Undergraduate programs

Applied Linguistics B.A.

Admission requirements

Admission to the department is based on general admission to the University. See Admissions Requirements for more information.

Requirements

In addition to meeting the general University requirements for the B.A. degree, majors must complete an adviser-approved program to include the following:

Required Courses

36 credits

Adviser Approved Electives

16 credits

Typologically Different Language from English/Language Structure Requirement

8 credits

Total credits for Applied Linguistics BA major

60 credits


REQUIRED COURSES 36 credits

300-level courses

Ling 390Introduction to Linguistics

4

Ling 391Introduction to Applied Linguistics

4

Ling 392Structure of the English Language

4

400-level courses

Ling 407Senior Seminar

4

 

Ling 411Syntax

4

or

Ling 412Phonology

4

  

Ling 414Linguistic Pragmatics

4

or

Ling 416Discourse Analysis

4

 

Ling 415Linguistic Phonetics

4

 

Ling 435Theories and Practice in Applied Linguistics

4

 

Ling 437First Language Acquisition

4

or

Ling 438Second Language Acquisition

4

 

NOTE: Students should consult with the departmental undergraduate adviser to determine which of the paired options above is the more appropriate choice for their program of study.

1)   Students interested in Focus (2) Structural/Analytical Linguistics Focus should take LING 420 Historical Comparative Linguistics and LING 437 First Language Acquisition.

2)   Students interested in Focus (3) Understanding Classroom Language Focus should take LING 438 Second Language Acquisition and LING 490 History of English.

ADVISER APPROVED ELECTIVES 16 Credits

To create a coherent program from the options listed below, students are encouraged to choose electives within a single focus. They should meet with the departmental undergraduate adviser to determine which options are most appropriate for them. At least 8 of the 16 elective credits are required to be from PSU Ling courses. For a course not taken in PSU Ling to count towards the major, students must get approval from the chair or the departmental undergraduate adviser.

Here, we list the three focus options

1) Applied Linguistics General Focus

Intended for most majors, including students planning graduate study in applied linguistics.
Students planning graduate study in applied linguistics should consult with a faculty member about the best courses to take for the program they are interested in.
Required
Ling 432Sociolinguistics

4

Choose the remaining 12 credits from:

(Take the option not taken as a required course)

Ling 409Community Activism Practicum

4

 

Ling 414Linguistic Pragmatics

4

or

Ling 416Discourse Analysis

4

  

Ling 418Linguistic Morphology

4

Ling 419Language Typology

4

Ling 433Psycholinguistics

4

Ling 445Linguistics and Cognitive Science

4

Ling 470Grammar for TESOL

4

Ling 472Teaching Pronunciation

4

Ling 476Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching

4

Ling 480Bilingualism

4

Ling 481World Englishes

4

Ling 490History of the English Language

4

 

Ling 482Pidgins and Creoles

4

or

Ling 410Selected Topics

4

Ling 410 requires prior adviser approval.

2) Structural--Analytical Linguistics Focus

Intended for students planning graduate study in theoretical linguistics or with a particular interest in theory and analysis.
Students planning graduate study in theoretical linguistics should consult with a faculty member about the best courses to take for the program they are interested in. A formal logic course is strongly recommended.

Required
Ling 411Syntax

4

or

Ling 412Phonology

4

(Take the option not taken as a required course)

Choose the remaining 12 credits from:
Ling 414Linguistic Pragmatics

4

or

Ling 416Discourse Analysis

4

 

Ling 418Linguistic Morphology

4

Ling 419Language Typology

4

Ling 432Sociolinguistics

4

Ling 433Psycholinguistics

4

Ling 445Linguistics and Cognitive Science

4

Ling 476Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching

4

Ling 480Bilingualism

4

Ling 482Pidgins and Creoles

4

or

Ling 490History of the English Language

4

Ling 410Selected Topics

4

Ling 410 requires prior adviser approval.

3) Understanding Language in the Classroom Focus

Intended for students interested in teaching, the TESL certificate or graduate work in education, including TESOL.
Students planning on completing the TESL certificate concurrently with the BA or planning to take the MA TESOL program after the BA should work with an adviser to carefully plan their program.
Choose 16 credits from:
Ling 409Community Activism Practicum

4

Ling 416Discourse Analysis

4

Ling 439Language Assessment

4

Ling 470Grammar for TESOL

4

Ling 472Teaching Pronunciation

4

Ling 473Computer Assisted Language Learning

4

Ling 476Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching

4

Ling 480Bilingualism

4

Ling 481World Englishes

4

or

Ling 410Selected Topics

4

LING 410 requires prior adviser approval.

TYPOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT LANGUAGE FROM LANGUAGE STRUCTURE REQUIREMENT 8 credits

All students must complete one of the following requirements:
  1. Take 2 terms of a single language that is typologically different from English (choose from: Arabic, ASL, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Swahili, or Turkish).
  2. Take 2 classes that focus on language structure across languages:
Ling 418Linguistic Morphology

4

Ling 419Language Typology

4

Ling 420Historical and Comparative Linguistics

4

Ling 482Pidgins and Creoles

4

Ling 410Selected Topics

4

Ling 410 requires prior adviser approval

3. Take one term of a typologically different language and one language structure class.

All courses used to satisfy the department major requirements must be graded C or above. Courses taken pass/no pass are not acceptable toward fulfilling department major requirements. By the end of the first quarter of admission to the program, students must consult with the adviser to select the appropriate courses and areas of concentration. On completion the entire program must also be approved by the undergraduate adviser.