Program Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics Programme is designed to give students foundations and consolidation of their English language skills and introduction of applied linguistic concepts and knowledge in Year 1 and Year 2. In Year 3 and Year 4, this Bachelor degree innovatively offers two majors of applied linguistics for students to choose and focus on: one is Applied Linguistics in Language Use and the other is Applied Linguistics in Intercultural Communication.

Programme Features

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics programme is an innovative programme designed for students who wish to study the use of language in real-world contexts as well as to develop high-level skills to communicate effectively in multi-cultural contexts. The word ‘applied’ distinguishes this programme: throughout the programme there is an emphasis on the ability to apply language knowledge and skills in real situations.

Students study English and linguistics (as the specific study of language structures, functions, meanings and uses); moreover, they also have good opportunities to develop their language skills in Chinese and Portuguese, but the linguistics is applied. This means we give prominence to developing solution-oriented applications of knowledge of language to be used in different practical and professional contexts in which language plays a key role. Graduates will be welcomed in language-related employment, such as in tourism, the entertainment industries, media and communications industries; in international business and inter-cultural commerce; in translation and using English at different levels, including to young learners. Graduates will have a solid basis, including research and investigation skills, to further their academic study in many fields, including languages, education, linguistics, intercultural communication, professional communication, translation and interpreting.

The programme is additionally distinctive in several ways. First, by developing well-honed language skills, it provides students with a choice of two substantial strands: Language Use and Intercultural Communication. Both strands emphasize the practical use of language competences with an understanding of people. The Language Use strand, through classroom-related courses, gives a solid basis for graduates who wish to teach English. In the Intercultural Communication strand, similarly, gives a strong foundation for employment related to communicating in international and multicultural contexts.

In the third and fourth year of the programme, students have a placement opportunity each. This is designed so that in each of these contexts they advance their language and intercultural skills by observing, using, analyzing and reflecting on communication, besides building up a record of employability through gaining different experiences.

The programme is varied and flexible because it is characterized by a wide range of language-related elective courses so that students can design their own personal pathway to complement and extend the main strands of Language Use and Intercultural Communication. This flexibility is emphasized in the dissertation, in which final year students conduct and complete a substantial investigation on an approved topic and theme. This opportunity in the dissertation offers a wide choice and it enables students to specialize in an area of interest with guidance and supervision.

Graduation Requirement

In order to complete this programme, students must complete 19 Compulsory Modules [including 6 credits for two modules of Placements and 15 credits for Dissertation] with 69 credits, and 2 Compulsory General Education Modules with 6 credits (Constitution and Basic Law, Chinese Language and Culture), 7 Elective General Education Modules and 3 Interdisciplinary Education Electives Modules (students take the specialised modules of bachelor's degree programmes offered by other faculties designated by the university) with 30 credits, and 24 credits for 8 major compulsory modules (students shall choose one major within the two); 15 credits for 5 Major Elective Modules; a total of 44 modules with 144 credits.

Course Details

Table I

  * Students must attend specialised curriculum units/courses (excluding project or graduation work units/courses, as well as units/courses where practical experience constitutes an essential part) of bachelor's degree programmes offered by other faculties designated by the university, to obtain 9 credit units.

** Students must attend 7 selective curriculum units/courses from at least three areas defined in Table IV, to obtain 21 credit units.

Table II

* The defined curriculum units/courses that can be chosen by students attending another area of specialisation within the course.

Table III

Table IV

Note 1: Completing the bachelor programme requires 144 credits, allocated as follows:

1. 84 credit units in the compulsory curriculum units/courses listed in Table I of this annex;
2. 45 credit units in the compulsory curriculum units/courses of the chosen aspects of specialisation listed in Table II of this annex;
3. 15 credit units in the curriculum units/courses from other areas of specialisation aspects in Table II, or the optional curriculum units/courses listed in Table III of this annex.