Department of Linguistics
Applied Linguistics Programs
Our applied linguistics programs at Macquarie University are ideal for language professionals, working or aiming to work in an area of teaching, curriculum development, literacy education, assessment or program evaluation, bilingualism, teacher training, policy development, management or community service where language and communication are critical issues.
The Linguistics Department is the largest such department in Australia, with over 100 staff (including technical and support staff) and five research centres providing a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It has extensive experience in delivering programs in applied linguistics, including Master, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate programs. More than 1000 students (from 30 countries) have completed or are currently completing courses in the area of applied linguistics, either on campus or by distance, throughout Australia and overseas.
The Master of Applied Linguistics and Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate programs are intended for Australian and overseas practitioners in a variety of professions whose work is concerned with applied language study. They offer the opportunity for students to specialise in one or more areas of applied linguistics from a common basis of descriptive and empirical training. Three specialisations are offered at the Master level: a General Applied Lingusitics specialisation, a TESOL specialisation and a Language for Specific Purposes specialisation. All of these streams are offered at Postgraduate Diploma level and Postgraduate Certificate level.
All core units may be taken on campus and core units and optional units in all the degree programs are also available in distance mode. It is possible to take a mixture of on-campus and distance units.
The double degree of Master of Translating and Interpreting with the degree of Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL) is intended for Australian and overseas practitioners who are seeking to develop professionally as translators or interpreters as well as language professionals. Only the TESOL portion of the double degree can be completed externally. Translation and Interpreting units can only be completed internally.
The Postgraduate Certificate of Research Preparation (Human Sciences) is intended for those students who have completed their masters degree without a thesis component and who wish to prepare themselves for a higher degree such as a PHD in Linguistics.