Course summary
Taught jointly by the Departments of Anthropology and Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies, this MA offers a stimulating synthesis of theory and practice. In short, it is at the heart of what Goldsmiths is all about. This MA, launched in 2015, is the third of three related pathways. The first, the MA in Applied Anthropology and Community and Youth Work, was started in 1992 and is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in youth and community work and who need a professional qualification. A second pathway, the MA in Applied Anthropology and Community Development, was launched in 2012 as an option for international or home students who do not need an NYA qualification and for those who want to specialise in community development. This third pathway has been created in response to a growing number of applicants with an arts background and arts interests, and is aimed at students who wish to work in community arts. The three pathways entail different placements but are taught together, providing much opportunity for exchange of ideas and collaboration amongst students. This programme is endorsed by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development.
Modules
The MA combines an academic programme of lectures, seminars and tutorial assignments with practical experience. Modules are taken over one academic year if you are studying full-time, and two years if you are studying part-time (part-time study only available to home/EU students). Full-time students attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and spend the rest of the week on fieldwork placements and library studies. Part-time students attend on Thursdays in one year and Tuesdays in the other. The Department of Anthropology teaches two of the core components of your degree: Contemporary Social Issues 30 credits Anthropological Research Methods 30 credits. In addition, we strongly encourage all students, particularly those without a background in anthropology, to sit in on other MA option courses offered by the anthropology department, such as Anthropological Theory, Anthropology of Development, Anthropology of Violence, Anthropology of Art and Anthropology and the Environment. We also encourage you to audit courses run by the Art, Music and Cultural Studies departments, and in general to make the most of all the wonderful political and arts events organised by Goldsmiths staff and students every week. The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies runs the fieldwork modules, which involve placements that are supported by seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials. This MA pathway entails 20 hours of observations and 380 hours of placements, normally in community arts settings, consisting of three placements with at least two different organisations. The fieldwork and accompanying teaching are divided into three modules: Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches 15 credits Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice 15 credits Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development 30 credits Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Modules are currently assessed by an essay, documents completed by the student in relation to the placement and community development national occupational standards learning, a report by the placement supervisor and a fieldwork contract form. The final placement also involves an assessment of the observations.
Entry requirements
You will need: an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in the social sciences or another appropriate subject, with some experience of community and youth work. at least four months of full-time, or part-time equivalent, work experience prior to starting the MA. Experience can include paid or unpaid work; voluntary, community and youth work in organisations; and relevant informal work. If we make you an offer to study on this programme, we will ask you to complete an application for an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS and you will need to meet the Fitness to train criteria. Please note there will be a fee for all DBS applications; we will send you further information about payment with any offer that we make. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
For details of fees and funding please visit https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW