Master of Arts in Linguistics

The program is designed for students who wish to use their degree immediately for teaching or other applied work, and for those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. or other degree. All students complete core courses within the four basic content areas and methodology categories. In addition, students must choose one of the four types of Masterfs available within our Linguistics program and also fulfill elective units. Each Master of Arts in Linguistics takes either 30-units to complete (comprehensive thesis option) or 34-units to complete (comprehensive exams and project option).

Prerequisites

Some students must fulfill additional units depending on their prior Linguistics background (to be determined by the Graduate Advisor). The prerequisite courses need not be taken at CSULB. The prerequisite units must be approved and waived by the graduate advisor upon admission. These units may be taken while admitted to the program on a conditional status. It is recommended for students to take the prerequisites before taking any graduate level core courses. The prerequisites include:

  1. Introduction to Linguistics (3 units):
    • ANTHRO/LING 170-- Introduction to Linguistics
      LING 325-- Modern English Grammar
      or equivalent approved by advisor.
  2. Language Acquisition (3 units):
    • Language Acquisition (3 units) - LING 329 or equivalent
      or equivalent
  3. Phonology (3 units):
    • Phonology (3 units) - LING 420 or equivalent
      or equivalent
  4. Syntax (3 units):
    • Syntax (3 units) - LING 421
      or equivalent
  5. Language Variation (3 units): e.g.:
    • LING 379--Sociolinguistics and Schooling
    • LING 413--Language and Culture
    • LING 425--Education Across Cultures
    • LING 426--Historical Linguistics
    • LING 472--Language and Discrimination
    • PSY 438--Psycholinguistics
  6. Language related courses (6 units):
    • (e.g., Literature, Translation, Rhetoric, or other areas approved by advisor)
  7. Language Other Than English (LOTE) (6 or 12 units; native speaker or professional use)
    • 6-unit route: upper-division units (300 level courses and above).
    • 12-unit route: can take lower-division units (below 300 level courses) to fulfill one year EACH (two years total) within two types of languages: one Indo-European and one non-Indo-European.
    • The LOTE requirements are waived if the student is a native speaker of a LOTE
    • Professional use: this includes students who demonstrate a LOTE through service (e.g., peace corps, schooling, business, etc.)

Master of Arts in Linguistics: The Core (15 units)

Core Courses (15 units) give all linguistics Masterfs students graduate background in general linguistic levels of analysis and key interdisciplinary and applied areas.

  1. TWO SEMINARS IN BASIC LINGUISTICS
    • LING 620--Seminar in Syntax
    • LING 625--Seminar in Phonology
    • LING 633--Discourse and Grammar
  2. ONE COURSE IN LANGUAGE VARIATION
    • LING 540--Sociolinguistics
    • LING 610--Historical Linguistics
    • LING 650--Seminar in Bilingualism
  3. ONE COURSE IN LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
    • LING 539--Language Acquisition
  4. ONE COURSE IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
    • LING 580/ANTH 570--Field Methods
    • LING/EDP 595--Qualitative Research Methods
    • LING 596--Research in Linguistics