M.A. in Linguistics

Courses of study

The M.A. in Linguistics offers three types of Linguistics MAs.

  • General Option: For students who would like a broad background in the study of language structure and usage.
  • The Language and Culture Option: allows students to take courses both in Linguistics and Anthropology that deal with theory, research, and applications in the area of language study from a cultural/anthropological point of view.
  • The Special Concentration: allows a student to plan an individualized course of study around a special interest. Recent students have designed special concentrations in Psycholinguistics, Computational Linguistics, teaching Spanish, teaching Japanese, and teaching Chinese.

All options are suitable either as preparation for immediately entering the job market, or as preparation for PhD study. The majority of graduate courses are offered in the evenings, to accommodate working students. For complete information on prerequisites and graduation requirements, see the .

Program Learning Outcomes for the MA in Linguistics

Goals for students receiving the MA in Linguistics:

  1. Students will be able to analyze a variety of grammatical structures, and relate language structures to theoretical perspectives on grammar.
  2. Students will be able to discuss the social, cultural and political dimensions of language use in everyday and institutional contexts.
  3. Students will be able to describe and explain language variation and historical change, language contact, bilingualism, and language variety.
  4. Students will use and evaluate research methodologies in linguistics by designing and carrying out original independent research on a linguistic topic.

Always check the to verify the most accurate and updated requirements.

Prerequisites

  1. A bachelor鈥檚 degree with a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units;
  2. 9 units of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of 鈥淐鈥 or above in each course) as follows:
  • LING 301 - Introduction to Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 420 - Phonology (3 units)
  • LING 421 - Syntax (3 units)

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy requires:

  • Satisfaction of the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy, including completion of prerequisites, completion of 6 units of required courses, and GPA of at least 3.0;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination;
  • Approval of the candidate鈥檚 graduate program by the Graduate Advisor.

Requirements

  • A minimum of 33 units of approved upper division and graduate courses, including at least 21 units at the 500 or 600 level;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination. This exam is offered every semester and may be repeated as many times as needed.
  • Completion of the Language Other than English requirement. This may be satisfied by either of the following: 1) Two college semesters of one language other than English, with grades of C or better. This may be satisfied by courses taken as an undergraduate or a graduate, OR 2) Demonstration of proficiency at least equivalent to the level of two college semesters. This can include use of another language at home or for professional purposes, or proficiency may be demonstrated through an exam.
  • Completion of requirements of one of the options or the Special Concentration designated in the program;
  • Completion of one of two culminating experiences: Thesis or Project.
  • A GPA of at least 3.00 on all courses included in the program.

Option in General Linguistics

Core Requirements

Take all of the following courses (9 units):

  • LING 540 - Sociolinguistics (3 units)
  • LING 620 - Seminar in Syntactic Theory and Analysis (3 units)
  • LING 625 - Seminar in Phonetics and Phonology (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in research methods (3 units):

  • LING 580 - Linguistic Field Methods (3 units)
  • LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in language and society (3 units):

  • LING 533 - Ethnography of Communication (3 units)
  • LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)

General Linguistics Option Requirement

  • LING 580 - Linguistic Field Methods (3 units)

General Linguistics Option Electives

Take 9 to 15 units to reach the total unit requirement for the degree at 33 units. 

  • LING 501 - Corpus Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 522 - Discourse Analysis (3 credits)
  • LING 533 - Ethnography of Communication (3 units)
  • LING 538 - Psycholinguistics (3 units)
  • LING 539 - Language Acquisition (3 units)
  • LING 590 - Selected Topics in Linguistics (1鈥3 units)
  • LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 597 - Directed Study in Linguistics (1鈥6 units)
  • LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)

Culmination

Completion of one of two culminating experiences:

  1. A thesis (LING 698, 6 units).
  2. A project (LING 695 (1 unit) and LING 696, (2 units)).

Always check the to verify the most accurate and updated requirements.

Prerequisites

  1. A bachelor鈥檚 degree with a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units;
  2. 9 units of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of 鈥淐鈥 or above in each course) as follows:
  • LING 301 - Introduction to Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 420 - Phonology (3 units)
  • LING 421 - Syntax (3 units)

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy requires:

  • Satisfaction of the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy, including completion of prerequisites, completion of 6 units of required courses, and GPA of at least 3.0;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination;
  • Approval of the candidate鈥檚 graduate program by the Graduate Advisor.

Requirements

  • A minimum of 33 units of approved upper division and graduate courses, including at least 21 units at the 500 or 600 level;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination. This exam is offered every semester and may be repeated as many times as needed.
  • Completion of the Language Other than English requirement. This may be satisfied by either of the following: 1) Two college semesters of one language other than English, with grades of C or better. This may be satisfied by courses taken as an undergraduate or a graduate, OR 2) Demonstration of proficiency at least equivalent to the level of two college semesters. This can include use of another language at home or for professional purposes, or proficiency may be demonstrated through an exam.
  • Completion of requirements of one of the options or the Special Concentration designated in the program;
  • Completion of one of two culminating experiences: Thesis or Project.
  • A GPA of at least 3.00 on all courses included in the program.

Option in Language and Culture

(33 units)

Core Requirements

Take all of the following courses (9 units)

  • LING 540 - Sociolinguistics (3 units)
  • LING 620 - Seminar in Syntactic Theory and Analysis (3 units)
  • LING 625 - Seminar in Phonetics and Phonology (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in research methods: (3 units)

  • LING 580 - Linguistic Field Methods (3 units)
  • LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in languageand society: (3 units)

  • LING 533 - Ethnography of Communication (3 units)
  • LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)

Language and Culture Option Requirements

(Where credit had not been earned)

  • LING 533 - Ethnography of Communication (3 units)
  • LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)

Language and Culture Option Electives

Take 6 to 12 units in order to reach the total unit requirement for the degree at 33 units. 

  • LING 501 - Corpus Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 522 - Discourse Analysis (3 credits)
  • LING 538 - Psycholinguistics (3 units)
  • LING 539 - Language Acquisition (3 units)
  • LING 580 - Linguistic Field Methods (3 units)
  • LING 590 - Selected Topics in Linguistics (1鈥3 units)
  • LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 597 - Directed Study in Linguistics (1鈥6 units)
  • LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)

 

Culmination

Completion of one of two culminating experiences:

  1. A thesis (LING 698, 6 units).
  2. A project (LING 695 (1 unit) and LING 696 (2 units))

Always check the to verify the most accurate and updated requirements.

Prerequisites

  • A bachelor鈥檚 degree with a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units;  
  • 9 units of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of 鈥淐鈥 or above in each course) as follows:   

Nine (9) units in Linguistics; the following courses or equivalent:

  • LING 301 - Introduction to Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 420 - Phonology (3 units)
  • LING 421 - Syntax (3 units)

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy requires:

  • Satisfaction of the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy, including completion of prerequisites, completion of 6 units of required courses, and GPA of at least 3. 0;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination;
  • Approval of the candidate鈥檚 graduate program by the Graduate Advisor.

Requirements

  • A minimum of 33 units of approved upper division and graduate courses, including at least 21 units at the 500 or 600 level;
  • Passing score on the Qualifying Examination. This exam is offered every semester and may be repeated as many times as needed.
  • Completion of the Language Other than English requirement. This may be satisfied by either of the following: 1) Two college semesters of one language other than English, with grades of 鈥淐鈥 or better. This may be satisfied by courses taken as an undergraduate or a graduate, OR 2) Demonstration of proficiency at least equivalent to the level of two college semesters. This can include use of another language at home or for professional purposes, or proficiency may be demonstrated through an exam.
  • Completion of requirements of one of the options or the Special Concentration designated in the program;
  • Completion of one of two culminating experiences: Thesis or Project.
  • A GPA of at least 3. 00 on all courses included in the program.

Special Concentration

This concentration is 33 units. Students electing this concentration must 1) consult with the Graduate Advisor about their proposal; 2) submit a written justification for the course of study they wish to take, including 3) a list of the classes which are proposed to meet the objectives of this special  program. Both the written justification and the course list are subject to approval. Other requirements of the program (e.g. the core, GPA, culminating experiences, etc.) cannot be waived or altered by use of the special concentration. Students wanting graduate credit for certain 400-level courses must consult with the Graduate Advisor before enrolling.

Graduate students are required to register for the higher (500-level) course whenever a course has a double number. Students may not repeat courses by taking them under different prefix designations, numbers or titles unless the course description specifically permits.

Core Requirements

Take all of the following courses (9 units): 

  • LING 620 - Seminar in Syntactic Theory and Analysis (3 units)
  • LING 625 - Seminar in Phonetics and Phonology (3 units)
  • LING 540 - Sociolinguistics (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in research methods (3 units):

  • LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)
  • LING 580 - Linguistic Field Methods (3 units)
  • LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)

Take one of the following courses in language and society (3 units):

  • LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)
  • LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)
  • LING 533 - Ethnography of Communication (3 units)

Electives

Take 12-15 units of electives to reach the total unit requirement for the degree at 33 units. Students must consult with the graduate advisor to choose elective courses. (Note: Electives cannot double count for other program requirements.) 

Culmination

Completion of one of two culminating experiences:

  • A thesis (LING 698, 6 units).
  • A project (LING 695 (1 unit) and LING 696 (2 units))