No 6172
Wednesday 16 December 2009
Vol cxl No 13
pp. 421–444
The General Board give notice that, on the recommendation of the Faculty Board or other authority concerned, the regulations for certain University examinations have been amended as follows:
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 279)
The detail for certain papers has been amended as set out below:
In this course students are introduced to the language of the Hebrew Bible. After they have completed the basic grammar they have classes on a biblical text, in which they deal with translational and interpretive issues.
In this course students acquire competence in spoken and written Modern Hebrew. Classes will cover Modern Hebrew grammar and representative texts from modern Hebrew literature.
This paper provides an introduction to the history of the Middle East and the political, religious, cultural, and linguistic developments of the different regions and periods. It aims to familiarize the student with the sources of information available and with the main themes that will arise in studying Middle East societies in subsequent years of the Tripos. The course consists primarily of lectures.
This paper provides an introduction to the politics, religion, and culture of contemporary Middle Eastern societies. It starts with a historical introduction focusing on their entry into modernity. It goes on to explore the languages and dialects in social and cultural contexts of Middle Eastern societies. The final section of the course examines the region from the anthropological perspective, which will focus on piety movements, nationalism, as well as gender and social hierarchies.
The aim of this course is to consolidate students’ understanding of Arabic grammar and expand their vocabulary so that they can confidently read a range of Arabic materials such as newspaper and magazine articles, and to develop their speaking and listening skills. The textbook Al-Kitaab Part 2 and many other authentic materials are used.
This paper introduces students to a variety of literary texts to enhance their understanding of textual analysis and linguistic expression.
In this course students have the opportunity to study a special topic based on texts chosen from within Hebrew literature from both the classical and modern periods.
A thematic survey of Islamic history in the first four centuries dealing with key aspects of the religious, political, social, and cultural evolution of classical Muslim societies. The course will include introductions to the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic law as well as a variety of historical texts reflecting the world view of Muslims of this era.
This course will enable students to study special topics in such areas as Hebrew language, literature, history, and culture.
This paper examines in some detail the political and social dynamics of the contemporary Middle East from an anthropological perspective, focusing on particular regions or themes.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 289)
Paper 8 (Greek and Roman philosophy) of Part Ib of the Classical Tripos will replace Paper 4 (History of ancient philosophy) in Part Ib of the Philosophy Tripos (see below). In consequence the third proviso in Regulation 23 of the Classical Tripos is redundant. The regulations have been amended as follows:
Regulation 17.
By amending the regulation so as to read:
Paper 8. Greek and Roman philosophy (also serves as Paper GL 18 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos and as Paper 4 in Part Ib of the Philosophy Tripos).
Regulation 23.
By removing proviso (3).
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 292)
The detail for this paper has been amended by replacing the final sentence so as to read:
Candidates will be required to answer four questions, one from Section (a); two from Sections (b) to (e), with no more than one question being taken from any one section; and one from any section of the candidate’s choice.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 330)
Regulation 18.
By amending the titles of Papers 6, 9, and 10 so as to read:
Paper 6. Physical and environmental geography I. Processes in the climate system.
Paper 9. Physical and environmental geography IV. Rivers and coasts.
Paper 10. Physical and environmental geography V. Biogeography.
Regulation 20.
By amending the titles of Papers 9, 10, and 11 so as to read:
Paper 9. A prescribed topic or topics in environmental geography.
Paper 10. A prescribed topic or topics in geography III.
Paper 11. A prescribed topic or topics in geography IV.
The Faculty Board of Earth Sciences and Geography are satisfied that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2010 will be adversely affected by these changes.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 338)
Amendments to supplementary regulations for Parts I and II of the Historical Tripos have been made as follows:
These papers will deal with political ideas and arguments in relation to the general historical contexts in which they arose. Each paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will consist of questions on prescribed texts. Section B will be designed to test knowledge of a series of themes of importance in the history of political thought in the period covered by the paper. In each paper three questions must be answered; one question, but not more than one, must be taken from Section B.
This paper will deal comparatively with the growth of political, economic, and cultural relations between Europe and the rest of the world since 1400; and with their effects in world history. Candidates will be required to answer three questions.
This paper will, until further notice, be a paper entitled ‘The West and the Third World from the First World War to the present day’. The paper will survey the historical interaction between the West and the Third World since 1918 in its political, economic, and strategic aspects. Candidates will be required to answer three questions.
These papers will deal with political ideas and arguments in relation to the general historical contexts in which they arose. Each paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will consist of questions on prescribed texts. Section B will be designed to test knowledge of a series of themes of importance in the history of political thought in the period covered by the paper. In each paper three questions must be answered; one question, but not more than one, must be taken from Section B.
This paper will explore the central texts and key ideas of twentieth-century political thought, looking at both analytical concepts and historical context. It is divided into two parts, Section A which covers historical topics organized around authors and their texts, and Section B which covers a variety of themes in contemporary political philosophy. Students are required to answer three questions, taking at least one from each section.
The Faculty Board are satisfied that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2010 has been adversely affected by these changes.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 411)
The detail for Paper Is. 12 has been amended as set out below:
The aim of this course is to develop students’ skills in translating from Arabic to English. The course will involve translation practice and discussion of the issues involved.
The following supplementary regulations for papers for Part II of the Tripos are provided:
These courses aim to develop students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students will be introduced to a range of academic and literary texts in order to develop their ability to follow complex discussions and improve their understanding of linguistic structures. Classes will run completely in Arabic.
This course will examine current scholarship on diaspora(s) with specific focus on those originating in the Middle East. Conceptions of ‘homeland’ and the role of memory will be reviewed, as well as tensions between national(ist)/transnational, immobility/mobility (both physical and existential), integration/non-integration, forced/voluntary displacement, and cosmopolitan/parochial sensibilities. Students will be urged to examine ‘diaspora’ from a critical perspective, attuned to historical and cultural specificity.
The course will provide the student with a sustained introduction to several key texts in the classical Arabic philosophical tradition relating to the relationship between the philosopher and his society (reason and revelation). Throughout the emphasis will be on developing appropriate strategies for interpreting the texts, with particular focus on the method of reading (‘esotericism’) developed by Leo Strauss and his followers. Among the thinkers discussed will be Ibn Tufayl, Muhammad b. Zakariyya, al-Razi, and al-Farabi.
This course will provide a regional survey of Modern Arabic literature, with special emphasis on text-based analysis. Themes covered will include: the city; the nation; women; memory; exile and return; and inter-cultural encounter.
This course aims to develop students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The students will write essays and prepare presentations in Persian, which they will discuss in class.
Students will be asked to read a modern Persian novel each term and will study several Iranian films, which they will be expected to analyse and discuss, making oral and written presentations of their critical and comparative analyses of these texts and films.
This course will use a selection of both classical and contemporary Persian poetry to study the treatment of particular themes and rhetorical techniques. The theme for 2009–10 will be the evolution of wine-imagery in classical poetry with particular emphasis on the poems by Hafez.
This course covers different genres of prose literature, with an emphasis this year on hagiography and historiography and their ethical dimensions.
This paper involves an in depth study of Ghazali’s Kitab al-‘amr bi al-ma’ruf wa al-nahi ‘an al-munkar, his invaluable analysis of the hisba, the primary duty of every Muslim ‘to promote what is right and prevent what is wrong’.
This course is spread over the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. The first term is devoted to the rise of the Mongol empire and its establishment as khanates in different regions of Asia, with an emphasis on the mechanics of state formation and the interactions between ‘nomads’ and the sedentary lands. The second term charts the fragmentation of and collapse of Mongol rule in the different regions, concentrating on topics such as acculturation, religious conversion, and aspects of continuity and change seen under Mongol rule. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the historiography of the period and the course (and the examination) may include the discussion of primary source material. Students will be expected to write 2 to 3 essays a term. The Easter Term will be set aside for revision classes.
Perhaps unique in its nature and structure in British and Western universities, this course offers comprehensive knowledge of the rising phenomenon of political Islam, especially in the Middle East. The course starts with focusing on the historical context and conditions that helped the emergence of Islamist movements. Then it discusses and analyses various scholarly approaches of understanding Islamism (for instance approaches of social theory, anti-colonial, identity assertion, poverty and deprivation, and global resurgence of religion and so forth). The course moves on to discussing a wide spectrum of Islamism ranging from ‘moderate’ and non-violent movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood organizations and the Justice and Development Party in Turkey to ‘radical’ and violent movements such as Al-Qaeda and Hizbuallah. A specific emphasis is given to the notion of country-based movements and trans-national (global) movements. The part of thematic analysis in the course covers major issues and debates that pertain to ‘Islamist’ perceptions of democracy, modernity, religious minorities, and gender issues.
The Faculty Board are satisfied that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2010 has been adversely affected by these changes.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 412)
Paper 4 of Part Ib of the Philosophy Tripos has been replaced by Paper 8 of Part Ib of the Classical Tripos. Regulation 5(a) has been amended as follows:
Regulation 5(a).
By amending the title of Paper 4 from History of ancient philosophy to Greek and Roman philosophy (Paper 8 of Part Ib of the Classical Tripos).
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 420)
The detail for this paper has been amended to clarify that Section A covers historical topics organized around authors and their texts. The second sentence has been amended so as to read:
It is divided into two parts, Section A which covers historical topics organized around authors and their texts, and Section B which covers a variety of themes in contemporary political philosophy.
The Faculty Board are satisfied that no candidate’s preparation for the examination in 2010 has been adversely affected by these changes.
(Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450)
Paper 23. Further studies in Christian doctrine
The mode of assessment for this paper has been changed from examination by the mixed mode of assessment to an examination of three hours’ duration. The final sentence of the supplementary regulation for Paper 23 has accordingly been amended so as to read:
This paper will be examined by an examination of three hours’ duration as specified in Regulation 15(a).
On the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Physics and Chemistry, the General Board and the Board of Graduate Studies have approved Scientific Computing as a subject for advanced study for the M.Phil. Degree (one-year course), with effect from 1 October 2010. Special regulations for the examination in the subject have been approved as follows:
1. The scheme of examination for the one-year course of study in Scientific Computing for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall consist of:
(a)a thesis of not more than 15,000 words in length, including diagrams and footnotes, but excluding bibliography and appendices on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry;
(b)a written examination which may cover all core subjects prescribed in the syllabus;
(c)two essays on topics chosen by the candidate from optional modules announced by the Degree Committee.
2. The examination shall include an oral examination on the work submitted by the candidate under Regulation 1 and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
On the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Business and Management, the General Board, with the concurrence of the Board of Graduate Studies and the Strategic Committee of the Institute of Continuing Education, have approved Sustainability Leadership as a subject for postgraduate study for the M.St. Degree. Special regulations for the examination in that subject have been approved as follows:
The scheme of examination for the course of study in Sustainability Leadership for the degree of Master of Studies shall be as follows:
1. For the purpose of the general regulations for the degree, the Degree Committee concerned with the examination shall be the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Business and Management.
2. The examination shall consist of:
(a)two essays (a case review and a strategy paper), each of no more than 3,000 words in length, and each on a topic approved by the Degree Committee;
(b)an essay (a group project) of no more than 7,000 words in length on a topic approved by the Degree Committee;
(c)an action research project, with a ten minute oral presentation of findings, on a topic approved by the Degree Committee;
(d)a thesis of not more than 15,000 words in length, including footnotes and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee.
3. At the discretion of the Examiners the examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.