Linguistics degree (BA)

• 260-300 points or equivalent, no specific subjects required
• We consider mature students and Access students with non-standard qualifications.

Please also read our Entry Requirements section.

For joint honours degrees you should also look at the entry requirements for your other chosen subject.

• Our School of Linguistics and English Language is one of the oldest linguistics departments in the UK. Our degree programmes are taught by staff who are active researchers in a range of theoretical and applied areas relating to the English Language degrees - many have international reputations in the field.
• Our Linguistics degree modules will give you a scientific insight into the structure and use of language, psycholinguistics (the relationship between mind and language) and sociolinguistics (the relationship between society and language).
• Our modules cover a wide range of subject matter, and in your third year you will be able to focus your attention on those questions that interest you most - the final year consists of option modules.
• Our wide range of learning facilities includes an extensive collection of books on Linguistics and English language, a speech laboratory (in the Bilingualism Centre), as well as recording equipment for hire. You will be able to develop your word-processing and powerpoint presentation skills.
• We have an annual David Crystal day when Prof. David Crystal, the world's foremost authority on the English language gives classes to students in the School.
• A unique feature of this degree is the opportunity to take a Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language alongside your degree.

This section provides an outline of the content of this Linguistics BA (Hons) course. Each year you'll study a series of modules, some of these are compulsory and others can be selected from a range of optional modules.

Year 1

You take six modules totalling 120 credits, including the compulsory Linguistics modules below.

Compulsory modules:

• Introduction to Language: how to be a linguist; the different subfields of linguistics; introduce basic linguistic terminology; academic skills.
• Describing Language: sound structure of language and using the IPA; word structure (morphology); sentence structure (syntax); metaphor and meaning.
• Language Development & Language and Mind: how children acquire and learn languages; the origins of language; how the human brain understands and processes language.

Years 2 and 3

In each of these years you take six 20-credit modules. In the second year some modules will be compulsory, and will include in-depth modules e.g. on phonology, syntax, semantics, and bilingualism.

In the third year  you will have a freer choice of modules, and you will be required to complete a dissertation study on a linguistic topic of your choice as one of your modules. Third year modules can include topics such as:

• Language Contact and Bilingualism
• Language Processing
• Speech and Language Disorders
• Forensic Linguistics
• The Bilingual Mind
• Metaphor and Thought
• Language, Culture and Power
• Welsh Linguistics (English-medium)

There are also Welsh-medium modules available as options in the second and third year. If you take Linguistics as a joint degree, you will take half of your modules from Linguistics and the other half from another School.

Module choices may vary from year to year.

Modules our students are currently studying...

If you'd like a closer look at the content of the modules our current students are studying this year please click on the links below;

Linguistics degree (BA/LING)

• Year 1 modules
• Year 2 modules
• Year 3 modules

* Please note that due to the dynamic nature of our degree programmes specific topics of study/modules are occasionally subject to change.

For more on studying degree courses see our Study at Bangor section.

You will spend about 10 hours in lectures, seminars and tutorials each week. You will also spend time reading, collecting and analysing data (for example working with speech-impaired children and adults) and working on practical tasks in the laboratory. Your dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic of interest in depth and you will work with supervision from a member of staff.

Assessment involves a variety of approaches - essay writing, practical assignments, empirical research studies, oral presentations and examinations.

You may combine study of Linguistics with one of the following subjects (see Single or Joint Honours for explanation): Creative Studies, English, French (4 years), German (4 years), Italian (4 years), Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish (4 years), Sport Science, Welsh.

‘With’ degree

You can combine the study of Linguistics with a third of your time in English Literature.

A degree in Linguistics and/or English Language will increase your knowledge of language acquisition, speech and language disorders, the history of the English language, teaching English as a foreign language, and your competence in the grammatical structure and use of the English language. Recent graduates have gone on to do further academic study such as the PGCE and postgraduate qualifications leading to speech and language therapy, overseas teaching, and other training in order to pursue careers in social work, police work, immigration work, local government, banking and accountancy, librarianship, media and journalism, creative writing and publishing.

Could not find any courses in that section within the prospectus.