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Transcultural Studies* (MA)

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Course Description

Transcultural studies is a growing and exciting area of research focussing on sites of cultural encounter and exchange. This MA allows students to examine important contemporary debates around concepts of culture, identity and globalization in a range of contexts -- historical, literary, social, political and religious. It draws, therefore, from a wide range of disciplines. The programme covers four main areas of study: Transatlantic studies and Maritime/Colonial Expansion; Global Politics, Conflict Transformation and Peace Building; Transcultural Literatures; Religion and Society. Students may choose to follow a broadly based programme or specialize in particular areas.

Study Details/Module Information

All students take:

Core taught modules: Culture and Identity (15 credits); Transcultural Contexts (15 credits); Dissertation Preparation (15 credits)

Optional taught modules: to the value of 75 credits in 15 or 30 credit modules

Dissertation: 60 credits.

Examples of optional modules available are as below. Please note that only a selection of modules potentially available will run in any given year.

Ideas of Empire: Politics, Society and Culture
Liverpool, a Global Port City
Transatlantic Perspectives on Nation, Race and Identity
American Foreign Relations
The European Union as an International Actor
Theory and Analysis of International Relations
African-American Literature
New Literatures in English
American Modernism
South Asian Popular Culture
Culture & Diversity in Early Twentieth Century Irish Literatures
Religion and Migration
Religion and Gender
Islam in Britain
Buddhism in the Contemporary World

Assessment is through coursework, primarily in essay format. After completing the taught components, students progress to the dissertation phase. This provides the opportunity to explore in depth an issue or question relevant to the programme, under the supervision of one of the team.

Research Environment

The MA in Transcultural Studies is underpinned by a rich and thriving research environment. There are ample opportunities to attend research seminars given by eminent scholars; this includes distinguished visiting speakers as well as Liverpool Hope’s own academics and research students. Staff lead and participate in a wide range of research centres and groups. A sample includes:

·    Centre for Transcultural & Global Studies
·    Andrew. F. Walls Centre for African & Asian Christianity
·    Desmond Tutu Centre for War & Peace Studies
·    Narrated Spaces
·    Centre for the Study of Muslims and Islam in Britain

Recent publications by contributing staff are numerous, and include:

Ron Geaves. Śaivism in the Diaspora: Contemporary Forms of Skanda Worship. Equinox, 2007.
Cynthia Hamilton and Fritz Gysin (eds). Complexions of Race: The African Atlantic. Lit Verlag 2005.
Michael Holmes. The Development of the Irish Labour Party’s European Policy: from opposition to support. Edwin Mellen Press, 2006.
Elizabeth Harris. Theravāda Buddhism and the British Encounter: Religious, missionary and colonial experience in nineteenth century Sri Lanka. Routledge, 2006.
Lucy Kay, Zoë Kinsley, Terry Phillips & Alan Roughley (eds). Mapping Liminalities: Thresholds in Cultural and Literary Texts. Peter Lang, 2007.
Nicholas Rees, Brid Quinn and Bernadette Connaughton. Europeanisation and New Patterns of Governance in Ireland. Manchester University Press, 2009.

Career Opportunities

The MA in Transcultural Studies can act as a foundation for further postgraduate work such as doctoral research. It also fosters a range of transferable skills valued in professional contexts, such as critical and lateral thinking, the ability to formulate arguments, the capacity to work independently, the presentation of research findings and information management. Teachers may follow this course in order to enhance their subject knowledge.

 Key Information       

Award    MA Transcultural Studies       
Mode of Study    Part-time or Full-time       
Duration    12-15 months (full-time) 24-30 months (part-time)       
Study Pattern    September/ January entry. Evening study       
Accreditation           
Entry Criteria    Normally an Honours degree (minimum 2:1) in a humanities or relevant social sciences subject       
Deanery    Arts & Humanities       
Website:    www.hope.ac.uk/artsandhumanities
Contact Details    t: 0151 291 3225
e: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it     
Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 September 2009 )
 
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