Graduate Degree

Linguistics - Master of Arts

Program:
Linguistics - Master of Arts
Plan Code:
LINGUIS_MA
Program Level:
Graduate
Award Type:
Master of Arts
College:
College of Arts and Letters
Department:
Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Arts and Letters

Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures

Graduate Study
Linguistics - Master of Arts

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in linguistics, an applicant must:

  1. Have the results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test forwarded to the department.
  2. Include in the letter required by the college a 500–700 word statement of purpose and summary of academic background.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

  1. A grade–point average of at least 3.20 in courses completed in the last two years of the baccalaureate degree program.
  2. Completed an introductory survey course in linguistics.

Provisional Admission

Persons who have not met the requirements for admission on regular status as specified above may be admitted to the program on provisional status and be required to complete collateral courses.  A student who has not completed an introductory survey course in linguistics must enroll in Linguistics 401 during the first semester of enrollment in the program.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Linguistics

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A or Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

1. Complete all of the following courses with a grade of at least 3.0 in each course (12 credits):
LIN 824 Phonological Theory I 3
LIN 827 Phonetics I 3
LIN 834 Syntactic Theory I 3
LIN 837 Semantics and Pragmatics I 3
2. Complete two of the following courses, on of which must be LIN 825 or 835 (6 credits):
LIN 825 Phonological Theory II 3
LIN 828 Phonetics II 3
LIN 835 Syntactic Theory II 3
LIN 838 Semantics and Pragmatics II 3
An 800-level 3-credit Linguistics seminar or independent study in syntax, phonology, phonetics, semantics or pragmatics may be substituted for one course above.
3. Complete one additional 3-credit linguistics course excluding LIN 890 that is not a course in phonetics, phonology, syntax, or semantics/pragmatics. Additional courses may be required by the student's guidance committee.


Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete 4 credits of LIN 899  Master's Thesis Research. No more than 4 credits of Linguistics 899 may be counted toward the degree.
  2. Complete 5 additional credits in courses approved by the student's academic advisor.
  3. Pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete 9 additional credits in Linguistics courses approved by the student's academic advisor.
  2. Pass a written final certifying examination in an area of linguistics. Ph.D. students who have successfully defended their first comprehensive examination paper can use it in lieu of the M.A. Plan B examination and file for M.A. in passing.

Academic Standards

The student must maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.20.