Overview

Overview

Aims

The MA in Psycholinguistics will:

• Impart a general foundation and background in psycholinguistics
• Give you a practical training in techniques used in psycholinguistics
• Enable you to apply your skills and knowledge to linguistic data
• Introduce you to research questions and methodologies in psycholinguistics
• Enable you to perform original research in psycholinguistics

Description

The MA in Psycholinguistics will provide you with a general background in psycholinguistics while giving you a practical training in the techniques and methodologies associated with the field of study. You will have the opportunity to develop your interest in areas such as child bilingualism, syntactic processing in special populations and early phonetic and phonological development.

Term 1 comprises four modules in the core areas of phonetics and phonology, introduction to language acquisition, introduction to psycholinguistics and syntax. In the second term you will take two modules which may include: Bilingualism; The Acquisition of Syntax; Second Language Syntax; Language and Special Populations. 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 with appropriate backgrounds may substitute up to 20 credits of the programme with a corresponding directed reading module.

• Core phonetics and phonology
  10 credits
• Core introduction to language acquisition
  10 credits
• Core syntax
  10 credits
• Core introduction to psycholinguistics
  10 credits

Term two

In the second term you will take two 20-credit modules on psycholinguistics. Your options may include:

• Child bilingualism
• The acquisition of syntax
• Second language syntax
• Competence/performance and the theory of syntax
• Language and special populations

For students whose first degree has covered substantial parts of the taught MA modules, modules involving more independent study are available: 

• Topics in psycholinguistics

Term three and summer vacation

• Specific training and dissertation
  80 credits

All terms

• Research training
  10 credits
• Seminar presentation training
  10 credits

Assessment

Assessment

Term one

Assessment for term one is in two parts: a dossier of exercises in the middle of the autumn term, and another one handed in at the start of the Spring term. Students submit assessment for 3/4 of the first term's modules.

Term two

Options are generally assessed by two 5,000 word essays handed in at the start of the summer term.

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.