About the Program

Minor

Sometimes called Applied Linguistics, the field of Applied Language Studies (ALS) is devoted to the study of particular domains of language learning and use, such as foreign language learning and teaching, bi- and multilingualism, translation and interpretation, communication in professional contexts, or intercultural communication. The ALS minor will help students use their language learning experience, for example, to gain an understanding of:

• How languages are learned
• How language is related to individual cognition and to social context
• How languages are used to achieve a wide range of social, cultural, aesthetic purposes
• How language relates to culture, power and identity
• How language and other symbolic systems construct both actual and virtual realities
• What it means to be bi- or multilingual

This minor will be particularly useful for those who have experienced learning or speaking a language other than English, but it is open to all undergraduates.

Offered by the Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies Division (UGIS) of the College of Letters and Science. There is no major program in Applied Language Studies.

Declaring the Minor

Students submit the petition to confirm the completion of the minor  to Patrick Civello (UGIS) during their last semester. Please include a copy of your class schedule and a copy of your transcript. Patrick's office hours are M-F, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm, in 263 Evans Hall.

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Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but are not noted on diplomas.

General Guidelines

1. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
2. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
4. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth Requirement, for Letters and Science students.
5. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
6. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which you plan to graduate. If you cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, please see a College of Letters and Science adviser.
7. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Requirements