The Masters program has been devised to provide all candidates a common set of core courses that offers them a well rounded preparation for a professional terminal degree or for subsequent specialization at the doctorate level. A total of ten (10) units of coursework are required for all candidates entering with previous coursework in linguistics, and eleven units (twelve courses) for those without such a preparation.

The M.A. program responds to current theoretical and applied developments in the linguistic sciences, job market demands, and the growing demand in research institutions and industries (e.g., communication, computer and software) for skills in both applied and formal linguistics. While establishing a common set of core courses for all candidates, the program offers considerable flexibility through electives.

M.A. Course Requirements

A. Core Courses:

M.A. Admission Prerequisite (2 courses) (each course 0.5 unit)

1. LING 400: Introduction to Linguistic Structure
2. LING 401: Introduction to General Phonetics

M.A. Courses (7 required and 3 elective courses, a total of 10 courses, each course 1 unit)

1. LING 410: Historical Linguistics
2. LING 501:Syntax, I
3. LING 502:Phonology, I
4. LING 541:Syntax, II
5. LING 542:Phonology, II

Choose one (1) from each set: (each course 1 unit)

6. a. LING 425: Introduction to Psycholinguistics
    b. LING 450: Sociolinguistics, I
7. a. LING 509: Cognitive Semantics
    b. LING 507: Formal Semantics, I
    c. LING 551: Pragmatics, I

B. Electives:

The three elective courses may not contain more than one unit of Ling 590 and must be chosen from any one of the areas or from a combination of areas of specialization specified in this program (i.e., computational linguistics, historical linguistics, phonology/phonetics, sociolinguistics/neurolinguistics, semantics/pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and syntax.)

C. Other requirements

The M.A. degree will be awarded by completing the coursework specified above, and by passing the M.A. Qualifying Examination or by writing an acceptable M.A. thesis under Linguistics 590 for one additional unit. All candidates for the Master's degree must have proficiency in one additional language (other than their native tongue) in which there exists a significant body of linguistic literature. This language may be English for students whose native language is not English.