BA (Hons) in English Language and Linguistics Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			BA (Hons) in English Language and Linguistics
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024		Award type			BA
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9	What level is this qualification?			6		Length of programme			3 Years
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			NA
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15	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			Language & Linguistic Science
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17	Lead department			Language & Linguistic Science		Other contributing departments			NA
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19	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus-based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	Institutional Framework for Taught Programme Design, sections 2-4 for high-level guiding principles. Undergraduate Programme Design Policy, s3.2 in decided obligatory modules, s5.2 on allowing electives in each stage.
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33	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
34	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
35	No
36	No
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38	Exceptions to Regulations
39	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
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43	Internal Transfers
44	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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46		Transfers in:	From BSc Linguistics and BA Linguistics, any stage. From the One Language & Linguistics programmes, in Stage 2 Semester 1.			Transfers out:	Possible to BA Linguistics, or to BSc Linguistics by Y2 Sem 1 (in order to take Linguistics as Data Science).
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49	Statement of Purpose
50	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
51	This course trains students in the scientific study of human language, taking the past and present of the English language as an important case study and a shared reference point for students. The English language is probably the most studied language variety, both in practical and scholarly terms, which is not surprising given its global lingua franca status. A deep and thorough understanding of the English language, from its structure, to the sociocultural impact of its modern status relative to other languages, to the history that led the language to its current form, can give us a powerful skill set to engage with a variety of contemporary issues and industries. In the English Language and Linguistics programme at York, you will tackle this material from a scientific approach, learning a diverse set of analytical tools while coming to understand the English language from the inside out. You will be given the opportunity to explore questions like the following: - What does the English language have in common with other human languages, and how does it differ? - How does language change over time? - How is language used to convey meaning? - How do social structures affect language, and vice versa? - How do we acquire the structures of language? - How is language processed in the brain? Guided by some of the world's foremost experts, students will embark on a stimulating exploration of modern linguistic theory, from the basic facts about language and its structure to the cutting edge of current research. You will learn to deal with controversial proposals, weigh up the evidence and the quality of the arguments and confidently express your own conclusions. You will learn to independently formulate and solve complex linguistic problems on your own, and formally present your own analysis. You will emerge with advanced skills in writing, quantitative analysis, argumentation, and presentation, as well as mastery of computational tools for research and analysis. Our graduates go on to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields ranging from language technology, teaching, publishing, and journalism, to speech and language therapy (with further training), or careers in the police and the security services after further training in forensic speech science (a specialty at York). Others choose to pursue further advanced study of linguistics and English. This programme will challenge you with a unique blend of the sciences and humanities, and will change the way you engage with and view the world we live in.
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62	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
63	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
64	Certificate of Higher Education			Exit award only	Students will have a basic understanding of the key aspects of linguistics and the English language, achieving PLOs 1, 2, 4, and 6.			120 credits; at least 100 credits C-level.
65	Diploma of Higher Education			Exit award only	Students will have a deeper understanding of linguistics and the English language, achieving PLOs 1, 2, 4, 6, and to a lesser extent PLOs 3 and 5.			240 credits; at least 100 credits I-level.
66	Ordinary Degree			Exit award only	Students will achieve all PLOs, with PLOs 3 and 5 to a lesser extent.			300 credits; at least 60 credits H-level over stages 2 and 3.
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68	Programme Learning Outcomes
69	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
70	1	Apply a thorough and scientifically grounded understanding of the English language in a variety of contexts, including writing, teaching, and solving complex communication-related problems.
71	2	Approach with confidence intricate, complex and unfamiliar linguistic phenomena, discern relevant patterns and convey their significance to a variety of audiences.
72	3	Propose creative and principled solutions to linguistic problems and contribute them effectively to interdisciplinary teams, forming a bridge between humanities and scientific disciplines.
73	4	Communicate clearly and effectively, using advanced written and oral skills, the nature and relevance of linguistic questions and controversies, the pivotal significance of language for human cognition, and the ways knowledge of language influences behaviour.
74	5	Appreciate, engage with, and synthesize arguments from a variety of standpoints, and interrogate their own assumptions, showing clear reasoning and an understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity.
75	6	Identify and formulate novel questions and projects and work effectively on them taking on different roles in a range of work environments.
76	7	Engage with aspects of social, cultural, and political realities where language plays an important role with sensitivity and perceptiveness, and be able to highlight the relevance of linguistic issues to policy-making in a globalised and interconnected world, and especially the role of the English language in a global language community.
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78	Diverse entry routes
79	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
80	This programme does not have any specific prerequisites from entry and is suitable for students from almost any background. All necessary training will be provided during the course of study, though some quantitative skills may make the transition easier.
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89	Inclusion
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91	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.									TRUE
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93	Employability
94	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
95	This programme sits firmly at an intersection between the humanities and sciences. It takes seriously the understanding and curation of human culture (the traditional purview of the humanities), as well as the formation and testing of precise hypotheses about English, human languages in general, and the human language faculty (a branch of the sciences). In this way, the ELL programme trains students in a variety of analytical skills, collaboration, and problem-solving, while promoting creative, intersectional, and multidisciplinary thinking. Students with a background in the sciences will find scientific analysis applied to domains they may not expect, while students with a humanities background will gain new skills in scientific and quantitative reasoning. The resulting combination of skills is applicable to many career paths, but particularly ones that synthesize diverse types of information, including consultancy, public policy, and information technology. Closer to the course material itself, students will be well prepared to enter speech and language therapy and education. Our Teaching English as a Foreign Language modules also lead directly to career opportunities in that area.
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