The MA in Applied Linguistics is intended for experienced language professionals who wish to upgrade their professional and academic standing. It is also suitable for students who have studied linguistics in some form at undergraduate level, and who now wish to learn more about this area.
Students on the MA in Applied Linguistics take six taught modules. The first three modules are taught in the September-December term. The second three modules are taught in the January-March term. Students also write a 12,000 word dissertation. Applicants who hold the Cambridge Postgraduate Diploma in ELT Management may be exempt from part of the taught components of the programme.
In addition, there are two non-assessed components in the programme. All students take a short course - Introduction to the Bank of English - which introduces them to the 400 million word Cobuild Bank of English corpus, an invaluable collection of authentic language data against which theory, intuition and pedagogic materials can be measured. Students who have not previously been educated through the medium of English also have the opportunity to take a course in Academic English.
| Module 1: |
Describing Language (20 credits) This module includes the study of lexis and of Systemic-Functional grammar. This gives students the tools to describe and analyse language in a range of settings. |
| Module 2: |
Social and Psychological Aspects of Language (20 credits) This module includes courses on both Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics. Students look at issues of language in society, focusing on the linguistic and political implications of language variation and languages in contact. In Psycholinguistics, they are introduced to the study of first and second language acquisition and cognitive models of language. |
| Module 3: |
Discourse Culture and Communication (20 credits) This module covers aspects of how spoken and written discourse is organised, how it varies, and how it may be described and analysed. There is a strong focus on issues of culture and communication. As an alternative to this module, students may choose to take the Syllabus and materials design module from the MA in TEFL/TESL. |
| Module 4: |
Research Methods in Applied Linguistics (20 credits) This module includes a course in methods and approaches to research in Applied Linguistics. In addition, students select one option from the range on offer and apply what they have learned to a small research project. |
| Module 5: |
One option module (20 credits) Students select one option from the range on offer. You may also if you wish sit in on another option without being assessed in it. |
| Module 6: |
One option module (20 credits)
Students select one option from the range on offer. You may also if you wish sit in on another option without being assessed in it. |
| Dissertation | Under the guidance of a supervisor, students produce a 12,000 word dissertation on an area of interest of their own choosing. The dissertation carries 60 credits. |
Centre for English Language Studies (CELS), Westmere House, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 5695/6. Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3298. Email: CELS@bham.ac.uk
