It's a kind of magic?

[AuntDaisy]

"Degree in magic to be offered at University of Exeter"
I don't believe it! And it made it to BBC's Today programme (~50:38 in) - including an academic with obligatory American accent.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-66981924

[Bryn]

"Degree in magic to be offered at University of Exeter"
I don't believe it! And it made it to BBC's Today programme (~50:38 in) - including an academic with obligatory American accent.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-66981924

I bet there will be a high component of students commuting in from the Totnes area.

[Pulcinella]

I hope that the President of The Magic Circle is given some sort of appointment there:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-58666725

[french frank]

I bet there will be a high component of students commuting in from the Totnes area.

And Glastonbury! I can imagine it's possible to offer a degree with objective standards, such as the cultural role of 'magic' in certain societies. People engaged in the occult have been active in this country for centuries. How seriously do the midsummer visitors to Stonehenge take this activity? What does modern witchcraft consist of? How widespread is the belief in paranormal events. I just checked back: this is an MA course not an undergraduate degree, and might tie in with psychology? Of course, it might just be a wacky degree for wackos, but I suspect not

[eighthobstruction]

....Well, they can spend at least the first term debating whether it is indeed a science....perhaps they will need a seance to be able to evaluate science....

....speak to the hand because the face don't wanna hear it....

[AuntDaisy]

And Glastonbury! I can imagine it's possible to offer a degree with objective standards, such as the cultural role of 'magic' in certain societies. People engaged in the occult have been active in this country for centuries. How seriously do the midsummer visitors to Stonehenge take this activity? What does modern witchcraft consist of? How widespread is the belief in paranormal events. I just checked back: this is an MA course not an undergraduate degree, and might tie in with psychology? Of course, it might just be a wacky degree for wackos, but I suspect not

Oh well, if you can potentially get a PhD in Klingon, why not an MA(gic)?
Having heard Prof Selove on Today, her university webpage makes eldritch reading https://arabislamicstudies.exeter.ac.uk/staff/selove/

The BBC article also mentioned that "The university said the course could prepare students for careers in teaching, counselling, mentoring, heritage and museum work, work in libraries, tourism, arts organisations or the publishing industry, among other areas of work. A choice of modules includes dragons in western literature and art, the legend of King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic thought, archaeological theory and practice and the depiction of women in the Middle Ages." Wot, no Harry Potter?

[Bryn]

Oh well, if you can potentially get a PhD in Klingon, why not an MA(gic)?
Having heard Prof Selove on Today, her university webpage makes eldritch reading https://arabislamicstudies.exeter.ac.uk/staff/selove/

The BBC article also mentioned that "The university said the course could prepare students for careers in teaching, counselling, mentoring, heritage and museum work, work in libraries, tourism, arts organisations or the publishing industry, among other areas of work. A choice of modules includes dragons in western literature and art, the legend of King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic thought, archaeological theory and practice and the depiction of women in the Middle Ages." Wot, no Harry Potter?

From the link in the above: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/magic/

[AuntDaisy]

From the link in the above: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/magic/

Thanks Bryn.
I'm still not that much wiser (no change there), but I do like the photograph of the cups.


In other news & by a strange coincidence, the BBC's Branwen Jeffreys (Education editor) has just posted:

13:23
Not the first promise on 'rip-off degrees'
This is not the first time a promise has been made to end “rip off degrees” in England.
The Office for Students, which regulates universities in England, is being asked to limit the number of students that can be recruited onto degrees judged to not deliver good outcomes for their graduates.
One of the key measures of this will be high drop-out rates, or poor progression into a graduate job or further study.
Overall, England has no limits on the number of university students and it’s notable that Rishi Sunak is not mentioning re-introducing a cap overall.

[Serial_Apologist]

....Well, they can spend at least the first term debating whether it is indeed a science....perhaps they will need a seance to be able to evaluate science....

....speak to the hand because the face don't wanna hear it....

Then it's sure to be on the cards.

[french frank]

Oh well, if you can potentially get a PhD in Klingon, why not an MA(gic)?

I was thinking it over as I was cooking lunch (as you do). Not just related to psychology, I thought, but also sociology. Think of shamanism, voodoo and various African practices. This is just a defined area of social anthropology but one which seems to me to have infiltrated to some extent (what extent? among whom?) western culture. And it's only a piddling Masters degree after all

[Serial_Apologist]

I was thinking it over as I was cooking lunch (as you do). Not just related to psychology, I thought, but also sociology. Think of shamanism, voodoo and various African practices. This is just a defined area of social anthropology but one which seems to me to have infiltrated to some extent (what extent? among whom?) western culture. And it's only a piddling Masters degree after all

Magic and shamanism were very much a part of the hippie movement in the 1970s; also feminism in the alternative subculture. I know too (of) a number of jazz musicians who consider themselves, or are considered to be shamen.

[AuntDaisy]

I was thinking it over as I was cooking lunch (as you do). Not just related to psychology, I thought, but also sociology. Think of shamanism, voodoo and various African practices. This is just a defined area of social anthropology but one which seems to me to have infiltrated to some extent (what extent? among whom?) western culture. And it's only a piddling Masters degree after all

Eye of newt and toe of frog soup?

Druidic studies might be closer to home and possibly more palatable / relevant.

Piddling! Dr Chou En Ginsberg, MA (Failed), might not agree. BTW, Does a Prof. (US?) trump a Dr. in academic snap?

[french frank]

BTW, Does a Prof. (US?) trump a Dr. in academic snap?

As far as I know, the title of professor - assistant/associate - in the US refers to any member of the university teaching staff, even comparatively junior (= lecturer). There may be differences (when and where) in the stage at which they complete a doctorate. Where I was we were beaten and not fed until we'd submitted, and weren't granted tenure until it had been accepted; whereas at Oxford a B.Litt. carried enough distinction to enter the sacred portals anywhere.

[Bryn]

As far as I know, the title of professor - assistant/associate - in the US refers to any member of the university teaching staff, even comparatively junior (= lecturer). There may be differences (when and where) in the stage at which they complete a doctorate. Where I was we were beaten and not fed until we'd submitted, and weren't granted tenure until it had been accepted; whereas at Oxford a B.Litt. carried enough distinction to enter the sacred portals anywhere.

Much as at the RAM, then.

[JasonPalmer]

Treadwells bookshop in london runs many magic related short courses.