BA (Hons) Linguistics

What’s it about?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. In this course you will learn how to analyze language from different perspectives, how languages vary across speakers and geographic regions, how language influences the way in which we interact with others and think about the world, and how people use language in context.

Because language is at the heart of most human activities, becoming a language specialist will give you the transferable knowledge and skills most valued by employers in today’s job market.

 

Key Benefits

• Develop a high-level understanding of how languages work while acquiring the transferable knowledge and skills most valued by employers in today’s job market
• Learn from a dedicated team of internationally recognized researchers with an excellent track record in research-lead teaching and student support
• A range of optional modules makes it possible for you to follow your own interests and study linguistics alongside English linguistics, language teaching methodology, and/or a modern foreign language
• Benefit from our state-of-the-art Language Resource Centre including Conference Interpreting booths, satellite television and Multimedia equipment.

 

 

What will I learn?

This exciting new degree programme encompasses the breadth of the discipline. All of our modules are taught by experts in specific areas of linguistics.

Our curriculum will prepare you to evaluate theory, to identify patterns in data, and to critically analyze evidence and arguments. You will also acquire key skills for employability in research methodologies, information technology, critical thinking, and written and oral communication.

Our range of advanced and optional modules will allow you to explore particular areas of interest, including (but not limited to) English linguistics, language teaching methodology, and/or a modern foreign language. After your second year, you will have the opportunity to spend a year in an EU partner institution in an Erasmus exchange.




How will I learn and be assessed?

Our linguistics modules are delivered through lectures, practical workshops and student-led seminars. A programme of guided reading complements the timetabled hours and enables you to complete assignments and to participate fully in class.

Linguistics modules are all assessed on the basis of end-of-semester examinations, as well as written and oral assignments completed during the semester. The advantage of this system is that your final degree classification does not depend exclusively on examination performance at the end of the programme.

 

 

What are my career prospects?

As a trained linguist with employer-friendly, transferable skills, relevant work or study experience abroad and sensitivity to different foreign cultures, you will be able to pursue a broad range of careers. Specific career paths include speech therapy, automated speech recognition and analysis and telecommunications.

Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can communicate in more than one European language and also have the analytical skills to deal with complex information in an international multilingual environment.

Choosing Linguistics with TESOL and provides you with these skills and opens up a wide range of careers in the UK and abroad. With further study the specific focus on TESOL naturally provides the grounding for a teaching career using your language skills and, in particular, for teaching English to speakers of other languages.

Find out more about careers with languages and how a degree from the School of Languages can enhance your career prospects.

 

More information

Find out about the English language requirements for international students.

Find out about scholarships and bursaries.

Want to visit the university? Register for an open day.

 

Programme Structure: BA (Hons) Linguistics

YEAR 1

• Structure of English (20 credits)
• Sounds of Language (20 credits)
• Methodology in Linguistics (20 credits)
• Language, Mind and Society (20 credits)
• Meaning in Language (20 credits)
• Analysing Words and Sentences (20 credits)

 

YEAR 2

• Semantics (20 credits)
• Phonology (20 credits)
• Syntax (20 credits)
• Sociolinguistics (20 credits)

Plus two optional modules from:

• Corpus Approaches to Language (20 credits)
• Key Concepts and Skills in TESOL (20 credits)
• University-Wide Language Programme (20 credits)

 

YEAR 3
120 credits  from the following:

• Current Approaches to Linguistics (20 credits)
• Researching Sociolinguistic Variation (20 credits)
• Change in Contemporary English (20 credits)
• Critical Issues in TESOL (20 credits)
• Morphology (20 credits)
• World Englishes (20 credits)
• Pragmatics and Cognition (20 credits)
• Dissertation (20 credits)
• University Wide Language Programme (20 credits)

Entry requirements

No prior knowledge of linguistics is required

GCSE: English Language with a minimum grade C or equivalent.

Advanced GCE level (A-level): 320 UCAS points, normally from 3 A2s.
General Studies is not accepted as an A-level, but results are noted.
The third A-level may be replaced with two AS/A1 levels.

Irish Leaving Certificate/Scottish Highers: Equivalent of 320 UCAS points.
IB: 26-28 points.

University of Salford International Foundation Year: Pass at appropriate level in all modules.

If a language is studied, your qualifications must include one relevant language to be studied at post A-level (or equivalent) standard, minimum grade B, or demonstrate evidence of language learning ability if intending to study a language at ab intio (beginners) level.

Applications are welcomed from candidates with qualifications equivalent to A-level, including those gained abroad, as are applications from mature students and those with unusual language qualifications, for whom a short written and oral test may be appropriate. In the case of applications to study English as one of the languages, candidates must be non-native speakers of English and must satisfy the University English language entry requirements.