Linguistics and Communication and Society, BA (Hons)

Choosing to study a joint honours degree will enable you to shape your study according to your strengths, interests and career ambitions. Combining two subjects can give your degree an international or industry perspective that will make you stand out in the graduate employment market. Why choose this course?

You will benefit from the following learning opportunities.

Linguistics
Linguistics is the study of natural language. It covers the study of language structure (grammar), the study of meaning (semantics) and the social functions of language (sociolinguistics). It is a popular and expanding subject within NTU. This course will equip you with the tools for analysing language and for conducting your own research. You will discuss the immense power that our language has to construct and to constrain meaning.

To study this course you will not need any prior knowledge of grammar, foreign languages or technical terminology. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of language description and to some applications of linguistic theory. Throughout the course you will be introduced to ways in which linguists carry out research. Through this you will learn how to record and transcribe naturally occurring language, how to arrive at a hypothesis and how to test it scientifically.

We have recently launched several new modules which draw on our staff's own and other contemporary research. This means that you will be studying the very latest developments in clinical linguistics, media discourse and child language acquisition.

Communication and Society
This innovative subject offers a wide choice of interesting and engaging modules. The core of this subject draws on Psychology and Sociology, and also includes aspects of Philosophy, History and Anthropology. Fascinating new forms of politics, economics and creative enterprises are rapidly challenging many core assumptions about human communication and identity. You will look at communication between individuals, groups and organisations, humanity and nature, and the evolving media through which communication takes place. No previous study in any of these areas is required.

This course is taught by a team of eminent researchers, critics and writers. In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 85% of NTU English research was assessed as world leading or international quality. For you this means that the course is informed by the latest thinking and you'll learn from people with a real passion for their subject.

Joint Honours
You can combine either of these subjects with another subject to create your degree programme. Not sure which subjects to choose? Don't worry as the joint honours curriculum enables students to switch subjects after Year One depending on which core modules they have completed. To see the full range of combinations and their UCAS codes see:

• Linguistics Joint Honours
• Communication and Society Joint Honours.

Extra opportunities
Our flexible curriculum has been designed to create some amazing opportunities for students in the School of Arts and Humanities. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters that enable students to take part in optional:

• international exchange
• work placements
• learn or improve language skills.

Gain valuable work experience that will impress employers, learn another language, experience other cultures and travel the globe - all as part of your degree. Our international exchange partners include universities in:

• Australia
• Europe
• USA
• Canada
• Thailand.

Find out more on an Open Day.

When does this course start?

Please see the academic calendar for term dates.

What will I study?

Find out everything you need to know about what you'll be studying on this course. Detailed module information is available here:

• Linguistics Joint Honours
• Communication and Society Joint Honours .

Year Two - extra opportunities

Our flexible curriculum has been designed to create some amazing opportunities for you. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters that enables you to take part in the following optional opportunities:

• International exchange - Experience other cultures, travel the globe and open your eyes to a world of opportunities. Our exchange partnership with a number of international universities enables you to live and study in another country in your second year. Watch our video to find out more.
• Work placements - Gain valuable work experience that will impress employers and help you get ahead in your chosen career. Boost your employability by taking a credit-bearing work placement as part of your degree rather than a sandwich year.
• University Language Programme - Available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.

How will I learn?

Each year students choose a range of core and optional modules from the lists above. The first year is normally divided equally between the two joint honours subjects but at the end of Year One, students have the opportunity to select between an equally weighted joint honours course and a more specialised pathway depending on their interests.

Teaching principally takes place through a combination of:

• lectures (where tutors introduce the key ideas)
• seminars (organised on the basis of smaller group discussion of those ideas).

Contact time

Staff will also generally offer office hours, where you can sign up to see them in small groups or on a one-to-one basis, perhaps to discuss an essay plan or to seek some specific academic guidance.

It is the nature of the subjects offered in the School of Arts and Humanities, however, that much of your time will be spent engaged in independent study. We recognise that this marks a change of culture from school or college, and we have in place a system of study support to help you adapt to this.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change