The Language Acquisition and Bilingualism (LAB) Ph.D. concentration is a new option for students who wish to gain solid training in both psychological and linguistic theory and methodology. The program offers students advanced training in the research methods of psychology, particularly those relevant to the study of language, and in the theory and description of linguistic structure, which will significantly enhance their language-oriented research. Students have the opportunity to complete the M.A. degree in either Psychology or Linguistics on the path to the Ph.D. in Psychology, depending on coursework and research options selected.

Program Setting

UTEP is situated within the world’s largest bi-national urban area and less than one mile from the U.S.-Mexico border. Together El Paso, Texas, and immediately adjacent Juárez, Chihuahua are home to nearly 2,000,000 residents. The environment is primarily bilingual, with English and Spanish being the primary languages. Many El Paso/Juárez residents and UTEP students are bilingual from an early age, whereas many others are in various stages of learning a second language. That is, here we encounter the full range of behavior relevant to the study of language acquisition (first and second languages in both children and adults) and bilingualism (the possible interaction of two languages and its behavioral and social consequences).