English Language and Linguistics - BA (Hons)

University of Westminster, London

On this course, you'll study one of the key aspects of being human – our ability to use language.You'll examine how languages differ and what elements they share, as well as developing your knowledge of the historical and cultural aspects of the English language in particular.The course provides a rare opportunity to combine in-depth formal linguistic study with a consideration of the ways in which the English language is used and how it reflects its social context. As a result, the course nurtures research and analytical skills at the same time as enhancing your own abilities with the English language.You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of how the English language works in terms of its structure, how it has changed over time and how it's employed in different spoken and written contexts. Your knowledge of English will be informed and contextualised by your wider study of language as a human faculty. You'll examine what languages have in common and how they vary in terms of their grammatical structures and their sound systems.The course appeals to students interested in the nature of the English language and its variants, as well as students interested in language in general and the fundamental role it plays in our understanding of the world around us. It includes practical and theoretical modules that are invaluable for students interested in teaching English, speech therapy, editing, journalism, or advertising, but also helps to prepare you for any career that requires an advanced and sophisticated use of language.The degree is particularly strong in improving the kind of transferable communicative and cognitive skills that employers need, and will prepare you for life-long personal and professional development.CareersWith a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.Our graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers, possessing highly sought-after communication and research skills. This is not a narrowly focused vocational degree, but one that prepares students for any career that values advanced communication skills, research skills and employees that can demonstrate initiative and creativity in problem-solving.Career developmentThis degree prepares students for any career that values advanced communication skills, research skills and employees that can demonstrate initiative and creativity in problem-solving.Graduates of this degree will have an array of important transferable skills involving language use, critical evaluation and application of theory, accurate and precise analytics skills, and strong skills of organisation and planning. They'll have in-depth knowledge and critical awareness of the role that language plays in society and in multi-cultural and multilingual contexts. They'll have a sophisticated awareness of English as a global language, and of how language and discourse reflect and create ideological structures in society.Job rolesThis course prepares you for roles and areas such as:Digital copywriterLanguage teachingProject managementSpeech therapyWeb content managementOther graduates progress to further study and academic research.Graduate employersOur graduates have gone on to organisations, including:BBCCivil ServiceMI5NHSPR company Spreckley PR