Dec 04, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Linguistics, Language and Culture Option, M.A.

This program is designed both for students who wish to pursue further graduate study and those seeking a terminal degree. The program seeks to blend theoretical and applied aspects of linguistics and draws from a variety of disciplines. The M.A. offers two options and one concentration:

  1. General Linguistics Option
  2. Language and Culture Option
  3. Special Concentration

Graduate assistantships may be available to qualified students. 

Prerequisites

  1. A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units; 
  2. 9 units of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of “C” or above in each course) as follows: 

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’s 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)

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

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

Language and Culture Option Requirements

(Where credit had not been earned)

Language and Culture Option Electives

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