Graduate
Master of Arts Degree
MA General Requirements
This page outlines the general requirements for the MA degree. To see the specific requirements for individual programs, click on one of the program links under “MA requirements” on the right of this page.
Admission
Full-status admission to the MA program is granted to well-qualified students who hold a baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent. A minimum grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale) is the academic requirement for admission to full graduate status. Provisional-status admission is sometimes granted to students whose grade point averages are below B or who cannot yet fulfill the language requirement, but who present other evidence of aptitude for graduate work in linguistics.
Information for international students
General REquirements
COURSES
The MA Program requires a miniumum of 10 courses (30 credits) chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor; in order to receive the degree, a student must maintain a grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
For specific course-related requirements, click on one of the program links under “MA requirements” on the right of this page.
Foreign Language Requirement
Proficiency in one foreign language is required for the MA degree. This requirement is satisfied by examination for students whose native language is English. Foreign students whose native language is not English and who complete their MA work with a grade point average of B (3.0) or better will have fulfilled this requirement automatically.
Comprehensive Examinations
This requirement is met by obtaining a grade of B+ or better in all core courses. Any student who has received a grade below B+ in any of those courses has the choice of either repeating the course(s) or taking a comprehensive examination in the areas corresponding to the course(s) with a low grade; this examination will normally take place before the long proposal is presented.
Thesis or long paper proposal*
Title page template for thesis/long paper proposal (Word document)
*Note: Once the proposal has been approved by your committee, the signed copy will be kept in your student file. Do not use this title page for your actual thesis; this format is set by the School of Arts and Sciences.
Time required for completion of the MA
The absolute minimum for students enrolled full time and entering in the fall term would be four terms, since 30 required credits could be taken in that period. However, only a student with extensive previous course work in linguistics could finish in that short a time, and in recent years students have taken five or six terms (two calendar years) to complete the degree.
CONCENTRATIONS
The Department of Linguistics offers a terminal Master's degree with an option of three different concentations:
General and Descriptive Linguistics