PhD in Applied Linguistics
The PhD program in Applied Linguistics prepares students to teach and conduct original research in the US and abroad. Students specialize in areas of applied linguistics, including teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), second language writing, language policy, sociolinguistics, corpus/computational linguistics, critical discourse analysis, second language acquisition, multimodal communication, and more. Past students have found positions in institutions of higher education, the US State Department and other governmental agencies, and in consulting in the multicultural workplace.
Students take courses in both TESOL and Applied Linguistics. Many courses are offered both online and in person. Students may also choose to pursue opportunities to teach abroad in the Czech Republic.
Students are active researchers. Students have recently presented research at Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International, American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Sociolinguistics Symposium, Second Language Research Forum, Tennessee TESOL, Southeast TESOL, and other regional, national and international conferences.
For more information about the PhD in Applied Linguistics program requirements, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Structure of the PhD Program
When you begin the program, you will be assigned an advisor that will help you select courses and (if relevant) help you transfer in credits from your prior graduate studies. Students with a prior MA in Applied Linguistics, TESOL, or similar generally spend three semesters fulltime in coursework.
As you are completing your coursework, you will form a committee for the comprehensive exams and to write your research prospectus (the proposal for your dissertation research study). You can learn more about the PhD Comprehensive Exams and the PhD Prospectus expectations.
After you have defended your prospectus, the final stage of the program is researching, writing, and defending your dissertation.
Graduate Assistantships
There are limited opportunities for graduate assistantships. Assistantships can include teaching in the Department of English, assisting in research, or other opportunities. Students interested in a graduate assistantship can indicate that in their application to the PhD program. You can learn more about how to apply to the PhD program here and can learn more about assistantships here.
Applied Linguistics Coordinator:
Dr. Lyn Wright
ewfogle@memphis.edu
Ready to apply?
Current PhD Students
Ahmed Alshammari
B.A. in English Language, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
M.A. in TESOL, Southeast Missouri State University
Dissertation Title: Investigating The Needs of Medical College Students at The English Language Center
in Saudi Arabia
My research interests include second language acquisition, Needs Analysis, English for Specific Purposes ESP, Task-Based Language teaching TBLT, Computer Assisted Language Learning CALL, and Academic Writing. My current work focuses on the needs of first-year medical college students in Saudi Arabia. I have been an active member of the TESOL International Association since 2016 and participated as a volunteer, presenter, and reviewer for several years. I have been a language instructor at Umm Al-Qura University since 2018, and currently working as a writing consultant at the Center for Writing and Communication CWC at the University of Memphis.
Elliott Burgess
BBA/MBA in Marketing, Freed-Hardman University
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Memphis
Dissertation Title: Language Center Design: Community and Belonging for Refugees and Immigrants During
COVID-19
I am interested in exploring how space and place impacts the social and cultural aspects of English language learners. I've taught first year writing at The University of Memphis and Freed-Hardeman University and ESOL in Memphis and the Czech Republic.
A. Egemen Curuk
B.A. in English Language Teaching, Trakya University – Turkey
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Groningen – Netherlands
Dissertation Title: Implementation of Direct Corpus Applications to L2 Collaborative Writing Pedagogy:
The Impact on Learner Interaction, Written Output and Development
I am deeply interested in the field of computer assisted language learning (CALL) with a particular focus in the implementation of corpora and other Large Language Models (LLMs) in language classrooms. As an avid believer of the power of learner interaction, I am working on my dissertation that aims to analyze how corpora affects writing development and learner interaction focusing on Language Related Episodes and genre awareness. Additionally, I am also quite involved with interdisciplinary research within Natural Language Processing (NLP) concentrating on context-sensitive sentiment analysis.
Nabaz Kareem
B.A. in English Language and English Literature, University of Slemani, Kurdistan
of Iraq
M.A. in TESOL, Valparaiso University, USA
Dissertation Title: The Effectiveness of Pedagogical Translanguaging to Develop Academic Writing in Comparison
to Monolingual Instruction in an EFL Context
My area of interest is SLA focusing on EFL/ESL learning and teaching. My research investigates the effectiveness of pedagogical translanguaging in comparison to monolingual instruction in an EFL context concentrates on developing academic writing skills of EFL learners in Kurdistan of Iraq. In this study, I focus on applying translanguaging as a pedagogy via individual and collaborative writing and investigate its impact in comparison to monolingual instruction.
Amber Worrick
B.A. in International Relations, University of Iowa
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, Northeastern Illinois University
Dissertation Title: English as a global language: The impact of self-perception on motivation in an English
for a Business Purpose Context
My research interests include language learning motivation and identity in a multilingual setting. I am specifically interested in how perception of the self and the learning environment position learners to act on intended effort in a English for Business Purpose setting. Apart from research, I have taught and/or designed language and linguistics courses at Universidad de Chile, Universidad SEK, Tennessee State University, and Colorado Mountain College. I am currently an instructional designer for Movora in Veterinary Orthopedics.
Heri Yusup
B.A. in English, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Birmingham, UK
Dissertation Title: Brain Drain in the Context of Indonesia: Metaphor Use in Indonesian Scholars' Talk
about Migration and Mobility
I am an assistant professor in the English Department at Universitas Islam 45 in Indonesia, where I have worked for nearly twenty years. I am currently the technical editor for the undergraduate research journal at the University of Memphis. My area of research interest is cognitive linguistics and corpus linguistics. In my dissertation, I will examine the conceptual metaphors that Indonesian scholars use when talking about their migration and mobility choices, decisions, and experiences using corpus-assisted discourse analysis, to better understand the perspective of Indonesians on the notion of brain drain.
Alumni
Alumni are invited to update professional information by contacting Dr. Lyn Wright (ewfogle@memphis.edu)
- Hind Saeed Alghamdi
- Class of 2025
- Dissertation: What Meaning That Western Tourists Make of Saudi Arabia: Youtube Videos' Positioning Analysis of Place-Identity in the Context of Change
- Current Position:
- Majed Alsulami
- Class of 2025
- Dissertation: Exploring Arabic as a Second Language (ASL) Learners’ Imagined Communities, Communities of Practice, and Investment in Learning ASL in Saudi Arabia
- Current Position:
- Mughram Alshehri
- Class of 2025
- Dissertation: Students, Teachers, and Policymakers' Perceptions Towards Teaching Saudi Dialect in L2 Arabic Classroom
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, College of Language Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
- Alaa Alamri
- Class of 2024
- Dissertation: Family Language Policy of Transnational Returnees: The Case of Arab Families Re-adapting to Mainstream Arab Society
- Current Position:
- Iratishe Madaki
- Class of 2024
- Dissertation: Role of Translanguaging among Multilingual Learners at the University Level in Nigeria and the Implications for Teaching and Learning in Multilingual Classrooms
- Current Position:
- Bakheet Almatrafi
- Class of 2024
- Dissertation: The Effectiveness of Translanguaging Written Corrective Feedback in Second Language Writing
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, English Language Institute, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
- Uthman Alzuhairy
- Class of 2023
- Dissertation: Saudi Parents' Attitudes and Ideologies Towards the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to First Grade Students
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of English, Qassium University
- Daryl Anderson
- Class of 2023
- Dissertation: Family Language Policy: Perceptions and Attitudes Toward African American Language
- Current Position: Academic Counselor, University of Memphis
- Lindsay Helms
- Class of 2023
- Dissertation: Spanish for Emergency Room Nursing: A Task-Based Needs Analysis for a LSP Context
- Current Position: Assistant Professor of Teaching, University of Memphis
- Hannah Pitner
- Class of 2023
- Dissertation: The Effects of Classroom Type on Interaction Processes, Vocabulary Development, and Motivation
- Amir Rouhollahi
- Class of 2023
- Dissertation: Persian ITAs and Speech Comprehensibility: Using CAPT for Pronunciation Improvement
- Shima Farhesh
- Class of 2022
- Dissertation: No to language-based discrimination: The effect of multimedia, perspective taking, and ITAs’ exposure on native speakers’ attitude toward L1-accented speakers.
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Christian Brothers University
- Perry Hardin
- Class of 2022
- Dissertation: Language Policy and Indigenous Language in the Linguistic Landscape of Asunción, Paraguay
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Freed-Hardeman University
- Abdul Hakim
- Class of 2021
- Dissertation: Complexity, Accuracy, Fluency, and Reformulation in Pair and Individual Writing, and Revision: A Study in an EFL Context.
- Current Position: Career-track lecturer in the Writing Program, the Department of English, University of Arizona
- Mahmuda Sharmin
- Class of 2021
- Dissertation: Multi-modal Narrative Practices in Adult ESL: Fostering Investment in Language Learning and Negotiating Racism, Linguicism, & Identity.
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Md Nesar Uddin
- Class of 2021
- Dissertation: L1 Use in Corrective Feedback Interactions and Learner Uptake in Foreign Language Learning.
- Current Position: Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Emil Ubaldo
- Class of 2020
- Dissertation: Collaborative writing in an online synchronous mode: Comparing L2 learners’ interactions, texts, and experiences working in pairs and groups.
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Secondary Education; Head, International Mobility Unit - International Affairs Office, Central Luzon State University, The Philippines
- Amy Burden
- Class of 2020
- Dissertation: Gender representation in American made English language learning textbooks: A multi-modal study.
- Current Position: Multilingual Multimodal Test Development Manager, Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC., USA
- Lorraine Meiners-Lovel
- Class of 2020
- Dissertation: How Preschool Teachers Use Book Sharing Strategies to Build Academic Language Skills.
- Current Position: Assistant Professor of Teaching/Senior Experience Coordinator, College of Professional and Liberal Studies, University of Memphis
- Daniel Harper
- Class of 2018
- Dissertation: Place, Identity, and Language Learning: The Transformative Role of Place-Based Language Learning.
- Current Position: Dean of Graduate School, Associate Vice President for International Initiatives, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN
- Rashad Ahmad Odayni
- Class of 2018
- Dissertation: Teachers’ Practices and First-year Students’ Perspectives on Peer Review in Academic Writing Classes.
- Current Position: Assistant Professor TESOL and Applied Linguistics, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, MS
- Hammad Alshammari
- Class of 2018
- Dissertation: The Effect of Educational Background on Second Language Reading
- Current Position: Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia
- Erin Hillis
- Class of 2017
- Dissertation: Exploring Linguistic Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviors: The Lived Experiences of Chinese Undergraduate Students.
- Current Position: Director of International Programs at Rhodes College
- Abdurazzag Alghammas
- Class of 2016
- Dissertation: Wiki-based Collaborative Writing Tasks in ESL Context.
- Current Position: Assistant professor of Applied Linguistics at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. Assistant to Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research for scholarship affairs
- Jessica Swan
- Class of 2015
- Dissertation: Writing to Understand our Lives and Languages: A Case Study of an Immigrant Women’s Writing Group.
- Current Position: Education Program Specialist at U.S. Department of Education
- Amina Gaye
- Class of 2015
- Dissertation: Teacher Development for Content-Based Curricula and Material Design: A Study of Senegalese EFL Instructors' Attitudes towards ESP.
- Current Position: Assistant Professor, Universite Amadou Mahtar Mbow de Dakar, Senegal
- Rooh Ul-Amin
- Class of 2015
- Dissertation: Situating the Self: Identity and Power Relationships in a Pakistani ESL Classroom.
- Current Position: Professor, Foundation University, Islamabad
- Abdullah Alasmary
- Class of 2014
- Dissertation: Receptive and Productive Mastery of Recurrent Academic Word Combinations by First (L1) and Second (L2) English Speakers.
- Current Position: Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
- Chris Hastings
- Class of 2012
- Dissertation: Attitudes & Acculturation: A Qualitative Case Study of EFL Teachers in Saudi Arabia.
- Current Position: Regional English Language Officer, Office of English Language Programs, U.S. Department of State
- Gabriela Kleckova
- Class of 2004
- Dissertation: A Study of Inter-level Visual Design Elements in English Language Teaching (ELT) Texts.
- Current Position: Head of English Department, University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic. Past President of the International Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages professional Organization