Why choose this course?
Ever wondered why animals can’t talk but humans can? And how the words we use affect the message we are trying to send? This joint course provides the answer to both these questions and more. You’ll explore the foundations of human communication, the psychology behind language and how people act differently in different situations.
You’ll do this alongside studying one of the top twenty institutions in the country for media, journalism and PR. In your media course, you’ll learn about how to craft media messages, how to write for a variety of different platforms from news sites to scripting videos and you’ll develop a whole range of media related skills ranging from digital to broadcast, alongside studying media research.
How does how you write impact on the message you send and how can you learn the ways that different forms of media operate and what it takes to join this exciting industry? By choosing both subjects as a combination, you’ll learn about both subjects and how they overlap.
English Language
You’ll learn from lecturers who specialise in a wide variety of linguistic disciplines. This includes psycholinguistics, bilingualism, and language and gender. They’ll share their expert insight in the study of sound (phonetics) and speech production. The building blocks that make up human communication. Together, you’ll analyse real life data, transcripts and texts to understand the way we see the world. You’ll even observe how our brain processes language using our digital eye tracking suite. You’ll see where people look when reading text and orally communicating with each other.
Many of the modules you do are optional. Specialise in the areas you like most. You could take modules in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Or use this chance to explore how language is used to solve crimes in forensic linguistics.
Another new and exciting field is sociolinguistics. You’ll get to explore how people use language differently depending on the context they are in. Is there a difference between male and female language use? Learn about how people make judgements on people’s personalities based solely on their accents and dialects.
Media
Our media course blends practical skills and theory with a strong emphasis on media internationally, particularly as we have partners in Malaysia and Egypt to contribute their views. You’ll gain and overview of media theory and practice in the first year, alongside studying basic journalism to give some practical skills, both examining UK and international trends.
You’ll benefit from studying near the vibrant media scene in London. You’ll only be a bus ride away from the Warner Bros and Harry Potter Studios in Watford, too. For the days you don’t feel like venturing too far from campus, you’ll be able to use our very own television, radio and media studios. This will give you the chance to practise real-world skills in a safe and constructive environment.
Many of your lecturers are practising journalists, producers, and contributors to national and international media so you’ll benefit from their expertise and gain experience across a range of platforms as well as understanding the context in which media operates now.
Are you interested in film, music, food, or travel? You can choose to create magazine layouts for publications and ezines. You will have the opportunity to create your own brand You’ll combine PR, marketing, and media skills to make you even more employable.
What's the course about?
In your first year, you’ll learn the foundations of language. You’ll study phonetics, syntax and the building blocks that make up language. You’ll have a variety of modules to select from. You could choose to explore societal dialects, language in humans and even language in animals. For Media, you’ll explore Global Media and Society looking at who owns the news. Explore the influence of the BBC and commercial entities, such as Sky and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. You’ll debate current issues with your peers, such as propaganda, moral panics and fake news.
In your second year, you can take modules in English language teaching, psycholinguistics, forensic linguistics and more. How do children learn language? In media you’ll learn key research methods. You’ll practise conducting interviews, run focus groups and pitch the outcomes to different clients. You’ll explore radio journalism and the journalistic stories that changed history such as the black lives matter campaign and historic Watergate as well as having the chance to study video making and mobile media design.
Work placement/study abroad option: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or do a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about but will also give your CV a boost. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s fine too. You’ll decide in your second year with us, so there is still plenty of time to think about this.
In your third year, you can choose more modules in sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and clinical linguistics. Learn how language is processed in the brain. Look at child language and communication, language disorders and brain injury, meaning and context and more. In media, you’ll get the chance to work with a client on a project or design a website or learn more about PR.
