Linguistics, Communications and Semantics Concentration, M.A.

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(30 UNITS)

Master of Arts in Linguistics

Linguistics is the study of language. Like other rapidly developing fields, linguistics resists simple classification into one of the traditional categories of academic disciplines. As one of the humanities, linguistics is concerned with the historical development of a particular language or language family. As a social science, linguistics may be related to anthropology in describing language as part of culture; or it may be related to psychology in describing phonetics; it may even be considered a natural science, related to the physical science of acoustics and the biological sciences of anatomy and physiology. As an applied science, linguistics has found many applications in fields as far apart as language pedagogy, speech therapy, and computer programming. Finally, linguistics may be considered a formal science in its own right, related to mathematics and logic.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for complete information.

Graduate Standing - Classified

Classified graduate standing requires a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics or a related field from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 GPA in the major courses provided that a minimum of 24 units of upper-division coursework is included.

A student who has not completed the equivalent of one or more of the following courses, as determined by the Linguistics graduate adviser, must enroll in the respective prerequisite course(s). Such enrollment may be achieved concurrently with graduate course work in the program:

Additional Information

These prerequisites must be made up with at least a 3.0 GPA in such makeup coursework. In the event that the student’s GPA in prerequisite Linguistics courses is less than 3.0, six to nine units of probationary, adviser-approved coursework may be assigned. If the GPA in these probationary courses is 3.0 or better, the student may be classified. Some courses taken to make up qualitative deficiencies may be credited toward the M.A. if completed with a “B” (3.0) or better, and if applicable to the student’s particular study plan. Courses taken to remove quantitative deficiencies may not be applied to the M.A. program.

Knowledge of one foreign language is required (equivalent of a 300-level Modern Languages course). Students without coursework in a foreign language may demonstrate proficiency by a score of average or better on the MLA-ETS Proficiency Examination for Advanced Students. Work toward fulfillment of this requirement may be taken concurrently with graduate work in linguistics.

Modifications of certain prerequisite requirements may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.

A study plan must be developed and approved for admission to classified graduate standing.

Core Requirements (21 units)

Descriptive and Historical Linguistics (15 units)

Linguistics or a Related Field Elective (3 units)

Culminating Experience (3 units)

LING 597 - Project (3)
Written comprehensive examination *

Note:

* Required at the conclusion of the program. May be repeated only once. A reading list for the examination and specifications for the project are available in the program office. For further information, consult the graduate adviser.

Communications and Semantics Concentration (9 units)

The Communication and Semantics concentration allows students to focus on language as a communication tool, exploring the nature of inherent and contextual meaning, cross-cultural differences in the expression of meaning and more.

Electives (9 units)

Courses from other fields may be selected with adviser approval.