Upon completion of the Applied Linguistics Concentration, students will be able to:

Apply research principles to analyze, describe, and articulate in writing the structural characteristics of a language, dialect or creole, including phonetic, phonological, morphological and syntactic aspects.
Plan and conduct research related to semantic, pragmatic, or sociolinguistic aspects of human language.
Develop an understanding of research methods necessary for determining potential needs for Bible translation for minority languages.
Acquire and apply an understanding of ethnolinguistic field methods to determine the sociolinguistic and literary status of a language, dialect or creole. 
Apply principles of effective language translation and sociocultural communication in the translation of various texts into a foreign language.

What Can I Do with an LCS degree, Linguistics Concentration?

  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Lexicography
  • Teaching a foreign language
  • Bible Translation

Sample Core Courses


Introduction to Linguistics

A survey of the major sub-fields of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, socio-linguistics, language varieties and an introduction to the history of English. The approach to this course is practical, emphasizing problem solving and providing the field skills necessary for analyzing the structure of English and other languages as a basis for any linguistics or applied linguistics degree (e.g. Bible translation, TESOL).

Issues in Modern Missions

This course discusses the issues of cross-cultural barriers, the importance of getting the Word of God into other languages, the relationship of the missionary to the various phases of the work of evangelism, church planting, partnering, and the place of development projects as an expression of missions. Biblical underpinnings are examined.

Morphology and Syntax

This course introduces the student to principles of linguistics related to syntax and morphology across languages. Coursework develops analytical and problem solving skills and includes typology and comparative analysis, with many examples from English. The impact of native language structure on the acquisition of English as a second or foreign language is also covered, with practical application of relevant theory, research, and principles to an ESL pedagogical context.

Research Methods

A course that develops an understanding of the principles and effective methods and strategies for conducting linguistic research related to literacy and socio-linguistic status of any minority language, dialect, creole or pidgin tongue. Develops practical and analytical skills for the planning, organization and conduct of field research.

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