Course Description
French and Language & Linguistics at Aberdeen is a great subject combination that adds value to highly-developed language skills and cultural knowledge in a major European language. The programme explores how human language evolved, how we learn languages and how they differ and change over time. You will gain the all-round knowledge and skills to open up an avenue to a wide variety of careers.
French at Aberdeen has an outstanding reputation, gaining the highest possible rating of ‘Excellent’ in the last national Teaching Quality Assessment. You will add to your growing language skills with courses in contemporary civilisation and culture, Francophone and post-colonial studies, philosophy, history, sociology, linguistics, theatre and most genres and periods of literature from the middle ages to the present day. You will be taught by staff recognised internationally for their research, from Renaissance studies to the politics of culture and difference in contemporary France.
Language & Linguistics probes deeply into language and speech – analysing and modelling this fascinating human attribute so that we understand ourselves and human societies more fully. You will explore the brain processes speech and language, how languages evolve over time and how we learn second languages.
This is an exciting and fast-moving field. Our understanding of language grows all the time with new discoveries in neuroscience, animal behaviour, archaeology, sociology and psychology and new ways to use linguistics theory in industry, medicine and forensic science emerge year on year.
As an integral part of your 4-year programme, you will spend half of year three developing your language skills as a Teaching Assistant or visiting student in a French-speaking country.
You will graduate with a combination of skills to make you very attractive to employers, both in an international setting and in careers such as media, advertising and marketing, information and communication technology, publishing, language teaching and health-related professions such as speech and language therapy.
Course Content
- Year 1
Compulsory Courses
English Past and Present (LN1502) - 15 Credit Points
English Structure and use (LN1003) - 15 Credit Points
Professional Skills Part 1 (PD1001)
Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)
Optional Courses
Select one of the following options:
Beginner
- FR1028: Beginners French Language 1
- FR1528: Beginners French Language 2
- FR1021: Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 AND/OR FR1527: Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context
Qualified
- FR1029: Qualified French Language 1
- FR1529: Qualified French Language 2
- FR1022: Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 AND/OR FR1526: Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context
Plus select further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credits.
Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 (FR1021) - 15 Credit Points
Literature and Culture of Modern France 1 (FR1022) - 15 Credit Points
Literature and Culture of Modern France in Context (FR1526) - 15 Credit Points
Introduction to Literature and Culture of Modern France In Context (FR1527) - 15 Credit Points
- Year 2
Optional Courses
Select one of the following options:
Ex-beginner
- Advanced Introductory French Language 1 (FR2012)
- Advanced Introductory French Language 2 (FR2512)
Plus, select one of the following:
- FR 2014 Introduction to French Identities: Individual and Society AND/OR FR 2514 Introduction to French Identities: Centre and Periphery
- FR 2014 Introduction to French Identities: Individual and Society AND FR 2510 Introduction to French Linguistics
- **FR 2514 Introduction to French Identities: Centre and Periphery AND FR 2510 Introduction to French Linguistics
Qualified
- Advanced French Language 1 (FR2002)
- Advanced French Language 2 (FR2502)
Plus, select one of the following:
- French Identities: Individual and Society (FR2013) AND French Identities: Centre and Periphery (FR2513)
- French Identities: Individual and Society (FR2013) AND Introduction to French Linguistics (FR2510)
- **French Identities: Centre and Periphery (FR2513) AND Introduction to French Linguistics (FR2510)
Plus further courses of choice to gain 120 credit points
NOTE: ** Level 2 students opting to take the combination FR 2513/FR 2514 and FR 2510 should be aware the credit weighting will be 45 credits in the first half session and 75 credits in the second half session as opposed to the standard 60/60. This will result in a heavier workload in the second half session.
Introduction to French Linguistics (FR2510) - 15 Credit Points
Advanced Introductory French Language 1 (FR2012) - 15 Credit Points
Introduction to French Identities: Individual and Society (FR2014) - 15 Credit Points
Advanced Introductory French Language 2 (FR2512) - 15 Credit Points
Advanced French Language 1 (FR2002) - 15 Credit Points
Advanced French Language 2 (FR2502) - 15 Credit Points
French Identities: Individual and Society (FR2013) - 15 Credit Points
Introduction to French Identities: Centre and Periphery (FR2514) - 15 Credit Points
- Year 3
Compulsory Courses
Second half-session spent in French-speaking country.
Junior Honours French Language (FR3089) - 15 Credit Points
Level 3 French Language 7 (FR3508) - 15 Credit Points
Optional Courses
Select 60 credits from level 3 Politics & International Relations courses, plus 30 credits in level 3 French (all to be taken in the first-half session).
- Year 4
Compulsory Courses
Senior Honours French Language (FR4089) - 30 Credit Points
Optional Courses
Select one of the following dissertation options:
- Dissertation in French (FR4097)
- Dissertation in Language and Linguistics (LN4012)
Plus select further credits of level 4 Language & Linguistics and level 4 French courses to make up 60 credits in each discipline.
Dissertation in French (FR4097) - 15 Credit Points
Dissertation in Language and Linguistics (LN4012) - 30 Credit Points
Entry Requirements
SQA Highers
Standard: AABB
Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.
Minimum: BBB
Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.
Adjusted: BB
Applicants who have achieved BB, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
A LEVELS
Standard: BBB
Minimum: BBC
Adjusted: CCC
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
International Baccalaureate
32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
Irish Leaving Certificate
5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3 OR AAABB, obtained in a single sitting. (B must be at B2 or above).
Entry from College
Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.
English Language Requirements
To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 54 with: Listening - 51; Reading - 51; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
Cambridge English Advanced & Proficiency:
OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
- Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
- Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
- Written examinations at the end of each course.
The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
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