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Program Description
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the complex role language plays in society. In this major, you will learn about how language permeates human interaction. Language and the way we use it is essential in shaping interpersonal relationships, learning a language, working in industry and government, and communicating on social media and using other digital technologies. Applied linguists develop an understanding of language as social practice and study how language shapes the way people think and bring meaning to what they do. Students in this major learn to investigate, question, and analyze real-world language use. This course of study can prepare you for graduate study as well as potential careers in diverse professions such as information sciences and technology, language policy and planning, market research and analysis, education, national security, translation and interpretation, and international affairs.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have at least third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
Requirement | Credits |
---|---|
General Education | 45 |
Electives | 21 |
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements | 24 |
Requirements for the Major | 30 |
3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.
Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Prescribed Courses | ||
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
APLNG 290N | Critical Approaches to Applied Linguistics ![]() | 3 |
APLNG 320N | Language, Ideology, and Propaganda ![]() | 3 |
APLNG 450 | Conducting Research in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
APLNG 494 | Capstone: Research and Practice in APLNG | 3 |
Additional Courses 1 | ||
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
Select 12-18 credits from the following: | 12-18 | |
Introduction to Language, Culture, and Social Interaction ![]() | ||
Global English ![]() | ||
Multilingual Lives: Stories of Language and Culture Learning ![]() | ||
Language and Social Justice ![]() | ||
Peer Tutoring for Multilingual Writers | ||
LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY ![]() | ||
Conducting International Comparative Research ![]() | ||
Language Rights, Policy, and Planning | ||
Teaching American English Pronunciation | ||
Teaching Second Language Writing | ||
Discourse-Functional Grammar | ||
Theory: Second Language Acquisition | ||
Teaching English as a Second Language | ||
Supporting Courses and Related Areas 1 | ||
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
Select 0-6 credits of any 300- or 400-level course from the following departments: 2 | 0-6 | |
African Studies | ||
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | ||
Linguistics |
- 1
9 credits of Additional and/or Supporting Courses must be at the 400 level.
- 2
Upon consultation, courses from other disciplines (e.g., Asian Studies or World Languages courses) may be accepted.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
B.A. Degree Requirements
World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.
B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.
World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Applied Linguistics, B.A. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
ENGL 15 or ESL 15 (GWS)‡ | 3 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C (GWS)‡ | 3 |
World Language Level 1 | 4 | World Language Level 2 | 4 |
General Education Course (Exploration/FYS) | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 |
General Education Course (ID) | 3 | General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3 |
General Education Course (GHW) | 3 | ||
13 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
APLNG 290N* | 3 | APLNG 320N* | 3 |
World Language Level 3 | 4 | Related Area* | 3 |
BA Fields | 3 | APLNG 400-Level* | 3 |
General Education Course (GS) | 3 | BA Fields | 3 |
Elective/General Education Course (Exploration/GN) | 3 | General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3 |
16 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (GWS)‡ | 3 | APLNG 450* | 3 |
APLNG 400-Level* | 3 | BA Fields (World Cultures) | 3 |
APLNG 400-Level or Related Area* | 3 | General Education Course (ID) | 3 |
General Education Course (ID/GN) | 3 | General Education Course (ID)/Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
APLNG 400-Level or Related Area* | 3 | APLNG 494* | 3 |
BA Fields | 3 | BA Fields | 3 |
General Education Course (GS) | 3 | General Education Course (GN) | 3 |
General Education Course (GA) | 3 | General Education Course (GH) | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Total Credits 120 |
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Bachelor of Arts Requirements:
Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.
Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS
234 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7365
lals@psu.edu