Applied Linguistics

Are you interested in how children acquire language, how the skills of second-language speakers develop, how various language disorders can be diagnosed and treated, or how social or cultural environments interact with language?

In our program, you’ll gain a strong foundation in linguistics, hands-on fieldwork, clinical observation, teaching practice and practical workshops to supplement your academic courses. We offer a choice of two majors:

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL): With this certificate or major, learn how second language learning is different from first language learning, and prepare to teach ESL in different contexts. Learn about advanced theory and practice of second language learning and teaching, and complete a major research paper in our MA Applied Linguistics/TESL program.

Speech Language & Hearing Sciences: Learn about basic science and communication processes, including the anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, acoustics, linguistics, child language development and selected disorders of human communication. Concentrate in Hearing Sciences and learn about sound, hearing, and hearing disorders, and prepare for admission to graduate audiology programs. Concentrate in Speech Language Sciences and learn about speech, language, and speech and language disorders, and prepare for admission to speech-language pathology graduate programs.

For more information about Applied Linguistics, please visit our department page.

  • BA in Applied Linguistics
  • BA in Applied Linguistics: Teaching English as a Second Language (Co-op option available)
  • BA in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
  • Combined majors in Child and Youth Studies or English Language and Literature
  • Certificates in Hearing Sciences, Speech and Language Sciences or TESL
  • Minor in Linguistics

Expected cut-off: mid 70s
OUAC Code: BAL

Not an Ontario Secondary School applicant? Find your admissions criteria here.


Career outcomes

  • Linguist
  • Translator
  • Speech-language pathologist
  • Audiologist
  • Clinical researcher
  • ESL educator

Prerequisite requirements

  • English (ENG4U)

Recommended subjects

Hearing Sciences or Speech and Language Sciences

  • Two from Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), Physics (SPH4U), Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U)

Applied Linguistics/Teaching English as a Subsequent Language (TESL)

  • One from 4U history, 4U philosophy, 4U classical studies, or 4U international language