The English Language and Linguistics MA at University of westminster explores the linguistic features of English from theoretical, applied, synchronic and diachronic perspectives. Our course will enable you to understand and evaluate critically a wide spectrum of ideas in the study of the English language, particularly in connection with linguistic variation in terms of space, time, communicative context and linguistic contact. It will also equip you with the intellectual perspectives and scholarly skills to conduct independent research.
The MA is for you if you've taken English language and/or linguistics modules at undergraduate level, or if you've studied allied disciplines such as psychology, philosophy or TESOL. It's of particular interest if you're wishing to pursue further study, or if you're teaching English and wish to gain a further qualification and investigate current developments in the field.
Aims
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- BBC
- Bergahn Books
- Hamdard University, Bangladesh
- Kingston Grammar School
- The Pratt Institute, New York
Job roles
This course will prepare you for a variety of roles, including:
- Content writer
- Copy editor
- Editorial assistant
- Production assistant
- Proofreader
- Research assistant
- Teacher in mainstream schools
- Teacher of English to speakers of other languages
If studying the degree full-time, you'll complete 180 credits in one academic year; if part-time, you'll normally complete 180 credits in two academic years. You'll study four core modules (including a 60-credit dissertation on a topic of English language and/or linguistics), as well as two modules from the list of options. The core module Linguistic Description and Analysis equips you with all the necessary theoretical and analytical tools you need to tackle linguistic problems and analyse complex sets of linguistic data. The two core modules, Multilingualism, Past and Present, and English Worldwide examine linguistic variation and contact in English and other languages from a wide range of perspectives, both historical and present-day, and many of the options complement this approach. You can explore TESOL issues as part of your options.
Teaching is mainly delivered through weekly two- or three-hour sessions for each module, which include tutorials, seminars, practical sessions and workshops. There's also independent self-directed study, and you'll be prepared for the dissertation via structured sessions in research methodology. Assessment methods include submitted coursework such as essays, reviews and exercises – there are no formal exams.
TBC...
