Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Language and Applied Linguistics

at University of Hertfordshire - De Havilland Campus United Kingdom

Our BA Philosophy and Journalism degree allows you to examine our fundamental desire to communicate and discuss important shared events and experiences, through two distinct approaches. You’ll develop a range of journalistic skills while exploring and challenging the assumptions that frame the way we think, act and see the world around us.

In your first year you’ll be introduced to the practical craft of journalism, explore the law and ethics surrounding journalism and learn to think critically by examining reason and persuasion in the media, including the use of rhetoric and propaganda. You’ll also study social and political philosophy, covering topics such as freedom of speech and terrorism, and examine the nature of knowledge and reality.

All our philosophy lecturers are active researchers, so you’ll share the excitement of doing original work in a supportive and highly-rated academic community. Our Philosophy team is in the top 15 in the Guardian League Table 2019 and rates as one of the 100 best Philosophy departments worldwide in the 2017 QS rankings.

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

In your second year you’ll delve into influential works of philosophy and political theory such as the themes in Plato’s Republic. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialize in news or feature writing, radio journalism or social media.

In your final year you’ll develop your journalism skills portfolio, examine journalism, government and the people and have the opportunity to develop your interests in topics such as political or feminist philosophy, or the philosophy of language.

• A flexible programme of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find especially interesting
• An exceptional academic team, conducting internationally renowned research
• Stimulating, innovative courses that allow you to make rewarding connections between two disciplines
• CV-building potential through work placements and extra-curricular activities

One of a range of degrees from the taught Master's Programme at the Department of Computer Science

This course examines current research and practice in software engineering. You will develop knowledge and skills in the models, methodologies, measures and tools that can be employed in software development considered as an engineering discipline.

Why choose this course?

• This MSc is available with an optional one-year industry placement. The 'with placement' programmes give you additional industrial experience by applying the skills you have learned throughout your studies.
• One of a range of advanced courses within our postgraduate Master's programme in Computer Science, this particular course provides you with a specialism combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills in advanced computer science.
• This MSc develops graduates’ practical skills of producing models of software engineering processes and artefacts using appropriate modelling techniques, and applying measures to software engineering processes and artefacts and use the data produced to evaluate software engineering activities.
• Taught by a highly-regarded and long-established computer science department with strong links to business.

Ethics and human rights are always hot topics, both domestically and internationally. The LLM International Human Rights Law will enable you to explore a wide range of subjects in this area, examine the latest developments and critically analyse the arguments on all sides of the debates. The two compulsory modules – International Human Rights Law and Medical Law and Ethics – will offer you a firm foundation for human rights specialisation, particularly with an ethical and medical law perspective. Practical work and case studies underpin solid theoretical teaching, equipping you with everything you need to work in this dynamic and challenging area of international law.

In the International Human Rights Law module you will gain a critical understanding of human rights law from a comparative and cross-cultural perspective. The module also includes examination of theoretical and philosophical discussions on human rights, international and regional systems of human rights protection and the effectiveness of the United Nations system, and a focus on civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.

The Medical Law and Ethics module offers analysis of a wide range of areas within medical law and ethics, particularly from an international perspective. You will cover topics such as medical negligence and legal and ethical dilemmas, medical law and ethics from ‘birth to death’, the impact of modern technologies in areas such as gene editing, embryo testing, surrogacy and organ donation, and the law and ethics of end-of-life issues, such as assisted suicide.

Why choose this course?
You can be sure that the teaching you receive is up to date and highly relevant to twenty-first-century global human rights issues, taught as it is by specialists at the forefront of their disciplines and underpinned by the latest research and practice. Practical, innovative teaching methods combined with traditional class seminars ensure that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills that you will need for your career in the arena of human rights.

The two compulsory modules will be complemented by two from a range of optional modules on offer, enabling you to tailor your course according to your particular ambitions and aspirations.

Study with a top History department and be taught from the cutting edge of historical research. Explore the English language, its uses and development.

Through our diverse and inclusive History curriculum you will learn about an array of cultures and identities. What links our work is our focus on people’s history and everyday lives. This is represented strongly in our first year programme, which will give you an insight into the making of the modern world through exploration of faith, magic and medicine, campaigns for freedom and equality, Africa and the world, and America from Hamilton to Trump.

The mix of modules in English Language focuses on the language itself; its sounds, words and structure; the development of the language; and how it is used to communicate.

Throughout your degree, the common link between the two disciplines will be effective communication. As historians you will learn to analyse historical documents and debates among historians and unpack their meaning, while in English Language you’ll learn about communicating in different scenarios – to explain, inspire, persuade and effect change.

Written communication is particularly important for history students, and, over the skills that you develop over the course of your studies will benefit you in the final year of History if you choose to write a dissertation. This extended piece of work will grow out of a topic that interests you. Previous students have been inspired by their year of study abroad, while others have worked on the history of jiu jitsu, women code breakers at Bletchley Park, the Notting Hill riots, and vice and sexuality in 17th -century London. You could also choose to blend your programme of study, writing for example, on an aspect of propaganda as a form of communication.

We give you: 

• An exceptional History team, conducting world-leading research (REF 2014),
• Stimulating, innovative courses - our History students reported almost 94% overall satisfaction with their course (2018 National Student Survey)
• A flexible programme of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find especially interesting and the scope to write a History dissertation on a topic about which you are passionate
• The option to study abroad after your second year
• CV-building potential through work placements and extra-curricular activities

Biochemistry is the study of the fundamental processes of life. Biochemists seek to answer questions about life, health, disease, the natural environment, and materials and compounds, using scientific techniques developed in chemistry and biology. After an initial grounding in chemistry, genetics, cell biology, microbiology and human physiology, you’ll learn the complex biochemical processes that underpin the very latest discoveries. Explore how biochemistry affects the quality of people’s lives, from the discovery of new drugs and the design of medical treatments to the industrialisation of laboratory processes. Our strong links with industry offer you fantastic opportunities to gain valuable experience during your placement year. This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

• Biochemistry is the scientific study of the chemistry of living cells, tissues, organs and organisms.
• On this degree programme you will study how biochemistry affects our lives, from the discovery of new drugs and the design of new medical treatments , to the industrialisation of laboratory processes.
• Our links with industry provide you with fantastic opportunities to gain valuable experience in the biosciences industry during the placement year.

The University of Hertfordshire’s LLM International Commercial Law degree is the ideal course to equip you for a specialist career in the area of international commerce. The combination of compulsory and optional modules will ensure that you have a solid grounding on which you can build with your chosen specialisms.

You will study two compulsory modules: International Commercial Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. International Commercial Law will cover such topics as the choice of law/jurisdiction clauses, different types of international contracts and their respective implications for the parties involved, the international conventions applicable to international commerce, the role of documentation, and finance and insurance.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution module will examine commercial arbitration and investment-treaty arbitration and the issues involved, mediation as a means of dispute resolution, and the skills and attributes required of a mediator.

Both modules are assessed by way of written coursework. The Alternative Dispute Resolution module also includes a practical assessment, which might take the form of an oral presentation to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of international arbitration, along with the necessary practical skills.

Why choose this course?
You can be sure that the teaching you receive at Hertfordshire Law School is regularly reviewed and updated to make certain that it continues to be relevant in today’s rapidly changing international commercial environment. Taught by specialists in their field and underpinned by cutting-edge research, it focuses on the development of the intellectual, transferable, interpersonal and practical skills you will need for your future in the world of international commerce.

The range of optional modules that are available enable you to tailor your course according to the career route that you plan to follow, so you can be sure you will leave with the skills and knowledge you need to thrive. You can combine similar pathways if you wish, and graduate with a named joint pathway as well.

In addition to the compulsory and optional modules, the University’s co-curricular programme is specially designed to enhance these skills.

Many exciting opportunities await the graduate with an LLM in IT Law and Policy. Graduates with specialist knowledge of IT law and policy are in high demand in this fast-moving and swiftly growing sector.

You will study two compulsory modules – International Electronic Communications Law and Emerging Technologies and Law – in combination with two further modules of your choice from a wide range of options. This will give you a solid grounding on which to build with further specialisations, and you can tailor your course specifically according to your desired career path.

The International Electronic Communications Law module explores the existing legal framework around the electronic communications sector in the UK and Europe. It also examines emerging areas such as cloud computing, net neutrality and surveillance, along with questions relating to spectrum management. Changes to European law are also investigated.

In the Emerging Technologies and Law module you will study a range of internet and emerging technologies law and policy principles. You will also consider consumer protection online and the rules relating to digital marketing, distance selling and e-payment, as well as the legal requirements for online company presence and advertising. The module also offers the exciting opportunity to examine in depth any emerging legal issue in the area of the internet and emerging technology.

Why choose this course?

This highly relevant, contemporary course will provide you with the knowledge and understanding you need to work within the exciting, dynamic technology sector. Taught by specialists in their fields and continually updated and underpinned by the latest research and practice, you can be sure that you will graduate with up-to-date knowledge and skills to thrive in your chosen career.

Innovative, practical teaching methods are designed to develop your intellectual, transferable, interpersonal and practical skills. These skills, in combination with the knowledge and critical understanding you will receive of the history and current and emerging developments within the sector, will ensure that you are very attractive to potential employers!

In addition to your study modules, the University’s co-curricular programme offers a wide range of options that will further enhance your skills.

This course is ideal if you want a degree that can lead to a wide range of business careers. It offers a creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training, giving you the best possible platform for your career. You’ll learn principles of accounting, economics and marketing, and choose from a variety of other subject options. Strong partnerships with industry ensure our curriculum is up to date and meets business needs. Add a language and take the opportunity to study abroad. This course is aligned to several professional bodies for students to work towards achieving professional recognition.

You can also study a language with this course. You can be awarded the degree ‘with language’ in the title if you choose to study a foreign language in all years of study.

• Gain a broad base of business knowledge and explore a variety of career paths.
• Study key areas like accounting, finance, economics, HR, marketing and operations.
• Explore global perspectives, ethics, strategy, employment law, problem solving and much more.
• Create a stand-out CV by spending a year studying abroad.
• Add one of five languages to your business studies, gaining a sought-after new skill.

What is it for sounds, gestures and marks on paper to have meaning? What are the various uses to which we can put language, and how does it manage to have the effects it has? How do we learn language? And how does the language we use reflect society, the nature of our thoughts, and what we take reality to be like?

Our BA Philosophy and English Language degree allows you to examine the nature of language, through two distinct approaches. You’ll develop a range of skills in analysing the structure of the English language and how it is used in a variety of situations, while exploring and challenging the assumptions about the nature of language, its limits and how it functions.

In your first year, alongside core linguistics modules, you’ll learn to think critically by examining how language may be used – and misused – in reasoning and persuasion. You’ll also study social and political philosophy, covering topics such as freedom of speech, and examine the nature of mind and reality.

All our philosophy lecturers are active researchers, so you’ll share the excitement of doing original work in a supportive and highly-rated academic community. Our Philosophy team is in the top 15 in the Guardian League Table 2019 and rates as one of the 100 best Philosophy departments worldwide in the 2017 QS rankings.

Our English language lecturers are research-active academics working in cutting-edge areas such as language and gender, formulaic language, corpus studies, bilingualism, bilingual processing and codeswitching.

Core modules in your second year focus on English grammar and the sounds of English. You 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. In Philosophy, you may explore a wide variety of topics, including the option to learn some languages of logic.

One final-year option is corpus studies in English language, which will develop your research skills through your use of Sketch Engine, a text analysis tool that allows you to search vast samples of language, or corpora. In Philosophy, there is the option to study more advanced contemporary themes and theories in the philosophy of language, and also to take a module which focuses in particular on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s influential work on the nature of language.

• A flexible programme of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find especially interesting
• An exceptional academic team, conducting internationally renowned research
• Stimulating, innovative courses that allow you to make rewarding connections between two disciplines
• CV-building potential through extra-curricular activities

This highly practical and participatory course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need for a career in legal governance. The two compulsory modules – Legal Risk Management, Governance and Compliance, and Corporate Governance – offer a solid grounding on which you can build with a range of optional modules to suit your own unique requirements.

The Legal Risk Management, Governance and Compliance module introduces you to the basic concepts of project management in the context of risk management. It provides an in-depth understanding of some of the core challenges faced by businesses in this area, as well as knowledge of the relevant regulatory frameworks. In the Corporate Governance module, topics such as corporate governance theories, law and practice are covered. You can then build on this foundation with two additional modules from the range of optional modules on offer, to fit your own needs and preferences. Alternatively, you can combine it with other complementary study routes, and graduate with a named joint pathway.

Why choose this course?

• In the fast-moving corporate world, skilled, knowledgeable legal practitioners are always in demand. The University of Hertfordshire is well known for its strong links with industry and its high-quality staff, all of whom are specialists in their fields. You can therefore be sure that the teaching is always up to date, relevant and supported by cutting-edge research and practice.
• The complementary pathways that are available mean that you can shape your study route according to your personal career goals and ambitions, which will also further enhance your attractiveness to potential employers.
• Hertfordshire Law School has helped graduates forge successful careers for 40 years. You’ll benefit from our reputation for being forward thinking, innovative, and responsive to the world around us.
• The innovative, flexible and practical teaching methods will enable you to develop the intellectual, transferable interpersonal and practical skills you will need for your career in the professional, commercial, business, or academic sectors. 

What will I Study?
The focus of this course is on active, practical learning to develop the skills required for employment. Class seminars are supported by group work, which are fantastic opportunities to pool knowledge and resources and to work collectively on problem-solving and real-world scenarios. Role plays, debates and discussions will enhance your skills of negotiation, persuasion, presentation, leadership and teamwork. A peer support and mentoring scheme is also available, which will further enhance all these vital skills and abilities.