Carleton University

Overview

The PhD program in Linguistics (Applied) and Discourse Studies at Carleton University offers an in-depth exploration of how language is acquired, utilized, and imparted within various contexts such as education, workplaces, and communities. This interdisciplinary course merges Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, allowing candidates to investigate significant themes including language teaching, learning processes, literacies, and discourse analysis.

What you'll study

The program structure encompasses a combination of graduate coursework, supervised research, and dissertation work.

• Research areas: Candidates can focus on second and foreign language teaching and learning, language testing and assessment, or curriculum and methodology.
• Discourse and literacy: Study written discourse and literacies, first and second language writing in diverse contexts, including academic and community settings, as well as biliteracy.
• Discourse analysis: Explore methods for analyzing various forms of discourse, including written, oral, and multimodal.
• Language, society, and communication: Investigate the interplay between language and identity, language policy, preservation efforts, and cross-cultural communication.
• Language for academic and specific purposes: Examine specialized language, including formulaic language and phraseology, along with its acquisition and application.

Dissertation: An original doctoral dissertation is required, conducted under the guidance of faculty members based on the research outlined in your Statement of Intent.

Electives: Students must select 5000-level elective courses to include in their study plan as part of the program requirements.

Entry requirements

Admission to the program is determined by the overall strength of your academic background and the alignment of your research interests with those of potential supervisors. Specific GPA thresholds and standardized test scores are not mandatory.

Career prospects

Graduates of this program can pursue diverse career paths, including roles in academia, language education, research positions, language policy development, and community engagement initiatives. The skills and knowledge gained through this doctoral program are applicable in various educational, professional, and social contexts, making it a valuable credential for those interested in the field of linguistics and discourse studies.