Linguistics, General Linguistics 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 three options and one concentration:

General Linguistics Option
Language and Culture Option
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Special Concentration

Graduate assistantships may be available to qualified students.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 units;
9 units of undergraduate coursework (with a grade of “C” 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

Satisfaction of the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy, including prerequisites,and 3.0 GPA.
Completion of the language other than English requirement: this is satisﬁed if you are a native speaker of a language other than English. If your native language is English, you can satisfy this requirement in one of three ways:
- 6-unit route: advanced level language courses (typically 300 level courses and above).
- 12-unit route: can take lower-division units (below 300 level courses) to fulﬁll one year EACH (two years total) in two languages. at least one of which must be non-Indo-European.
- Professional use: this includes students who demonstrate knowledge of a language other than English through service (e.g., Peace Corps, schooling, business, etc.)
Completion of six units of course work within the program, exclusive of any classes used to meet prerequisites.
Approval of the candidate’s graduate program by the Graduate Advisor, the Associate Dean for Instructional Programs of the College of Liberal Arts, and any other individuals identiﬁed by relevant university policy.
Advancement must take place no later than the semester before the student graduates.

Requirements

A minimum of 33 units of approved upper division and graduate courses for the thesis path or a minimum of 34 units of approved upper division and graduate courses of the comprehensive examination path, including

A minimum of 21 units at the 500 or 600 level;

The completion of requirements of one of the options or the Special Concentration designated in the program;

Completion of one of two culminating experiences (Note: In order to satisfy the culminating activity requirement (thesis, project, or comprehensive examination dependent upon the program), students must earn at least three (3) units and no more than six (6) units related to the completion of the culminating activity.):

A. A thesis and its accompanying oral defense and oral examination (LING 698, 6 units).

B. The comprehensive examination and its accompanying graduate paper (LING 697, take 3 units).

A GPA of 3.00 on all courses included in the program.

Option in General Linguistics

Core Requirements

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 (1‑3 units)
LING 595 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 units)
LING 596 - Quantitative Research Methods (3 units)
LING 597 - Directed Study in Linguistics (1‑6 units)
LING 610 - Historical Linguistics (3 units)
LING 650 - Seminar in Bilingualism (3 units)

Culmination

Completion of one of two culminating experiences:

A thesis and its accompanying oral defense and oral examination (LING 698 , 6 units).
The comprehensive examination and its accompanying graduate paper (LING 697 , take for 3 units).