Graduate Degree Programs
Program Home Page (Opens New Window)
JOAN KELLY HALL, Department Head
Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
305 Sparks Building
814-865-7365
Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics helps prepare scholars who will conduct systematic examinations of individual and societal multilingualism in order to build and test theories of how linguistic systems develop, are acquired, used, and taught in global contexts. The Ph.D. degree program includes the foundational theory and research of linguistics, applied linguistics, second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. It will prepare doctoral candidates to utilize a range of research perspectives, both qualitative and quantitative, e.g., sociocultural, historical, linguistic, stylistic, discourse analytical. Overall, the purpose of the research undertaken in graduate study in Applied Linguistics will be to illuminate, in all its complexity, the multiple dimensions of the study of language as a mode of social existence, communication, and cognition.
Applicants are required to submit transcripts of all previous course work from institutions of higher learning. In addition, scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for applicants who have received a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or abroad in which the medium of instruction is English. GRE scores are optional for applicants who have received a degree from an institution of higher education in which the medium of instruction is a language other than English. All applicants are required to submit three letters of reference (at least two from faculty with whom the applicant has studied) evaluating aptitude for doctoral study. Applicants must submit at least one sample of scholarly writing (published or unpublished research paper, thesis, etc.) and an academic statement describing their teaching and research experience and their specific professional goals and interests. International applicants who have not received a baccalaureate degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination and attain a score greater than 600 on the paper test or a score of 250 on the computer-based test. In addition, international applicants are encouraged to submit a cassette tape recording on which they describe their career goals and the reasons for wanting to pursue doctoral studies at Penn State.
In the third semester (a minimum of 18 credits) of graduate study, all candidates must satisfactorily complete a candidacy evaluation in which they are required to present a portfolio of work completed in their program of study. The portfolio will include a transcript of the candidate's academic record, a program plan, samples of scholarly work in Applied Linguistics and related areas, and a brief description of the proposed dissertation research, showing relevant course work completed and projected. Following submission of this portfolio, the candidate will meet with the members of his/her doctoral committee for an oral candidacy evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is threefold: (a) to determine whether the candidate has achieved a level of learning and understanding sufficient to justify acceptance as a doctoral candidate, (b) to discover what further study is required to bring the candidate to the competence required for the research being proposed, and (c) to secure approval of a program of course work and independent study to achieve the requisite competence. The particulars of each candidate's program of study and research are defined on the basis of the candidacy evaluation.
During course work prior to the candidacy examination, candidates will be assessed for communicative competence in reading, writing, and speaking English. Should a higher level of competence be required, the candidate will be directed to the appropriate resources. International candidates will be advised that the passage of the minimal TOEFL requirement does not demonstrate the level of competence required for completion of the Ph.D. program.
All candidates must demonstrate competence in reading relevant research literature in one language other than English and intermediate speaking competence in an additional language. The additional language competence requirements may be demonstrated in a variety of ways.
The doctoral committee will consist of four or more active members of the Graduate Faculty and must include at least two faculty in the major field. One member of the doctoral committee must be from outside of the candidate's field of study. Members of the Graduate Faculty with courtesy appointments in LALS who are members of the Applied Linguistics Graduate Faculty may serve as the chair of the doctoral committee with approval of the Director of LALS.
All doctoral candidates must pass a comprehensive examination designed to assess mastery of and ability to synthesize and integrate theoretical issues in Applied Linguistics. This examination is taken upon completion of all course work and the fulfillment of all degree requirements. The content and format of the comprehensive exam will be established by the members of the candidate's doctoral committee in accordance with degree requirements of LALS and consist of two course papers that are of publishable quality and two or three research papers based on questions developed by members of the doctoral committee. The original papers must be submitted by end of semester prior to that in which the student plans to take the comprehensive exam. The student will be given two months' time in which to complete and submit these exam papers. Within three weeks of submission of the exam papers, the student will take an oral exam based on the original research papers and the exam papers. Candidates who fail the examination on the first attempt may repeat it once. Candidates who fail the examination the second time will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Each doctoral candidate is required to conduct an original and independent research project representing a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of study. The project should be presented in a scholarly manner, show an ability on the part of the candidate to do independent research of high quality, and demonstrate considerable experience in using appropriate research techniques. The content and conclusions of the dissertation will be defended at the time of the final oral examination. A written dissertation proposal is required and must be approved at a proposal hearing by a majority vote of the candidate's dissertation committee. A majority vote is also required for approval of the completed written dissertation at the final oral defense.
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
APPLIED LINGUISTICS (APLNG) course list
SCR 29-07-044
Date last updated by Publications: 3/23/09 (link only)