The academic content and curriculum of the BA in English Linguistics aims to provide students with a broad and in-depth education in linguistics. The program focuses on the core areas of linguistics and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the structural, social and applied aspects of English, usually over the course of a four-year undergraduate degree.
Introductory Level Courses: In these courses, students are introduced to the basic concepts of linguistics, such as phonology (phonetics and phonology), which deals with the sounds of language, and morphology, which deals with the structure of words. In addition, syntax (syntax), which deals with the sentence structure of the language, and semantics, which deals with the meaning dimension of the language, are also included at this level.
Advanced Courses: At this stage, students move on to more complex topics in linguistics. Topics such as pragmatics (the use of language and its relation to context), sociolinguistics (the use of language in social contexts), psycholinguistics (the relation of language to cognitive processes) and language acquisition.
Research Methods and Language Analysis: Students learn the methodologies and techniques used in linguistic research. Topics include how to collect and analyze language data, statistical methods and computer-assisted language analysis.
Practical Courses and Workshops: Students participate in courses that combine linguistic theories with real-world applications. These may include the study of English in various dialects, language and technology, translation studies, and teaching English as a second language.
Independent Research and Senior Thesis: In the final year of their undergraduate studies, students usually design their own research projects and prepare a dissertation. In this process, students conduct an independent study under the guidance of an advisor and try to make an original contribution to the field of linguistics.
Elective Courses: Students have the opportunity to further personalize their education with courses that they can choose according to their interests. These courses may focus on a particular subfield of linguistics, language policy, philosophy of language or a particular language family.
This diverse and comprehensive curriculum enables students to grasp linguistic theories and methodologies, develop analytical thinking and critical evaluation skills, and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in linguistics.