BSc (Hons)
Human Communication Science
Study the science of our speech and language
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course focuses on understanding and evaluating contemporary ideas regarding human communication and its disorders, from biological, psychological and social perspectives.
If you hold a diploma or foundation degree and wish to upgrade your qualifications, this one-year ‘top up’ degree could be the ideal route to a career in an area of communication science.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Benefit from the expertise of guest speakers who are at the forefront of research or have significant professional experience in the field of communication science
- Undergo simulated competency tasks before putting your learning into action in the real world
- Gain the skills to eventually qualify as a speech and language therapist
What opportunities might it lead to?
On completing this course, you will be able to demonstrate a range of transferrable skills, including report writing, the ability to communicate and argue complex ideas orally and the ability evaluate data and the ideas of others objectively. Primarily this course is a route to professions related to speech and language therapy; however you will have a wide range of other potential career opportunities with the skills you gain from this course.
Here are some routes you can pursue:
- speech and language therapy
- teaching
- acute healthcare
- elderly care
- rehabilitation
This top-up programme takes a broad, yet deeper look at the fundamental issues around human communication, its use and research of it, from a variety of academic perspectives. In addition to subject knowledge, the course also equips you with core skills in the scholarly activities of reading, writing, analysing and presenting complex data or ideas for a range of purposes and audiences.
Dr Chris Markham, BSc (Hons) Human Communication Science lecturer
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- C852
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Entry
Subject to approval
A relevant qualification at DipHE or Foundation degree level or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man part-time students: £3,000 p/a*
International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
International part-time students: £5,250 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work
Subject:
Health Sciences and Social Work
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- The clinical and real-life learning approach that will equip you for your chosen career
- Our simulated environments that mean you’ll gain and practise the skills you’ll need before entering the workplace
- Approachable lecturers, many of whom are teacher practitioners
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
You will approach the science of human communication from a physiology and cognitive perspective as well as delve into the evolution of communication and language. By the end of the course you will have the advanced skills to carry out your own investigations and will have competed a dissertation in an area of human communication that particularly interests you.
Core units in this year include:
- Contemporary Ideas in Human Communication Science: This unit examines current research and debates in the study of human communication and its disorders, including evolution of the human brain and use of communication, contemporary theories of language acquisition and sociolinguistics.
- Applied Linguistics: You will focus on developing advanced knowledge and skills in the recording and analysis of speech and language.
- Investigation and Enquiry: This unit is concerned with developing applied research skills within the field of human communication. It focuses on developing advanced, professional, and reflective practice skills in critically considering approaches to the collection and presentation of information.
- Biology of the Mind: Focuses on the relationship between the brain’s physiology and cognitive behaviour, most notably communication. The unit also covers degenerative neurological diseases and therapies designed to treat the symptoms of them.
- Dissertation: This is the opportunity to conduct a piece of undergraduate research in an area of particular interest to you. You can draw upon the knowledge and skills of the available research active academic staff on the course team.
Teaching and Assessment
We have integrated stimulating and diverse teaching strategies which aim to develop transferrable academic skills through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and online learning. There will also be an emphasis on scholarly and research skills as you investigate a range of perspectives on human communication.
How are you assessed?
Coursework is varied and aims to demonstrate your achievement of learning outcomes, including knowledge transfer and evidence based inquiry. Here’s how you will be assessed:
- oral and poster presentations
- group project work
- written reports
- a thesis
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Centre for Simulation in Healthcare
The Centre is used to simulate real-life scenarios – a great way to prepare you for the real thing
Guest Speakers
Benefit from a stimulating programme of organised guest lectures
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Centre for Simulation in Healthcare
Our aim is to enhance your learning and experiences through the use of innovative technologies. You’ll practise profession-specific skills in a safe and supportive environment, as well as experience the types of clinical and informal healthcare situations that you’ll encounter in the workplace. The Centre is used to simulate real-life scenarios – a great way to prepare you for the real thing.
Guest Speakers
You will be taught by experts at the forefront of research and who are fully informed on developments within the areas of human and speech and language sciences. The course is also enriched by visiting speakers with applied and theoretical expertise in the field meaning that you will benefit from a stimulating programme of organised guest lectures.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
This course is particularly relevant if you have an interest in eventually qualifying as a speech and language therapist or as a professional in a related field, such as teaching and psychology. However, with the transferable skills this course embeds, you could also consider numerous other related employment opportunities including human resources, marketing, media and public relations.
Career planning
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more