- The University of Exeter is launching a one-year MA program in Magic and Occult Sciences in September 2024, driven by a recent surge in interest in magic. It combines various academic disciplines and aims to address societal issues like decolonization and feminism.
- Graduates can pursue careers in education, counselling heritage conservation, and more. The program covers topics such as dragons in literature, King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic philosophy, and medieval women’s portrayal.
The inception of an MA program centred on Magic and Occult Sciences is a direct response to the ‘recent surge of interest in magic,’ as articulated by the course leader. University authorities assert that this program presents an exclusive opportunity to explore the historical and societal impact of witchcraft and magic worldwide.
Set to launch in September 2024, this one-year initiative will be guided by academics versed in diverse fields, including history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, sociology, psychology, drama, and religion. These disciplines will collectively explore the role of magic, both in Western and Eastern contexts. The university proudly touts this as ‘one of the few postgraduate courses in the UK that seamlessly blends the history of magic with such a diverse array of subjects.’
Prof. Emily Selove, the head of the course highlights , ‘A recent upswing in curiosity about magic and the occult, both within and outside the academic realm, addresses the most pertinent questions of our society. Critical issues such as decolonization, the exploration of alternative epistemologies, feminism, and anti-racism stand at the core of this program.’ The program will be hosted within the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies.
Prof. Selove further states, ‘This MA program empowers individuals to challenge the presumption that the West exclusively embodies rationalism and science, while other parts of the world are consigned to the realm of magic and superstition.’
Moreover, the university highlights that this course primes students for various career paths, including education, counselling, mentoring, heritage conservation, museum curation, library management, tourism, involvement in arts organisations, and the publishing industry, among other fields. The program presents an assortment of modules, encompassing topics such as dragons in Western literature and art, the legendary King Arthur, palaeography, Islamic philosophical thought, archaeological theory and practice, and the portrayal of women during the Middle Ages.
