BA in Linguistics and Sociology University of Manchester

In-depth training in the characteristics of language and its use in society and culture.

Course overview

• Study the unique human faculty of language and investigate world languages while delving into social life and social change.
• Learn how to analyse and interpret contemporary social challenges, giving you the tools needed for independent thinking, research and analysis.
• Study at a university ranked in the top five in the UK for both Linguistics and Sociology (Complete University Guide 2020).

Our BA Linguistics and Sociology course will introduce you to the study of the unique human faculty of language and the investigation of the world's languages, while also delving into people's social context and their webs of connection to understand individual behaviour. In Linguistics, you will explore the sounds and structure of languages across the globe, studying topics such as:

• how languages arise, change and die;
• how children acquire their first language;
• how adults learn a second or foreign language;
• differences between the speech of men and women;
• how we communicate as individuals and within groups;
• what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact.

You'll also be able to use quantitative methods in the study of large language corpora.

This is a skill that you'll then be able to apply to other fields throughout your life.

In Sociology, you will develop the skills to analyse and interpret contemporary social challenges.

You will explore how claims about social life are based on types of evidence and develop the ability to critically assess them.

Sociology can cover many different topics, from the reproduction of inequalities in relation to social categories (such as race, class or gender), to the shaping of intimate relationships by wider cultural contexts, or the generation of resistance and protest by economic trends and crises.

Course content for year 1

In Linguistics, you will learn to look at language in a new way.

You will study topics ranging from grammar to semantics, from phonetics to sociolinguistics.

All students study obligatory units including phonetics and phonology, sociolinguistics, semantics and (English) grammar, adding up to 50% of the year's credits.

In Sociology, you will be introduced to sociological theory and methods of enquiry.

Course content for year 2

In Linguistics, the emphasis will switch to linguistic theories for Year 2.

You will build on your new analytical skills by considering ideas about the nature of language and models of its structure.

You will cover topics such as syntactic theory, phonology, and either typology or grammatical semantics.

In Sociology, you will develop your theoretical and substantive knowledge, and receive training in research methods that prepares you for conducting independent research in your final year.

At least one-third of your Year 2 credits must come from each of the two components of the course.

Course content for year 3

In both subjects, your study is tailored to your own interests by drawing on course units from a wide range of specialities which build on the research expertise of our staff and includes the opportunity to conduct independent dissertation research on a topic of your choice.

At least one-third of your Year 3 credits must come from each of the two components of the course.

Study Linguistics with us and you'll develop a range of analytical and problem-solving skills.

Often dealing with granular and complex data, your combination of humanities and scientific understanding will allow you to make connections across multiple fields of employment, including the media, marketing, speech and language therapy, lexicography, and teaching.

Studying Sociology at Manchester you can also develop valuable transferable skills, such as the ability to understand complex ideas and apply these to practical situations, and research and analytical skills, including the ability to conduct interviews, surveys, focus groups and interpret and challenge numerical data and statistics.

The University of Manchester is the most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2019).

Some of our recent Sociology graduates work in a broad range of career sectors, including communications, education, finance, marketing, recruitment, research and broadcasting, and have gone on to work at organisations such as the BBC, the United Nations and The British Council, among many others.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester, you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability.