MA History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East and Intensive Arabic
SOAS University of London
Key Information
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 - 4 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 11,520 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time fees: UK £11,520; Overseas £22,500. Part-time 2 years fees: UK £5,760/year; Overseas £11,250/year. Part-time 3 years fees: UK £3,840/year; Overseas £7,500/year
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time
The Department of the History of Art and Archaeology contains some of the world’s leading experts in the art history and archaeology of the Islamic Middle East, whose ground-breaking research informs and is informed by their teaching. Students benefit from the unparalleled knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff. As members of the School of Arts, they profit from the insights of scholars and students working in other related fields, such as Music, Film and Media in the Middle East and the wider Islamic world. They can also select from courses in other departments, taking advantage of SOAS’s unrivalled expertise in the languages, history, religions and cultures of the Middle East.
A Masters from the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology provides students with expertise in the History of Art and/or Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our postgraduates progress to work in arts, culture and heritage roles, including in galleries, museums, archives, conservation, publishing and arts administration. The large portfolio of transferable skills they acquire enables them to forge careers in a range of other fields across the world. Our Master's programmes are also an excellent foundation for MPhil/PhD research.
May be combined with:
The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MA History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East:
- Arabic
- Persian
- Turkish
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.
Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation as outlined below.
In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.
Year 1 (two years full time)
Discipline Component
History of Art & Archaeology modules relating to the Islamic Middle East from the lists below to the value of 60 credits.
Language Component 60 credits
Students take 60 credits in the selected language.
Summer Abroad
Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.
Year 2 (two years full time)
Discipline Component
Modules (not limited to the Islamic Middle East) from the History of Art & Archaeology lists below to the value of 15 credits.
Plus
Modules from the lists below to the value of 45 credits.
Or
Modules from Postgraduate Open Options if approved by the programme convenor.
Language Component
Students take 30 credits in the selected language.
Dissertation
- Dissertation in History of Art and Archaeology: History of Art and Archaeology of Islamic Middle East
List of modules (subject to availability)
Options in History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East
- Arab Painting
- Architectural Boundaries and the Body
- Art and Architecture of the Fatimids
- Asia and Africa On Display: Objects, Exhibitions and Transculturism
- Discourses on Modern and Contemporary Art of the Middle East
- Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts
- Islamic Art and Architecture of Eastern Mediterranean of the Period of the Crusades (11th-14th centuries)
- Art and Architecture of the Seljuks and Ottomans (12th -15th centuries)
- Illustrated Manuscript Cultures of Southeast Asia
- Issues in Contemporary Southeast Asian Art
- Visuality and Islamic Art
- Persian Painting
Other Options in the History of Art and Archaeology
- Architectural Boundaries and the Body
- Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea
- Arts of Modern and Contemporary China (since 1800)
- Buddhist and Hindu Art of the Maritime Silk Route
- Ceramics in Chinese Culture: 10th - 18th Centuries
- Chinese Porcelain: Trade, Transfer and Reception
- Collecting and Curating Buddhist Art in the Museum
- Critical Themes in Tibetan Art
- Illustrated Manuscript Cultures of Southeast Asia
- Imag(in)ing Buddhahood in South Asia (1)
- Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa
- Modern and Contemporary Korean Art
- Monuments and sculpture of Angkor
- Photography and the Image in Africa
- Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts
- Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter-Disciplinary Approach
- Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period
- The Indian Temple
- Tibetan Buddhist Monuments in Context
- Theory and Method in Art History
- Visual Arts of Dynastic China (to 1800) (Cohort A)
Options in Other Departments
- Anthropology
- Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
- History
- Encountering the Other: the Middle East during the Crusading Period
- Outsiders in Medieval Middle Eastern Societies: Minorities, Social Outcasts and Foreigners
- Media Studies
- Communication, Culture and Politics in the Middle East: Theoretical and Analytical Approaches
- Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications
- Religions & Philosophies
- Avestan I
- Eastern and Orthodox Christianity
- Imag(in)ing Buddhahood in South Asia (2)
- Pahlavi Language
- Zoroastrianism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- Music
- Music, Urbanism and Conflict in Jaffa
- Near & Middle East
- Arabic Poetry and Criticism
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies I: History and Politics
- Critical Perspectives on Palestine Studies II: Culture and Society
- Film and Society in the Middle East
- Iran: History, Culture, Politics
- Israel and the Palestinians
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Career Opportunities
Employment
A Masters from the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology provides students with expertise in the History of Art and/or Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our postgraduates progress to work in arts, culture and heritage roles, including in galleries, museums, archives, conservation, publishing and arts administration. The large portfolio of transferable skills they acquire enables them to forge careers in a range of other fields across the world. Our Master's programmes are also an excellent foundation for MPhil/PhD research.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
- Asia House
- Bonhams
- British Museum
- Christie's Hong Kong
- Design Museum
- Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum
- Hong Kong Museum Of Art
- India Foundation For The Arts
- Museum of East Asian Art
- National Gallery National Museum of Singapore
- People Projects Culture & Change
- Schoeni Art Gallery
- Sotheby's
- Taiwan Embassy
- The Alliance for Global Education
- The British Embassy
- The Chester Beatty Library
- The National Museum Of Korea
- The Royal Collection
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
- Manager of Communications
- Culture Programme Coordinator
- Research Assistant
- Social Anthropology Lecturer
- Specialist - Indian Art
- Architect
- Art Historian
- Development Specialist
- Archivist
- Gallery Director Innovation Programmes Learning Manager
- Creative Director
- Organisational Consultant
- Travel writer
- Art Collector
- Chinese Painting Specialist
- Professor of Silk Road History
- Rights and Reproductions Officer
- Public Education Coordinator
- Senior Curator of Photographs
English Language Requirements
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