Shiv Nadar IoE-SOAS Joint MA Global Urban Sociology
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 12,500 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
This jointly taught MA between SOAS and Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Shiv Nadar IoE) in Delhi is one of the only programmes to focus on global sociology specifically on the global sociology of cities and urban life-worlds.
All modules will utilise a combination of academic, policy and popular literature. There will be significant emphasis on case studies from around the world to illuminate theoretical and analytical frameworks. Students will receive excellent sociological training as well as cultural immersion in the UK and India, in a partnership programme that combines an exciting level of student mobility with cutting-edge research-led teaching.
Why study the Joint MA in Global Urban Sociology?
Urbanisation is of extraordinary significance for the regions in which SOAS academics focus and globally it is a topic that brings together many of the most pressing concerns of our times; from climate, sustainability and extinctions, to mental health, pollution and illness, via issues of governance, policy, and populism.
The programme provides a unique opportunity for students to grasp the broad global historical/political/cultural canvas against which sociology is studied and how sociology may be useful for thinking about urban global futures. It offers students an option to study current global issues around urbanism with reference to specific case studies drawn from different cities around the world.
It also provides an opportunity for students to develop their ability to construct critical evaluations of the applicability of sociological frameworks to ‘real-world’ problems, including in their own research project on the ‘Dissertation’ module.
SOAS
- SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK and 12th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2023), and 4th in the UK (2023 Times/Sunday Times League Table)
- We are ranked 6th in the UK for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- We draw on the exceptional regional expertise of our academics in languages, cultures and politics, many of whom have joined us with a practical working knowledge of their disciplines
- Our focus on culture, politics and cultural communication are areas of growing global concern and significance among private, public and international institutions; our emphasis on skills, communication and methodology gives graduates a clear advantage over employers in the job market
Shiv Nadar IoE
- Shiv Nadar IoE, established in 2011, is a multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric university based in Delhi. It is the youngest university in India to have been awarded the status of Eminence
- Shiv Nadar IoE’s goal is to become internationally recognised for the quality of its research and improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity
- The faculty of humanities and social sciences is designed to create innovators, leaders, and frontrunners in all fields of technology and intends to serve as an institutional model of excellence in scientific and technical education
Admissions
Curriculum
To be awarded the MA, students must take modules to a total value of 180 SOAS credits, consisting of a dissertation (60 credits) and 120 credits of taught modules (60 credits taught by SOAS and 60 credits taught by Shiv Nadar IoE).
- Credit conversion = 15 credits at SOAS is equal to 4 credits at Shiv Nadar IoE.
SOAS – London (September to December)
Compulsory Modules (3 modules)
- Theory and Method in Global Urban Sociology I
- Ethnographic Approaches to Urban Life
- Studying (in) the City: Themes and Challenges
Guided Optional Modules (Choose 1 module)
- Food, Place and Mobility
- Anthropology of Sustainability: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures
- Migration, Borders and Space: Decolonial Approaches
Shiv Nadar IoE – India (January to May)
Compulsory Modules (4 modules)
- Theory and Method in Global Urban Sociology II
- Urban Humanitarianisms
- Urban Ecologies
Guided Optional Modules (Choose 1 module)
- Urban Commons
- Anthropology and Mental Health: Global and Local Perspectives
- Sound and the City
Dissertation – Any location (June to September)
Dissertation (12,000 words), on a topic related to global sociology, undertaken at SOAS, Shiv Nadar IoE, or remotely
- Dissertation (MA) in Sociology
Program Outcome
Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded a single, co-badged certificate conferred by both SOAS and Shiv Nadar IoE.
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will
- Be expected to grasp key debates in urban sociology
- Develop a critical understanding of the relationship between sociological examples and theory in the construction of sociological knowledge and an understanding of the ways in which sociology offers a specific set of viewpoints and methods
- Develop their ability to construct critical evaluations of the applicability of sociological frameworks to ‘real-world’ problems, including in their own research project on the ‘Dissertation’ module
- Develop their ability to reflect in a critical and informed manner on current global issues around urbanism with reference to specific case studies drawn from different cities around the world
Learning outcomes
Students will
- Develop Rigour in Analysis and Assessment of Sociological Arguments
- Develop the Ability to Understand, Summarise and Critically Assess Differing Perspectives on theoretical debates
- Be Encouraged to Bring to Bear Their Own Previous Experience and Knowledge in Addressing Urban Issues in a Critical MannerLearn to Identify Issues and Formulate Questions for Further research through independent work
- Be Able to Apply the Research Methodology Tools and Skillsets in Their Dissertation and for Future research work
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this programme will leave with a solid grounding in global urban sociology as civic-minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to making their communities and societies more sustainable. They will have a thorough understanding of the key debates and issues in urban sociology and will be valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and global perspective.
The programme is designed to focus on real-world issues and their connection to social science insights. It is aimed at providing a firm base for both academic work into the future or professional upskilling in any employment environment that seeks expertise in urban issues.