Our PhD program is housed in the School of Linguistics and Languages Studies (SLaLS). Emphasizing the central role that language plays in educational, workplace, community, and other social contexts the doctoral program focuses on the following four areas: second and foreign language teaching and learning, including Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL); the nature, learning, and teaching of written discourse and literacies; and the analysis of written, oral, and multimodal discourse. Our students can draw on one or both of two fields, Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, to suit their own study and research goals. Our PhD program is unique in North America as these two fields are typically housed in different departments or faculties at other universities.
Capital Advantage
Ottawa, the nation’s capital, is a bilingual, multicultural home to the federal government as well as many post-secondary institutions, health care centres, and non-profit organizations. Our connections to these organizations provide doctoral students with teaching and research opportunities during their program and with career options once they graduate.
Fields of Specialization
- Applied Linguistics
- Discourse Studies
Research Highlights
- Second and foreign language teaching and learning; curriculum and methodology; language testing and assessment
- Languages for academic and specific purposes, formulaic language and phraseology
- Different types of discourse analysis
- First and second language writing in academic, professional, and community contexts; biliteracy
- Language and identity; language policy and preservation; cross-cultural communication
Program Information
Length: 4 years
Entry Terms: Fall
Fall Application Deadline: January 20
Contact: Graduate Supervisor – Professor Jaffer Sheyholislami
Experiential Learning: Practicum
Pathway Options: Thesis
