minor) and write a 10,000 word dissertation related to the major course. Students will cover pre-modern drama and modern literature in two half units, and then choose to focus on modern or pre-modern literature in their major course, or in translation. They will also take the Comparative Literature core course: Theory and Methods in Comparative Literature. The balance of assessment in the Japanese courses is half weighted toward essays and half in final unseen written papers.
Programme structure
Assessment summary
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/ Students will be expected to have an advanced level of reading ability in Japanese language.
PROGRAMME AIMS What will this programme give the student an opportunity to achieve? • High level of ability to read Japanese literature in the original • Methodological skills in how to analyse and interpret literature in a comparative context • In-depth knowledge of modern and/or classical Japanese literature
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES What will the student learn? Knowledge 1. 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 traditional sources. 2. To obtain a solid knowledge of the texts and contexts of modern Japanese literature. 3. To obtain a thorough grounding in the theories and techniques of comparative 2
literature. 4. To read, translate and critically assess Japanese literary texts in the original. Intellectual (thinking) skills 1. Students will learn to become precise and selective in their assessment of evidence, and to understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us. 2. Students will learn to question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves. 3. Students will broaden their intellectual perspective on literature, learn to assess and analyse Japanese literary texts and their modernity from a non-eurocentric perspective, but also acquire sensitivity towards other perspectives on and views of literature. Students will become aware of and think through the problems involved in applying a mainly “western” body of literary theory to Japanese texts. Subject-based practical skills The programme aims to help students with the following practical skills: 1. Communicate effectively in writing 2. Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources. 3. Present seminar papers. 4. Listen and discuss ideas introduced during seminars. 5. Practice research techniques in a variety of specialized research libraries and institutes. 6. Increase reading ability in modern and/or classical Japanese. Transferable skills The programme will encourage students to: 1. Write good essays and dissertations. 2. Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing. 3. Understand unconventional ideas. 4. Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates. Present (non – assessed) material orally.
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 diagram Students taking the course 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 course part-time over 3 years tend to take one course unit per year. 3
Below is a structure diagram for this programme. Level
Course code
Course title
Credit
Status
7
Year of study Year 1
15PEAH013
22.5
Compulsory
7
Year 1
15PEAH012
22.5
Compulsory
7
Year 1
15PSAC279
45
Compulsory
7
n/a
15PJKC005
Traditional Japanese Drama Modern Japanese Literature Theory and Techniques of Comparative Literature Readings in Pre-modern Japanese Literature
45
Option
7
n/a
15PJKC003
45
Option
7
n/a
15PJKH003
22.5
Option
7
n/a
15PJKH002
22.5
Option
7
n/a
15PJKC999
Readings in Modern Japanese Literature Practical Translation: Japanese to English Practical Translation: English to Japanese Dissertation in the Languages and Cultures of Japan and Korea
45
Compulsory
Notes
Course(s) to the value of 1 unit have to be taken from the optional courses
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 of 1 above through seminars and classes. Students are required to attend all classes, study extensively on their own and prepare non-assessed work regularly. • Acquisition of 2 above through attending the core courses (Japanese Traditional Drama and Modern Japanese Literature), through both guided and independent reading in the two literatures (in the original or in English translation), as well as through reading relevant secondary literature. • Acquisition of 3 through attending the compulsory course in Theories and Techniques of Comparative Literature. 4
• •
Acquisition of 4 through the optional courses. Assessment: through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework and a dissertation.
Intellectual (thinking) skills • Acquisition of 1 and 2 above is 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 that how conflicting interpretations arise from the same information. • Acquisition of 3 above is fostered especially through classroom discussions between the students on the core course, who hail from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are taught to communicate to each other not only their views about a particular story or poem, but also the literary views and values that underlie them, and that are often related to their cultural background. • Acquisition of 4 is fostered in all courses, but especially in the compulsory Comparative Literature course. • Assessment: through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework and a dissertation. Subject-based practical skills • Acquisition of 1 above through the writing of long essays and dissertations. • Acquisition of 2 above through additional seminars for the core course, aimed at helping students to prepare for their term essays. • Acquisition of 3 above through regular seminar presentations. • Acquisition of 4 above through seminar discussion. • Acquisition of 5 above through the setting of clear deadlines for the submission of written work. • Acquisition of 6 above through the optional courses. • Assessment: through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework and a dissertation. Transferable skills • Acquisition of 1 above through long essays, coursework and dissertation, and additional seminars on core course. • Acquisition of 2 above through seminar presentations, discussions and essays. • Acquisition of 3 above through seminar lectures and discussions. • Acquisition of 4 above though provision of detailed reading lists, including references to online materials, and by compulsory reading assignments familiarizing students with secondary sources related to the subject. • Acquisition of 5 above through student seminar presentations and additional seminars. • Assessment: through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework and a dissertation.
REFERENCE POINTS What has been the basis for the design of this programme? The following reference points were used in designing the programme: 5
1. School learning and teaching strategy 2. Staff research 3. 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.
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