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Degree structure
  • Course units (CUs)
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Degree structure
Progression
  • You must have passed 3 CU to progress to year 2.
  • You must have passed 6 CU to progress to year 3.
  • You must have passed 9 CU to get a BA degree.
  • You must satisfy several other degree requirements to get a BA degree in Linguistics.
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Degree requirements
Basics
  • The courses in our department are classified into four main areas, identified by the fourth letter in the course code (PLINM, PLINP, PLINS and PLINX):
    • M: meaning, i.e. semantics and pragmatics
    • P: pronunciation, i.e. phonetics and phonology
    • S: syntax
    • X: some other part of the study of language
  • In the first year, you take 2 introductions in each of the ‘core’ areas of Meaning (M), Phonetics & Phonology (P) and Syntax (S).  In addition, you take Foundations of English Grammar (S) and a general introduction, called Principles of Linguistics (X).
  • In both the second and third year, 2 of your 4 CUs must be in Linguistics.
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Degree requirements
Core areas and the major core area
  • You must observe the 3-2-1 system:
    • 3 core areas in year 1
    • 2+ core areas in year 2 (so you may drop one core area in year 2)
    • 1+ core areas in year 3 (so you may drop another core area in your final year)
  • Courses are identified as level 1, 2 or 3 by the first numeric digit in the course code.
  • Of the three core areas, you need to identify one as your ‘major’ core area.  In your major core area
    • you must take a minimum of 2 CUs that are not level 1
    • and of these 2 CUs, one half CU must be level 3.
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Degree requirements
The Long Essay
  • The Long Essay (PLINE301 - worth a full CU) is an obligatory component of your final year.
  • You can think of it as an undergraduate dissertation.
  • You would normally write the Long Essay in the area in which you are majoring.
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Degree classification
We classify your degree on 8 CU, as follows:
  • We begin by choosing 3 CU from year 3, including PLINE301 and 1 CU in a major core area, of which 0.5 CU must be level 3.  We exclude any level 1 course, with the exception of LANG1001 (TEFL).
  • If there is more than one way to choose these 3 CUs, we choose them so as to maximize the score. This identifies the major subject.
  • We then add the best 1 CU from year 1.
  • Finally, we top this up with the best 4 CU from the remainder, while not exceeding 2 CU from year 1.
  • We consider both the average and the median over these 8 CU to arrive at a recommendation for degree class.
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Further questions
  • If you have any further questions about the structure of your BA degree, consult your personal tutor or, alternatively, the chair of the BA exam board.