MA in Humanities
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Taught Masters
- Code
- F07
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 180 credit points
Description
This degree is for those who want to develop their research and analytical skills and upgrade their qualifications. It will suit anyone with appropriate entry qualifications who has a passion for the arts and is looking for an intellectual challenge. The programme is designed to allow you to tailor your qualification to a particular subject interest. We also offer subject lines in art history, classical studies, history, literature, music and philosophy.
Planning your studies
You must hold an honours degree to be accepted for the MA in Humanities programme. Your bachelors degree need not be in the subject area you wish to study in the MA but you must have the basic skills expected of a graduate in that area. Foundation courses in each MA line bring you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches in each subject but they do not offer remedial undergraduate training for those who have an inappropriate bachelors degree or inadequate experience. Before you enter the degree you must be able to:
- write clear, concise, grammatically correct and accurately spelt prose
- read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
- classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
- argue logically, consistently and sceptically
- marshal various sorts of evidence to support a logical argument.
If you are in any doubt about whether you possess these skills, you should consider taking one or two of our higher level undergraduate courses first. If you want help to assess your preparedness please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You must commence your studies with a postgraduate foundation course and your final course must be the dissertation. The structure of the MA programme means that you can follow courses in one study line to achieve a degree in that discipline or you can opt for a wide-ranging degree profile and obtain a general MA in Humanities. You can complete up to a maximum of 300 points which enables you to study more than one subject course, if you wish.
You must normally complete the required credit for this qualification within ten years.
You must include at least 60 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
Courses
For this 180-point masters degree you require:
At least 30 points, but no more than 60 points, from the postgraduate foundation courses:
| Postgraduate compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 FINAL |
|
60 | Jan 2011 |
|
60 | Jan 2011 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses A810, A820, A830, AA820, AA830, AA810
And at least 30 points from the following optional courses:
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses A811, A812, A813, A821, A822, A823, A824, A831, A832, A833, A834, D850, D851, D852, D854, D857
And a 60-point dissertation selected from the following, which must be from the same subject line as your postgraduate foundation course:
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 FINAL |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses A827, A837
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
On completion
On successful completion of 180 points’ worth of required courses you will be awarded the Master of Arts in Humanities, entitling you to use the letters MA (Hum) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.
If you leave the programme before you qualify for a degree you can qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities (C20) after successfully completing 60 points including a postgraduate foundation course, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanities (D35) with 120 points including a postgraduate foundation course and a subject course.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- MA in Humanities
- Schedule B to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
A postgraduate qualification in Arts and Humanities.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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