Overview

Overview

Aims

The MA in Phonological Development in Childhood will:

• Introduce you to research questions and theoretical approaches in phonological development
• Introduce you to linguistic methods of analysis in phonological development
• Introduce you to current psychological research on development and on learning mechanisms in adults and children
• Provide hands-on experience with data collection and analysis
• Enable you to develop your own areas of interest and expertise in phonological development
• Enable you to carry out original research in phonological development

Description

The MA in Phonological Development in Childhood will provide the opportunity to gain practical experience in linguistic methods of analysis of child data, from English and other languages.

The first term comprises three core modules, Directed Readings in Phonological Development, The Emergence of Structure from Use, and Research Methods, along with one open option. The second term comprises Topics in Phonological Development and Learning Mechanisms. The programme is completed with a research dissertation.

Course structure

Course structure

Students follow a two-term programme of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Term one

Students lacking some aspects of the expected background will take bridging modules.

• Directed readings in phonological development
  10 credits
• The emergence of structure from use
  10 credits
• One open option
  10 credits

Term two

• Topics in phonological development
  20 credits
• Learning mechanisms
  20 credits

Term three and summer vacation

• Data collection or literature review
  20 credits
• Dissertation
  60 credits

All terms

• Research training
  10 credits
• Seminar presentation training
  10 credits

Assessment

Assessment

Terms one and two

Assessment will vary by module, with essays (3500-5000 words) required for most of the modules but an exam for research methods. Formative work will be assigned during term in each module.

Term three

Term three work is assessed by an essay – covering either preliminary data collection or a literature review - that will typically form a separate (already marked) section of the dissertation.

Dissertation

The course culminates in a sustained period of independent research and the production of a dissertation of up to 15,000 words. You can see more detail on the programme and the department in the current postgraduate handbook.