BA English Language and Linguistics

Program Overview

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) in the United Kingdom offers a dynamic BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics degree, providing students with an in-depth understanding of how the English language works and its crucial role in communication across personal, public, group, and cross-cultural contexts. The program encourages students to delve into the structure, functions, and contexts of English usage, exploring its variations across historical, geographical, and social settings. With options to tailor their studies through specialized pathways, including English Language Teaching (ELT), Communication, and Applied Linguistics, students can align their learning with specific career interests. The course is designed to develop advanced communication skills and a detailed understanding of language, preparing graduates for a wide array of professions where a strong command of English and linguistic insight are highly valued.

Curriculum: The BA English Language and Linguistics curriculum at CCCU is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of language and communication. In the first year, compulsory modules like "Language in Use: Global & Local Perspectives," "Exploring Language," and "Exploring Communication" lay a foundational understanding. For single honours students, "The Roots and Routes of English" and "Sociolinguistics" are also compulsory, alongside a "Contemporary Language Studies" module (e.g., French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese). As students progress into the second and third years, they undertake compulsory modules like "Research Methods in Language and Communication" and "English Language and Communication in the Workplace." Optional modules allow for specialization in areas such as "Language and Gender," "Business Communication," "Investigating Digital Communication," "Language, Society & Power: Explorations in Sociolinguistics," 1 and the internationally recognized CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification for the English Language Teaching pathway. The curriculum combines theoretical instruction with practical training, often culminating in an extended essay or individual study.  

Research Focus: The English Language and Linguistics program at Canterbury Christ Church University is taught by academics who are active in research within the broader fields of applied linguistics, English language and literature, and related humanities. The faculty's research interests contribute to the academic rigor of the program, with potential areas of focus including sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, language acquisition, communication studies, and the historical development of English. The university's School of Humanities and Educational Studies, which encompasses this program, has research excellence acknowledged in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), with an international reputation in areas like English Literature and Creative Writing, and Applied Linguistics. This means students are exposed to current scholarly debates and benefit from teaching informed by cutting-edge research in language and communication.

Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is an important component of the BA English Language and Linguistics program at CCCU, designed to enhance graduates' employability. A compulsory "English Language and Communication in the Workplace" module in the second year allows students to develop their communication skills in a professional setting. The curriculum offers a Professional Practice module, which provides workplace experience and demonstrates how applied linguistics theory and research can be applied to institutional and work-related settings (e.g., business, social services, health, and law & policing), thereby enriching students' CVs. The university's broader commitment to connecting with businesses for talent recruitment and offering opportunities for students to engage in community and public engagement initiatives further strengthens industry links, preparing students for real-world professional roles.

Global Perspective: The BA English Language and Linguistics program at Canterbury Christ Church University inherently incorporates a global perspective, recognizing the international nature of the English language and its use. Modules such as "Language in Use: Global & Local Perspectives" and the option to study a contemporary foreign language broaden students' understanding of language variations across different geographical and social contexts. The English Language Teaching pathway, including the CELTA qualification, directly prepares students for international careers in language education. The curriculum also explores intercultural communication, equipping graduates with valuable transferable skills for any profession in today's global employment market, especially those involving communication with diverse stakeholders and requiring high intercultural expertise and sensitivity. The global diversity of the student body and the university's international reach further enrich this perspective.