Page 199 - University Bulletin

ELAN130 Introduction to Linguistics
Credits: 3 (3, 1, 0) Prerequisites: ENG012
This course provides a foundational overview of linguistics, exploring key areas such as phonetics,
phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Students will examine how language
functions at different levels and how it is shaped by cognitive, social, and cultural factors. The
course introduces major linguistic theories and analytical methods, emphasizing language as a
dynamic system. Through practical exercises and real-language analysis, students will develop
critical skills for studying language systematically. Topics such as language acquisition, language
variation, and language change will also be covered, offering insight into the diverse fields within
linguistics.

ELAN131 Phonetics and Phonology
Credits: 3 (3, 1, 0) Prerequisites: ELAN130
The course introduces students to the study of speech sounds, focusing on both the physical
properties of sounds (phonetics) and their abstract, systematic organization in language
(phonology). Students will learn to recognize, transcribe, and analyze the sounds of human
speech.
Through practical exercises, students will develop the skills necessary for IPA transcription, sound
analysis, and the identification of phonological patterns in various languages. By the end of the
course, students will have a deeper understanding of how sounds function in speech and how they
are organized in different languages.

ELAN205 Advanced Reading and Writing
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELAN104
This course builds on the skills learned in ELAN104 and guides students to the achievement of
reading and essay writing skills at an advanced level. The course also links texts read and advanced
vocabulary encountered in readings on a variety of academic topics to improve their creative
writing abilities.

ELAN206 Research Writing
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELAN205
Students are introduced to the tools and techniques of collecting and interpreting information.
They learn how to draft a research plan by narrowing down a topic, assembling a bibliography,
and putting together a literature review in order to produce a coherent academic research paper.

ELAN232 Morphology and Syntax
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELAN130
The course introduces the study of words, their internal structure, and how they are formed. This
course is both theoretical and practical. It is theoretical in that it provides students with consider-
able knowledge of morphological terms and processes. Key concepts include words vs. lexical
items, inflectional and derivational morphology, compounding and morphological theories. It is
practical in that it helps learners develop their skills in morphological analyses on words in English
and other languages. Throughout the course, the interrelations between morphology and other
sub-disciplines of Linguistics (i.e., Phonology, Semantics and Syntax) are examined.

ELAN233 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
Credits: 3 (3, 0, 0) Prerequisites: ELAN130
This course aims to introduce students to the main areas of study in Applied Linguistics. The scope
and subfields of the discipline are surveyed and articulated. The spotlight of the overview of the
field is on the theories and practices of language learning and teaching.

187 PSU UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN