Best of both worlds If you love language and want to broaden your career options, the Bachelor of Communication (Linguistics) offers the best of both worlds. What is it Like? In the Bachelor of Communication (Linguistics) you will explore how the brain manages language and the unwritten rules of interaction. You’ll also uncover the underlying structures that shape our understanding of language and communication in settings as different as boardrooms, newsrooms, chat windows and living rooms. For example, you might examine murderers’ text messages, provide a commentary for a sports match, construct an alien language, listen to global hip hop to track the influence of African-Americanisms, and observe people talking to dogs. The BC (Linguistics) gives you enhanced language skills for both the social and professional worlds. You will gain an understanding of the functions of language and the cultural implications of how we communicate through the media, socio-political and legal contexts. Skills sought-after by employers You will learn transferable skills that employers seek - your own personal excellent written and oral communication skills and an ability to understand the subtexts of communication from others and diagnose unintended effects or communication ‘bottlenecks’. At the heart of our lives Language is at the heart of communication. Linguistics, the study of human languages, helps you understand how language has evolved, how it is structured and how it is used today to communicate in our working and personal lives. Gain a relevant qualification Massey University’s linguistics major offers courses that specifically examine language in New Zealand and the Pacific, ensuring relevant, local context. Other courses like forensic linguistics will help you understand corporate-related areas such as intellectual property and authorship identification. You will enjoy studying towards an interesting, relevant qualification. Careers Massey University's linguistics major prepares graduates to work in a growing number of fields where an understanding of the systems, structures, functions and contemporary uses of language strengthens knowledge of communication. Career flexibility This degree gives you a skill-set that is attractive to employers, but also provides flexibility for career pathways. Careers could include work as a technical or specialist writer, in market research and analysis. Large technology companies seek graduates to work on natural language processing, speech analysis and data collection. Your highly sought-after skills will also be useful for roles in communication, writing for the web and editing, in fact with any position that deals with human language. Skills you will learn: Analytical skills Logical thinking Ability to produce clear communication Ability to diagnose communication effects and processes Ability to advise on the role of specific language strategies as part of a broader communication strategy Ability to understand language structures at the root of all languages, not just English, thereby enhancing cross-cultural communication and foreign language learning Major requirements: A major consists of 120 credits in Linguistics, including 60 credits at 200-level and 60 credits at 300-level.