Language is central to the creation and maintenance of society in terms of the interactions and communications through which beliefs, structures and patterns of behaviour are passed on. This course enables you to investigate language using some of the techniques and frameworks of modern linguistics and help you to understand how English functions in so many diverse ways and in different contexts.

You will also develop a thorough understanding of the major sociological perspectives which underlie debates about the structure and functioning of past and present society, and will examine the practical and analytic implications of sociological theory and research in a variety of contexts.

Why English Language and Sociology?

• State-of-the-art facilities including a forensic linguistics lab, a research and resource centre and conference labs.
• Opportunity to take a five-week placement as part of the ‘Language in the Workplace’ module.
• Get involved in the writing, editing and production of the popular department linguistics magazine, Babel.
• Our team of English academic staff are ranked in the top 5 in the UK for the quality of their research publications (REF 2014).

The course aims to equip you for the real world by educating you to understand, analyse and critique the communication going on around you and to understand how it contributes to society as a whole.

Placements

As part of the compulsory second year ‘Language in the Workplace' module you will have the chance to gain valuable experience spending 5 weeks in a work placement or work related activity. The module shows you how the language skills you aim to develop through your course can be applied to communication in the workplace.

If you’re studying full-time, this course also offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Some of our students have gained real-world experience in various teaching environments, in publishing houses and in marketing roles. Previous placement providers have included Maiden Voyage.Com, Kirklees Library Services, M-Four Translations, Quest Media and a range of primary and secondary schools.

Your Career

Our graduates have gone on to a variety of careers within publishing, broadcasting, consulting, teaching, writing, advertising, social services, community, management, politics and local government. A selection of companies that have employed Huddersfield graduates in recent years include BBC, Crown House Publishing, NHS and West Yorkshire Probation. Others have opted for PGCE study and have become teachers, or continued their studies at postgraduate level.**