Course Overview

The English Language and Media program provides a comprehensive exploration of language and its role in media, offering a dynamic and interdisciplinary academic experience. In your first year, you'll establish the foundations of language by studying phonetics, syntax, and the fundamental building blocks of linguistic structures. The variety of modules allows you to delve into societal dialects, language in humans, and even language in animals. In the Media component, you'll explore Global Media and Society, analyzing the ownership of news outlets and debating issues like propaganda, moral panics, and fake news. Engage in discussions with your peers and gain insights into the influence of entities like the BBC, Sky, and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Building on the foundational knowledge, your second year offers diverse modules in English language teaching, psycholinguistics, forensic linguistics, and more. You'll explore how children learn language and delve into key research methods in media. Practical experiences in media include conducting interviews, running focus groups, and exploring various journalistic formats like radio journalism, video making, and mobile media design. You'll study impactful journalistic stories, including the Black Lives Matter campaign and historic events like Watergate. The program provides a valuable opportunity between the second and final year to study abroad or undertake a work placement for up to a year, enhancing your experiential learning and boosting your CV. In your third year, you can choose from modules that deepen your understanding of sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, clinical linguistics, and more. Explore how language is processed in the brain, study child language and communication, language disorders, brain injury, meaning and context, and other advanced topics. In the media component, you'll have the chance to work with a client on a project, design a website, or delve into the field of public relations. The English Language and Media program not only equips you with a solid foundation in linguistic principles but also integrates media studies, providing you with a versatile skill set that is highly relevant in today's dynamic communication landscape.