Linguistics (MA)
Department website: http://liberalarts.utexas.edu/linguistics/
Through its core courses, the Department of Linguistics provides every doctoral student a thorough foundation in phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and linguistic field methods. The department has five primary research areas: computational linguistics, phonetics and phonology, syntax and semantics, documentary and descriptive linguistics (especially of Latin American languages), and signed language linguistics. The department also offers strong training in historical linguistics and psycho- and neurolinguistics. The faculty seek to give students broad training in linguistics alongside their eventual specialization in one or more subfields.
A student’s Program of Work in linguistics may be combined with supporting work in other areas such as specific languages; anthropology; computer science; philosophy; psychology; statistics; or speech, language, and hearing sciences.
Graduate Handbook
Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.
Admission
Admission to graduate work is not necessarily restricted to those who have a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in linguistics, although this background is recommended. A number of other fields can also provide valuable preparation. The Department of Linguistics only rarely accepts Master's-only seeking students, and only in the area of Computational Linguistics.
Total Hours Required: 36
Requirements
Students in the Doctoral program are able to acquire a Master's degree on the way to attaining their PhD.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LIN 380K | Phonology I | 3 |
| LIN 380L | Syntax I | 3 |
| LIN 380M | Semantics I | 3 |
| LIN 381M | Phonetics | 3 |
| LIN 385 | Field Methods in Linguistic Investigation | 3 |
| Select six additional hours of research equivalencies in the primary area of interest: | 6 | |
| Phonology II | ||
| Syntax II | ||
| Research in Computational Linguistics | ||
| Research in Documentary and Descriptive Linguistics | ||
| Research in Phonetics and Phonology | ||
| Research in Syntax and Semantics | ||
| Research in Signed Languages | ||
| Conference Course in Linguistics | ||
any advanced course or non-core area course | ||
| Select six hours in a minor area (not used for the research equivalencies) | 6 | |
| LIN 398R | Master's Report | 3 |
| or LIN 398 | Thesis | |
| The remaining six hours of coursework for the report option, or the remaining three semester hours for the thesis option, must be fulfilled by courses approved by the graduate advisor | 6 | |
| Graduate Liberal Arts Requirements | ||
| Graduate University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
During the first year, students write a first-year paper in conjunction with a research course. During the second year, they write their master¹s report or thesis.
The department has no formal language requirement, but the faculty recommends that students have or acquire some familiarity with at least one language other than their native language.