Why study linguistics?
Because language is a window into the mind. Linguistics provides an understanding of the human capacity to acquire, perceive, and produce language and of language’s role in contemporary society.
Our M.A. program in Linguistics requires the student to develop a solid understanding of the core areas of the discipline in addition to an in-depth specialty in one of the many areas available through the research interests of the faculty. Areas of special strength in the graduate program include phonetics, phonology, syntax, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, first language acquisition, second language acquisition, semantics, and the study of indigenous languages.
The student will work with their academic advisor to devise a course of study that best suits the student's research interests.
The M.A. program usually takes two years. Students in the M.A. program complete a written Research Proposal and an Oral Examination of the Research Proposal, typically in their fourth semester of study. Students are required to take an Advanced II-level course to develop their understanding of research in their area of interest.
Admission to Graduate Studies
An applicant seeking to pursue graduate study in the College may be admitted as either a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. Policies and procedures of Graduate Studies govern the process of Graduate admission. These may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Please consult the Departments & Programs section of the online catalog for information regarding program-specific admissions criteria and requirements. Special admissions requirements pertain to Interdisciplinary Studies degrees, which may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Graduate Admission
Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, an official copy of transcript from baccalaureate granting institution and transcripts from institutions attended post-baccalaureate, 3 letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements as described on the Graduate Admissions website. New students are admitted each Fall. The application deadline for the Linguistics M.A. program is December 1.
Submit your graduate application online. For further information regarding the application process, including department-specific deadlines and required supplemental documentation, please visit the Admissions page of the department website, or contact the department's Graduate Program Coordinator, Alec Graham, alec.graham@ku.edu.
M.A. Degree Requirements
The M.A. is structured as a 2 year program.
Degree Requirements
The following are minimum requirements.
Course Work
33 credit hours of graduate work including
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LING 794 | Proseminar | 3 |
| LING 705 | Phonetics I | 3 |
| LING 712 | Phonology I | 3 |
| LING 725 | Syntax I | 3 |
| LING 709 | First Language Acquisition I | 3 |
| or LING 715 | Second Language Acquisition I |
| LING 735 | Psycholinguistics I | 3 |
| or LING 738 | Neurolinguistics I |
| 3 |
| Research Methods in Linguistics | |
| Field Methods in Linguistic Description | |
| Research Methods in Child Language | |
| 6 |
| 3 |
| |
| Phonetics II | |
| Phonology II | |
| Second Language Acquisition II | |
| Syntax II | |
| Morphology | |
| Semantics | |
| Psycholinguistics II | |
| First Language Acquisition II | |
| Neurolinguistics II | |
| Language Variation and Change | |
| |
| Seminar in Phonetics | |
| Seminar in Phonology | |
| Seminar in First Language Acquisition | |
| Seminar in Syntax | |
| Seminar in Semantics | |
| Seminar in Psycholinguistics | |
| Seminar in Neurolinguistics | |
| Seminar in Second Language Acquisition | |
| |
| Linguistic Seminar: _____ | |
| 3 |
| Topics in Research in Experimental Linguistics: _____ | |
| Research in Language Acquisition and Processing | |
| Research in Field and Formal Linguistics | |
| |
| Total Hours | 33 |
