Founded in 1993, the Graduate Program in Language Studies (PPgEL), began as master’s program, and expanded to include a doctorate program by 2003, both programs credentialed by Capes. Since then it has developed into a thriving center for research, continuing its valuable contribution to the scholarship in language studies at both the Master’s and Doctoral levels.

The general objective of the Program is to promote research and train professors in the area of Language Studies. The program aims to develop the competence of professors to perform at the various levels of higher education and in all aspects, such as: institutional research projects, contributing to important reflections on language studies in an academic and social context; teaching through innovative methods; and pedagogical initiatives in the form of extension projects, promoting international events, workshops, conferences, etc.

PPgEL is currently organized along three lines of study: Comparative Literature, Applied Linguistics, and Theoretical and Descriptive Linguistics. Each area is divided into two or three research categories:

a) Applied Linguistics

i) Discursive Practices;

ii) Literacy and Contemporaneity.

b) Theoretical and Descriptive Linguistics

i) Discourse, Cognition and Interaction;

ii) Textual Linguistics.

c) Comparative Literature

i) Literature and Cultural Memory;

ii) Modern and Post-modern poetics.