Degree courses as part of an undergraduate degree
Most undergraduate degree programmes outside of the Language Centre allow students to take an option.
We have a range of language, literature and linguistics options that you can take as part of your degree programme. Not all programmes allow this so check your degree regulations.
Modern language degree courses
As individuals and societies from across the world are becoming more socially, politically and economically interconnected, the likelihood of meeting and working with people whose first language is not English increases.
The learning of ‘other’ languages will lead to a more in-depth understanding of ‘other’ societies and cultures and of the diversity and multiplicity of today’s globalised societies.
To truly comprehend and appreciate other cultures and societies, it is necessary to understand what their people are talking and writing about.
Our courses are designed to give language learners knowledge of the language they are studying and of the societies and countries where these languages are spoken.
- You will need approval from the Teacher Responsible to take a modern language degree course if you are not a Language Centre BSc student.
- Please review the detailed course guides for our modern language degree courses, listed below.
- Then you can start the approval process here. NB: access to this form is only possible when logged into your LSE account.
Did you know that you can receive a language specialism attached to your degree certificate and transcript?
- You will need to check your degree regulations to see if this is possible on your programme.
- You will need to take and pass at least one language course in each year of their degree.
- You must take all courses in the same language (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin or Russian).
- The three courses must also be consecutively harder in level.
- Degree certificates which include a language specialism will state the language in the title, for example: BSc in International Relations (with French).
- Your home Department can give you more information on how you can take advantage of this opportunity.
Literature courses
Our undergraduate literature courses focus on twentieth and twenty first century literature in the context of social and political change in the period
They will give you the opportunity to consider texts (prose fiction, poetry and drama) often in the light of your major subject at LSE. Through literature you’ll expand your mind, gaining understanding and experiencing other systems of living and other worlds.
We look at literature as an index of social change. In addition to study of texts in class we also arrange frequent trips to related plays and exhibitions over the course of the year, while also using video and other media in teaching.
Linguistics courses
Explore the reciprocal relationship between language and specific social contexts and structures (class, gender, ethnicity), and study the role that language plays in the creation, maintenance and change of social relations and institutions
Linguistics and sociolinguistics courses are taught with a view to enabling students to understand the intricate links between languages, societies and cultures.
The use of language for academic purposes will be analysed, as will be situations of language contact, multilingualism and the role of translation in intercultural and international communication. The implications and consequences for less widely used languages of the emergence of English (and other widely spoken languages) as global lingua francas will be outlined and discussed.