Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - English Language and Journalism

In our so-called ‘post-truth’ era of fake news and alternative facts, words have become removed from their original meanings and journalists face a number of challenges in today’s globalised world.

This BA English Language and Journalism degree introduces students to the scientific study of the English Language and allows them to examine human communication in different contexts. Students will develop a range of journalistic skills while exploring the ways language reflects society and how it is used for different purposes.

In the first year students will be introduced to the practical craft of journalism and explore the law and ethics surrounding journalism alongside core English Language modules. Students willl also explore the diversity of use of the English language including regional variants, pidgin and creole English, language and ethnicity, and slang and street English.

The journalism team are highly experienced practitioners, who will help students develop the skills to produce work in different styles and for diverse markets. They'll learn how to source stories and get hands-on experience as part of a vibrant student community and through work placements. Students will take part in News Lab workshops, conduct interviews, write features and join lively group discussions.

Core modules in the second year focus on English grammar and the sounds of English. Students can explore theories of how and why language developed and study language-related real-life problems such as plagiarism and crime investigation in forensic linguistics. They’ll also have the opportunity to specialize in news or feature writing, radio journalism or social media.

In the final year students can follow modules in different topics, including child language and communication, clinical linguistics, gender and language, and formulaic language, informed by academics’ own research specialisms. Students will also develop their journalism skills portfolio, examine journalism, government and the people.