MA Requirements

MA in Linguistics

Admission Requirements for the Linguistics MA program:

•   Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or proof of equivalent education in a foreign institution

•   Undergraduate degree or satisfactory subject preparation in linguistics, a language, or a related field resulting in a satisfactory grade point average (GPA) (where there is a question of sufficient background, a program of leveling courses not to exceed 12 hours will be arrived at in consultation with the graduate advisor)

•   (For Hispanic linguistics only) Competency in both Spanish and English

•   Three letters of recommendation

•   TOEFL score of 213/550 or higher for international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in the U.S.

•   Statement of Purpose

•   What we want to see in a statement of purpose: 

A statement of purpose is what its name says: a statement of what you hope to accomplish in studying Linguistics at UTEP. It is not a history of your life experiences (as interesting and valuable as they may be).

A statement of purpose should contain the following information:

1. Some brief information (not a lot, because we can see that from your transcript) about your previous education and other factors (e.g. bilingualism) that could inform your linguistic knowledge;
2. Information on why you want to study Linguistics at UTEP, as suggested by any one or more of these questions:

• Why do you want to study linguistics in particular?
• What particular areas of linguistics are you interested in?
• Do you have any research ideas you'd like to develop?
• Why are you interested in UTEP in particular?
• Are there particular professors here that you'd like to work with?
• Do you want to be a member of /work in the Language Acquisition and Linguistics Research Lab?

3. Information on any experience you may have as a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or teaching at any non-university institution

The University catalog provides detailed information about the admission requirements. It is available at: http://catalog.utep.edu/grad/college-of-liberal-arts/languages-linguistics/linguistics-ma/

Fast Track MA in Linguistics

The ‘Fast Track’ MA (FTMA) is a program which allows you to utilize 15 hours of selected MA courses toward both the undergraduate Linguistics major and the MA in Linguistics.  Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for selection into the FTMA program:

•90 undergraduate hours completed with a 3.3 GPA;

•The core Linguistics BA courses, including LING 2320, LING 3301, LING 3302, and

LING 4316 completed; and

• A 3.5 GPA in the undergraduate major overall.

The courses which may be used for the 15 hours of dual credit include

LING 5309-Generative Syntax

LING 5310-Pedagogical Issues in English Structure

LING 5319-Historical English Linguistics

LING 5320-Phonology

LING 5348-Second Language Acquisition

LING 5388-Bilingualism

The admission procedure is as follows:

· Students will apply through Embark

· Approval of FT enrollment will be verified and processed with the submission of the

approved FT form.

· Additional admission materials will be required at the time the student transitions from

the UG to the Graduate program.

For questions or further information, contact the Graduate Advisor, Prof Natalia Mazzaro (nmazzaro@utep.edu).

MA Degree Requirements

36 Hours Minimum

Thesis and Non-thesis tracks and hours
There are one thesis and two non-thesis tracks. Each student must pursue one of these tracks. The thesis track requires LING 5398 and LING 5399, in addition to the requirements of 9 core hours and 21 elective hours. The thesis will be presented in an open defense. One non-thesis track involves an extended paper/project, which will be presented in an open defense. This track requires LING 5397, in addition to the requirements of 9 core hours and 24 elective hours. The second non-thesis track involves extended course work, requiring 9 core hours and 27 elective hours. Under this track, there will be a final open oral and/or written examination in the chosen primary area of study. In more detail, the requirements for each degree track, including the concentration possibilities mentioned above, are as follows:

MA degree in Linguistics:

Core Courses:  9 hours

_________LING 5301 Principles of Linguistic Analysis

_________LING 5309 Generative Syntax (LING 5301)

_________LING 5320 Phonology (LING 5301)

Additional requirements for the MA with no concentration:

-a thesis (LING 5398 and LING 5399), and

-21 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses

OR

-an extended paper (LING 5397), and

-24 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses

OR

-examination/open presentation of an area of interest beyond individual course work, and

-27 additional hours of graduate linguistic courses

Additional requirements for the MA concentration in Applied Linguistics:

LING 5348 Second Language Acquisition

AND

An advanced course in or relevant to AL (as agreed by student and graduate advisor)

AND EITHER

-a thesis in AL (LING 5398 and LING 5399), and

-15 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses

OR

-an extended paper in AL (LING 5397), and

-18 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses.

Additional requirements for the MA concentration in Hispanic Linguistics:

LING 5348 Second Language Acquisition

AND

An advanced course in or relevant to HispLx (as agreed by student and graduate advisor)

AND EITHER

-a thesis in HspLX (LING 5398 and LING 5399), and

-15 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses

OR

-an extended paper in HspLx (LING 5397), and

-18 additional hours of graduate linguistics courses.

Linguistics MA Course List:

(Prerequisites in parentheses)

5107 Seminar in Special Topics in Linguistic

5301 Principles of Linguistic Analysis

5308 Second Language Teaching--English

5309 Generative Syntax (LING 3302 (along with departmental approval), or 5301)

5310 Pedagogical Issues in English Structure

5319 English Historical Linguistics

5320 Phonology (LING 3301 or 5301)

5330 Computer-Assisted Language Learning

5331 Teaching Second Language Composition

5341 Psycholinguistics and Reading

5348 Second Language Acquisition

5370 Study in Language (various topics/organized class or individual study)

5373 Linguistic Variation

5374 Language Testing

5381 Spanish Phonetics and Phonology (LING 5320)

5382 Spanish Syntax (LING 5309)

5383 Spanish Morphology (LING 5301)

5385 Spanish Historical Linguistics

5388 Bilingualism

5397 Extended Research Project

5398 Thesis (I)

5399 Thesis (II) (LING 5398)

General Timelines and Guidelines for All Linguistics Graduate Students

Last or penultimate Semester: Submit FINAL PROGRAM OF STUDY to the Grad School.

Semester of graduation: Submit DEGREE APPLICATION FORM for graduation to the Grad

School before deadline published by the Graduate School.

The following are Program-specific regulations that supplement existing UTEP Graduate School policies:

For MA Students who intend to present a Thesis:

Semester 1:  Establish (with the Graduate Advisor) a SPECIALIZATION and a PRELIMINARY COURSE OF STUDY and submit it to the graduate school

Semesters 1-2: Complete the core courses (LING 5301, 5309, and 5320)

Semester 2: Select a thesis topic and secure a three-member advisory committee to include a supervisor, an additional member of the Linguistics graduate faculty, and a member from outside the Linguistics faculty

Semester 3: Continue coursework; enroll in 5398 and develop the proposal; submit a proposal to (i) the committee and (ii) the linguistics graduate faculty for approval

Semester 4: Enroll in 5399 and complete the thesis.  Repeat 5399 as necessary until the thesis is deemed defensible_ by the supervisor and the advisory committee

Defend thesis not less than 15 days before the thesis submission deadline as published by the Graduate School

For MA Students who intend to present an Extended Paper:

Semester 1:  Establish (with the Graduate Advisor) a SPECIALIZATION and a PRELIMINARY COURSE OF STUDY and submit it to the graduate school

Semesters 1-2: Complete the core courses (LING 5301, 5309, and 5320)

Semester 3: Continue Coursework

Early in Semester 3: Select an extended paper topic, secure a supervisor and a second reader, and submit a proposal

Semester 4: Enroll in 5397 and  complete the project in one semester under the guidance of the supervisor

Defend the Extended Paper not less than 15 days before the degree filing deadline as published by the Graduate School

For MA Students who elect the 36 sem. hr coursework option:

Semester 1:  Establish (with the Graduate Advisor) a PRELIMINARY COURSE OF STUDY and submit it to the graduate school

Semesters 1-2: Complete the core courses (LING 5301, 5309, and 5320)

Semester 3: Continue coursework

Semester 3: Select a topic and secure a committee consisting of supervisor and second member who will direct a final project, paper, or examination

Semester 4: Continue coursework

Semester 4:  Present results of final project or final paper or render examination not less than 15 days before the degree filing deadline as published by the Graduate School

Part-time students should fulfill requirements as follows:

Semester 1 requirements should be fulfilled within the first 9 credit hours

Semester 1-2 requirements should be fulfilled within the first 18 credit hours

Semester 3 requirements should be fulfilled within the third 9 credit hours (hrs 18-27)

Semester 4 requirements should be fulfilled within the final 9 credit hours (hrs 28-36) or last semester, as appropriate