BA Program
Do you love learning languages? Do you want to know more about how language can be learned, taught, and used most effectively in schools, universities, and workplaces? A BA in Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies (ALDS) opens doors to a variety of careers in the public or private sector, in NGOs or in educational institutions related to language teaching, language assessment, and policy. It also provides an excellent basis for graduate work. Visit our Alumni page to see how some of our graduate students put their degrees to use.
Students in the BA Honours and Combined Honours programs may enroll in the Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL) program concurrently with their Honours degree.
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- Language Teaching and Learning: How are languages taught and learned? How are language curricula best developed and implemented?
- Language Assessment: How are language competencies evaluated and language tests designed?
- Writing: How is writing used in academic, workplace, and community settings to construct knowledge, accomplish learning, and perform other functions? How can writing best be taught and learned in these settings?
- Literacies: How do people use texts in their everyday activities in society? How can access to literacies be broadened?
- Discourse Analysis: How is language—both spoken and written—used in specific social contexts? And how are texts in other symbol systems—such as photographs and drawings—used in similar contexts?
- Language in Society: How does language influence society, and how is it influenced by society? What role does language play in creating social identities, social structures, and relations of power?
- Language and the Professions: For what purposes do professionals use language in their work? What makes professional communication in a first or a second language more effective?
- Bilingual Education: How can educational institutions support bilingual development? What makes a bilingual education program effective?
- Language Policy and Planning: How do government policies influence language practices, as for instance with measures to protect endangered languages?
Is English not your first language?
ESL students can still start a degree!
Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies (ALDS) Courses in the Undergraduate Calendar
Not all courses listed in the undergraduate calendar are offered in a given academic term.
Current Course Offerings
The public schedule displays current course offerings across Carleton University. We regularly offer special topic courses such as: Forensic Linguistics, Indigenous Languages in Canada, Affordances of Digital Technologies, and Introduction to Deaf Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions, check our FAQ and contact the undergraduate advisor.
Other Helpful Links
Apply Today!
Learn more about applying to Carleton University.
Student Life in SLaLS
Sift through current student resources and forms, meet your student groups, and discover opportunities on- and off-campus!
Graduate Studies and the Accelerated Pathway
The Accelerated Pathway is a plan of graduate study for undergraduate students in their final year of a Carleton BA Honours degree.
Contact the Undergraduate Team
Karen Jesney
- Assistant Professor (Linguistics); Undergraduate Advisor (ALDS and LING)
- karen.jesney@carleton.ca
