Through the Applied Linguistics program at Portland State University (PSU), students will understand an essential part of being human: language. Applied linguists study how human languages are structured, how they function, and how they relate to culture, identity, and power. Applied linguists then use that knowledge to solve problems in the real world. 

PSU faculty use their knowledge about language to improve language teaching, document the languages in Portland, highlight social justice issues, determine what makes specialized texts more or less effective, help students be more successful in higher education, create resources for literacy learners, improve digital communication, inform policy decisions, and much more. 

Because language is fundamental to many fields, Applied Linguistics majors go on to diverse careers: teaching, international development, artificial intelligence, refugee services, marketing, and translation, to name just a few. Applied linguistics is excellent preparation for law school or graduate degrees in social sciences and humanities.

The Applied Linguistics major pairs well with foreign languages, computer science, speech and hearing sciences, English, anthropology, and other social sciences. A dual major or minor gives students an advantage in the job market. With Applied Linguistics and Computer Science, graduates will be better prepared for natural language processing. With a dual degree in Applied Linguistics and other fields, graduates will be better prepared for working in multilingual and multicultural contexts.