Teaching aims of the graduate programmes in Linguistics

Our graduate programmes in Linguistics aim to develop the student's knowledge and understanding of current research in linguistics and to prepare the student for independent research in this area. On completion of such a programme, the student will be able to formulate appropriate research questions, to find and evaluate relevant literature by accessing the wide range of information sources available to academic scholarship, to develop and test new hypotheses, and to produce cogent, structured and professionally represented reports.

More in particular, our graduate programmes in Linguistics provide opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding of:

  1. current research in the relevant area of linguistics
  2. the key questions that drive current research in the relevant area of linguistics
  3. how linguistic systems interact with other systems of the mind
  4. methods and concepts of linguistic analysis

Intellectual (thinking) skills - able to:

  1. reason critically
  2. identify a problem
  3. pose a cogent research question
  4. exercise independence of thought
  5. present a linguistic hypothesis and mount systematic and logical arguments for and against it
  6. analyse linguistic structures and to manipulate the appropriate symbolic representational systems

Practical skills - able to:

  1. access the wide range of information sources available to academic scholarship, such as bibliographies, periodicals and on-line resources
  2. produce cogent, structured and professionally represented reports
  3. give a professional oral presentation
  4. manage a project

Transferable skills - able to:

  1. communicate effectively
  2. present ideas orally and visually
  3. use a computer as an investigative tool
  4. listen actively
  5. take initiative and demonstrate a proactive approach
  6. act with independence