Linguistics
(Including African Languages [Amharic, Arabic, Bamana, Lingala, Swahili, Wolof, and Zulu], Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Persian, Sanskrit, and Turkish)
Director of Graduate Studies: Jennifer S. Cole
Director of Admissions Committee: Hye Suk James Yoon
4080 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3563
Fax: (217) 244-8430
E-mail: deptling@illinois.edu
Major: Linguistics
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Major: Teaching of English as a Second Language
Degrees Offered: M.A.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Linguistics and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Linguistics offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Work toward these degrees is divided into eight major areas: computational linguistics, historical linguistics, phonology/phonetics, psycholinguistics (including language acquisition), second language studies, semantics/pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and syntax. Other areas of concentration are artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and area linguistics (with concentration in African; Germanic; Romance; Semitic; and South, West, or East Asian linguistics). More detailed information on departmental programs, offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial aid, may be found at: www.linguistics.illinois.edu.
The Master of Arts in the Teaching of English as a Second Language (MATESL) formerly offered by the Division of English as an International Language is now offered through the Department of Linguistics. Admission, degree requirements and financial aid information follow the Linguistics requirements.
Admission
Applicants to the M.A., MATESL, and Ph.D. programs in Linguistics must have completed a bachelor's degree.
For the M.A. and Ph.D. programs, undergraduate preparation should include the study of at least one foreign language; courses equivalent to LING 210, 400, and 401 on this campus; and a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, or mathematics.
For the MATESL program, an undergraduate major in linguistics, English, a foreign language, or education is generally recommended, though other majors are also acceptable. Applicants must present a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Two years of coursework in a foreign language or the equivalent are also required.
Applicants to all Linguistics graduate programs should apply online (www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/) and submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample of 10-20 pages in length. Original transcripts (with English translations if applicable) showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should be sent to SLCL Graduate Student Services, 3070 Foreign Languages Bldg., 707 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required. The applicant should ask the ETS to submit scores to institution 1836. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 88 (100 preferred) on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24 (see www.grad.illinois.edu/Admissions/instructions/04) Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services at slclgradservices@illinois.edu.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts, Linguistics
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three elective courses (including 590, max 4 hours) must be chosen from any one of the areas of specialization | 12 | 12 |
| LING 410, 501, 502, 541, and 542 | 20 | 20 |
| LING 425 or 450 | 4 | 4 |
| LING 507 or 509 or 551 | 4 | 4 |
| Special Topics, LING 590 (min/max hours applied toward degree): | max 4 | |
| Language Requirement: Students must have proficiency in one language (other than their native tongue) that has a significant body of linguistic literature | ||
| Total Hours | 44 | 40 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| M.A. Qualifying Examination or writing of an acceptable M.A. thesis is required. Students writing a thesis are required to take 4 additional hours of LING 590 in addition to the required 40 hours. | 0 or 4 | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 | 2.75 |
The aim of the master's program is to instruct students in the major areas of linguistic theory and the methods of linguistic analysis. Candidates for this degree must earn at least 40 graduate hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 (A = 4.0) and satisfy other department and Graduate College requirements.
Master of Arts, Teaching of English as a Second Language
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Coursework | ||
| Thesis Hours Required – EIL 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-8 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | 40 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Courses that satisfy curriculum prerequisites may be taken, but do not count toward graduation requirements | Courses that satisfy curriculum prerequisites may be taken, but do not count toward graduation requirements | |
| Comprehensive Examination is required | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The MATESL program offers two separate curricula or tracks. One track is designed for candidates whose principal interests are in language pedagogy and related research. The other track encourages candidates to concentrate more heavily on applied research in various aspects of English studies, such as those listed below under faculty specializations. A detailed description of the two tracks is available at www.linguistics.illinois.edu/students/grad/matesl/. Usually candidates can meet all degree requirements in two years.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| LING 504 and 516 | 8 |
| LING 407 or an appropriate course in Social Statistics | 4 |
| Two required courses in the area of specialization or a combination of such courses across specializations upon the approval of the advisor | 8 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | |
| Language Requirement: Proficiency in a language that is neither their native tongue nor the same language that satisfied the foreign language requirement for the M.A. degree | |
| Thesis Hours Required- LING 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements must be met (additional 40 hours min) |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. requires a grade point average of 3.5 or better in the required M.A. courses (not counting the electives) a minimum grade point average of 2.75 over all graduate work in linguistics, and distinction in passing the qualifying examination. In deciding whether students will be admitted to the Ph.D. program, the Student Examination and Evaluation Committee considers their performance in meeting these requirements, as well as their general potential for successfully conducting advanced linguistic research.
Students are encouraged to attend at least one summer session of the Linguistic Institute of the Linguistic Society of America. Up to 8 graduate hours of credit granted under this program may be transferred, with Graduate College approval. Candidates are required to take the preliminary examinations (written and oral) after completion of 32 graduate hours beyond the master's level and to present a research paper at a meeting of the Linguistics Seminar.
Note that the requirements for the specialization in second language studies are different from those for other specializations at the doctoral level. These are summarized below:
Doctor of Philosophy, specialization in second language studies
| Prerequisite Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| LING 501 and 502 | 8 |
| Two additional courses chosen from three separate areas: Language Analysis Ling 541 OR LING 542;OR LING 509 OR LING 527 OR LING 551; Language Use LING 450 OR EIL 456; Psycholinguistics LING 425 | 8 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Two courses in research design/methodology (one each in qualitative research design (EIL 587 OR EIL 590) and quantitative research design (LING 514) | 8 |
| In consultation with their advisor, candidates will take six courses selected from the following five areas of specialization: Language Analysis; Language Learning; Language Use; Language Education; Educational Technology. At least two of these courses must come from outside the area of specialization that is most relevant to candidates' dissertation work. | 24 |
| Language Requirement: Proficiency in a language that is neither their native tongue nor the same language that satisfied the foreign language requirement for the M.A. degree | |
| Thesis Hours Required - LING 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Linguistics. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Financial Aid
The Linguistics department aims to provide financial aid for all graduate students in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs for up to five years, in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or departmental assistantships. To hold a teaching assistantship non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability (see www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm). Some students received aid through other units in the University. New applicants receive automatic consideration for financial aid within the department, including teaching assistantships for the non-Western languages taught in its programs. For details and applications, write to the above address.
For students in the MATESL program, financial assistance is offered to as many qualified applicants as possible, but cannot be awarded to all. A record of extensive experience in teaching English as a second language enhances a candidate's chance of receiving financial assistance during one's first semester. A limited number of University fellowships are available for exceptionally qualified candidates. Teaching assistants (see www.grad.illinois.edu/Admissions/instructions/04c) teach students in the Division's ESL program and in the Intensive English Institute.