Master's Degree Programme Applied Language Studies for the Changing Society

APPLANG programme focuses on language-related questions of current-day society, such as multilingualism, language education, discourse and power, media, policy making, mobility and migration. The programme combines the core research areas of the Jyväskylä Language Campus – language learning and literary practices; language assessment; discourse studies; and language and education policies. The programme consists of courses in the four focus areas, as well as working on a thesis on a selected area of specialization, potentially in collaboration with larger research projects in the department. The teaching in the programme combines various approaches in language studies, including sociolinguistics, second/foreign language learning and teaching, discourse studies, and ethnography, but also draws on fields such as economics, sociology, cognitive science, and special education.

After completing the programme the student will

General academic skills
• know the key areas of applied language studies and be able to conduct research in a specific area
• have a critical understanding of how languages work in various social contexts
• know the research methodologies of one or two of the programme’s selected focus areas
• understand and be able to apply ethical principles concerning research in applied language studies
• have acquired the knowledge and abilities required for doctoral studies

General working-life skills
• be able to work independently and in groups and have the necessary project management skills
• know various information searching methods and be able to critically assess information
• have a wide range of communication skills that are relevant for working as a language expert in different situations and cultures
• have the skills to work in multilingual and multicultural communities

Personal and professional competences
• have the skills and knowledge to work as an expert of language
• understand the connections between scientific knowledge and language expertise in working life
• be able to work in co-operation with professionals from other fields
• be able to analyse language use, variation and change
• appreciate one’s own expertise and competence
• be able to maintain and develop one’s language skills and cultural expertise

Working-life knowledge
• recognise the expertise acquired during the degree and be able to identify its significance for working life
• be familiar with professional opportunities in the field and have the necessary skills for employment opportunities
• be able to recognize, describe and document one’s own expertise and knowledge in relation to one’s career goals