Applied and Forensic Linguistics Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

Participating in this programme in Applied and Forensic Linguistics from Canterbury Christ Church University gives you the opportunity to strengthen your theoretical knowledge of all the formal aspects of the English language, while at the same time exploring how pervasive and powerful language use is in our societies. 

What you'll study

As part of your degree, you will see how language is used and researched in a variety of professional contexts; media, advertising, education, translation, healthcare and the law being some examples. The practical component of the degree will give you opportunities to put into practice what you have learnt in one or more of these professional areas.

The Professional Practice module will provide you with workplace experience to demonstrate how Applied Linguistics theory, knowledge and research can be applied to understanding institutional and work-related settings (e.g. education, business, social services, health, and law & policing) and thus enhance your CV.

Further strengths of this programme lie in the diversity of professional contexts that are analysed, which will help you decide in which direction you want to take your career.

You will:

• develop a sophisticated and systematic breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of Forensic Linguistics in terms of language system and use in speaking and writing as well as non-verbal communication.
• gain a systematic and critical understanding of relevant Forensic Linguistics knowledge and theory in terms of spoken and written discourse in a range of legal settings and authorship attribution.
• demonstrate ability to apply a range of relevant knowledge and theory in Forensic Linguistics to a workplace setting in terms of professional practice.
• evaluate, apply and critique a range of appropriate and ethically-considered methodologies for Forensic Linguistics, evaluation and evidence-based practice, demonstrating an ability to argue for alternative and creative approaches.
• carry out a sustained piece of ethical, empirical research which successfully applies Forensic Linguistics knowledge and theory relevant to communication in a range of legal settings, data collection and analysis, which in so doing develops the student as a researcher.
• become autonomous, independent and innovative in scholarship, demonstrating ability to deploy a range of learning resources for research and self-critical writing, take responsibility for personal professional development and engage in academic and professional communication with others.

Your future career

Graduates of this course will be able to pursue careers in a variety of industries, including advertising, media, publishing, education, translation and language consultancy for a variety of professional fields. Others may use this as a way to start their own business.

Students completing this MA might also go on to undertake a PhD in Applied Linguistics or a teaching qualification to take their practice into a school, FE or HE setting.