2008 Linguistics & TESOL graduates

Department of Linguistics & TESOL | The University of Texas at Arlington

Degree Requirements:

M.A. in Linguistics

NOTE: Effective in the Spring Semester 2007, the M.A. Comprehensive Exam will be based on these Revised Degree Requirements, regardless of the student's catalog year. As such, all students are advised to take LING 5347: Pragmatics as soon as possible.

These degree requirements are effective for students entering Fall 2006 or later. Students who entered the program prior to Fall 2006 can download the old MA Linguistics program requirements (PDF) here.

M.A. Linguistics Program Objective

The objective of the M.A. Program is to provide students with a solid foundation in linguistic analysis. To this end, the centerpiece of the M.A. program is the M.A. LING Core, which will expose every student to the fundamental concepts of our field. Beyond the Core, students should select courses that fit their particular interests and career goals.

If you're interested in enrolling in this program, consult our Prospective Students page.

Admissions Requirements for Applicants

Be sure to read the Admissions Requirements (PDF) for Linguistics & TESOL graduate programs.

Degree Plan

36 credit hours of graduate-level course work plus comprehensive written examination on the coursework. Students requiring leveling courses must add nine (9) hours, for a total of 45 hours.

M.A. LING Curriculum

Leveling Courses: Students with no prior study in linguistics (as indicated by an official transcript) must complete the following three leveling courses:

Students required to take the leveling courses must earn a grade of 'A' or 'B' in each to be allowed continued enrollment in the program, regardless of their performance in any other linguistics courses.

Students who present documentation of comparable coursework (with grades no lower than a 'B-') may have the leveling course requirement waived from their program of work. The M.A. Advisor will be charged with evaluating previous coursework and making decisions about leveling course waivers.

Core Courses: All students must complete one course from each of the following six areas (18 credits):

  1. Language in Context: LING 5310: Sociolinguistics
    » alternate courses:
    • LING 5311: Sociolinguistics of Society
    • LING 5314: Comparative and Historical Linguistics
    • LING 5351: Spoken Discourse
  2. Sound Structure: LING 5320: Phonological Theory
  3. Grammatical Structure: LING 5330: Formal Syntax
  4. Meaning and Use: LING 5347: Pragmatics
  5. Language Diversity: LING 5380: Field Methods
    » alternate course:
    • LING 5360: Non-Western Linguistic Structures
  6. Capstone Course: LING 5370: Survey of Linguistic Theories
    » alternate course:
    • LING 5372: Readings in Linguistics

Elective Courses: Students are required to supplement their knowledge of core areas (1) through (4) by taking one course from each of the following areas:

  1. Language in Context:
    • Any course listed above under 'Core Courses, Area (1)'
    • LING 5312: Language and Gender
  2. Sound Structure:
    • LING 5321: Advanced Phonological Theory
    • LING 5322: Laboratory Phonology
    • LING 5334: Morphology
  3. Grammatical Structure:
    • LING 5331: Advanced Formal Syntax
    • LING 5333: Functional Typological Grammar
    • LING 5334: Morphology
    • LING 5335: Language Universals & Typology
  4. Meaning and Use:
    • LING 5332: Discourse Grammar
    • LING 5345: Semantics
    • LING 5350: Text Analysis
    • LING 5351: Spoken Discourse

M.A. Comprehensive Examination

The M.A. Comprehensive Examination should be taken during the final semester of study; exceptions to this policy must be approved by the M.A. Advisor. The examination covers material from the first areas listed in the "Core Courses" section (above):

The Comprehensive Examination is given twice each year, in the fall semester (early November) and the spring semester (early April); a specific exam date will be announced at the beginning of each semester.

A student who fails the exam and is granted permission to be re-examined must sit for the entire exam again; no "partial exams" will be administered. After receiving the results of their Comprehensive Exam, students must file a "Master's Examination Report" with the Graduate School.

See the Exams section of our website to get information that will help you prepare for the Comprehensive Exam.

Admissions Requirements

If you are interested in enrolling in this program, consult the Prospective Students page. And be sure to read the Admissions Requirements (PDF) for Linguistics & TESOL graduate programs.

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