At Carleton University, our BA programs in Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies provide students with expertise in disciplines spanning language education, Writing Studies, Literacy Studies, and Discourse Studies. In other universities, these areas of research and teaching are typically housed in different departments or faculties, such as education, English, and linguistics.
Our programs are grounded in research and address practical educational and language-use issues significant to learners, educators, policy makers, communication professionals, and human resources managers.
You will study with professors who have pioneered new ways to teach and assess language, to research written discourse, and to teach writing. The School has recognized expertise in language and writing instruction for adults as well as in exploring the role of language in university teaching. The Canadian English Academic Language Assessment (CAEL), was also developed at Carleton. This standardized test of English for academic purposes, now owned by Paragon Testing Enterprises, is used by universities and colleges throughout Canada.
As members of development teams working on projects undertaken by the Language Assessment and Testing Research Unit, students selected from the ALDS program acquire first-hand experience in assessment/test design, development and validation.
We also work closely with Carleton’s Centre for Student Academic Support and Credit ESL program to ensure that all Carleton students benefit from the latest advances in Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies research and receive professional support as they study in English as a first or second language. Many of our graduates work on campus as teachers, program coordinators, and writing tutors.
Our BA Honours and Combined Honours programs can be taken concurrently with the Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL), a program for ESL teachers and for professionals dealing with adult learners that is recognized by TESL Ontario for qualification purposes.