The postgraduate program in Applied Linguistics and Literary Theory, in drawing on the knowledge fields of both its disciplines, is aimed at the specialized education and training and research needs of language practitioners such as translators, interpreters, text editors, and language planners, copywriters and language teachers. Translation and interpreting are complex linguistic, cognitive, and textual processes that, among other things, also entail socio-cultural mediation. Given the complexity of these activities and hence the interdisciplinary nature of language practice, these programs offer a balance of theoretical, practical, and experiential knowledge and skills.

The Ph.D. program in Applied Linguistics at Northern Arizona University is designed to prepare future professors, researchers and teacher trainers to work independently and in leadership positions with the learning and teaching of second languages, the analysis of language, and the design of language-related research.