(Including African Languages: Afrikaans, Bambara, Hausa, Lingala, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, and Zulu; Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Persian (Farsi), and Sanskrit)
Head of the Department: Elmer H. Antonsen
Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 4088 Foreign Language Building , 707 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-3563; FAX: (217) 333-3466; EMAIL: deptling@uiuc.edu
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: P. J. Alfonso, E. H. Antonsen, D. E. Baron, W. C. Blaylock,
E. G. Bokamba, G. Browne, C. C. Cheng, G. Dell, W. B. Dickerson, P. A. Gaeng,
G. M. Green, H. H. Hock, B. B. Kachru, Y. Kachru, C.-W. Kim, C. W. Kisseberth,
C. Kramarae, D. P. Kuehn, F. K. Lehman, H. Maclay, J. W. Marchand, J. L.
Morgan, G. L. Tikku, L. Zgusta.
Associate Professors: L. F. Bouton, J. R. Cowan, F. Y. Gladney, R. S. Hart, J. I. Hualde, F. M. Jenkins, D. Kibbee, M. Mack, J. Packard, R. Pandharipande, W. T. Pitard
Assistant Professors: F. Cassimjee, J. Cole, C. Fisher, S. Fujii, S. Garnsey, S. Gonzo, N. P. Markee, D. Chirita-Vogel, J. H. S. Yoon, A. Zucchi
Emeritus Professors: K. O. Aston, C. L. Dawson
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Linguistics offers graduate programs leading to the master of
arts and doctor of philosophy degrees. Work toward these degrees is divided
into two major areas. General linguistics includes historical linguistics,
phonology, semantics, and syntax. Applied linguistics covers experimental
phonetics, language acquisition, lexicography, psycholinguistics,
sociolinguistics, and stylistics. Other areas of concentration are artificial
intelligence, cognitive science, and computational linguistics, as well as area
linguistics (with concentration in African; Germanic; Romance; Semitic; and
South, West, or East Asian linguistics, etc.). Work in these areas may be done
under general or applied linguistics. For an application and more detailed
information on departmental programs, offerings, admission, degree
requirements, and financial aid, write to the above address.
MASTER OF ARTS IN GENERAL OR APPLIED LINGUISTICS
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 10 units with a minimum grade-point average of 4.0 (A
= 5.0) and satisfy other department and Graduate College requirements. Those
concentrating on the general program are required to take Linguistics 307, 310,
340, 401, 402, 441, 442, and 3 units of electives. The applied program requires
Linguistics 325, 340, 350, 401, 402, 441, 442, and 3 units of electives.
Electives may not contain more than 1 unit of Linguistics 490. In addition,
students must have proficiency in one language (other than their native tongue)
that has a significant body of linguistic literature and must pass the
qualifying examination. Instead of taking the examination, students wishing to
obtain a terminal M.A. degree may write an acceptable M.A. thesis under
Linguistics 490, for 1 unit in addition to the 10-unit course requirement (for
a total of 11 units).
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GENERAL OR APPLIED LINGUISTICS
Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. requires a grade-point average of 4.5 or
better for all graduate work in linguistics, distinction in passing the
qualifying examination, achieving a grade of B or better in each of two courses
in an approved sequence not covered by the qualifying exam, and submitting an
acceptable original research paper that meets professional standards. In
deciding whether students will be admitted to the Ph.D. program, the
examination and student evaluation committee considers their performance in
meeting these requirements, as well as their general potential for doing
advanced linguistic research.
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete at least 26 units of graduate work, or 16 units beyond the master's degree. The minimum 26 units must include the course requirements listed above for the master's degree (or their equivalent), advanced courses as required for the area of specialization, and 8 units of thesis research. Candidates must also demonstrate proficiency in a language that is neither their native tongue nor the same language as that used to satisfy the first foreign language requirement. Students are encouraged to attend at least one summer session of the Linguistic Institute of the Linguistic Society of America. Up to 2 units of credit granted under this program may be transferred. Candidates are required to take the preliminary examinations (written and oral) after completion of 8 units beyond the master's level and to present a talk at a meeting of the Linguistics Seminar. Before presenting their final dissertation defense, students are required to demonstrate familiarity with a non-Western language to ensure familiarity with the linguistic structure of a language substantially different from those routinely discussed in required courses.
FINANCIAL AID
Approximately 90 percent of the graduate students in the department receive
financial aid, either through the department or through other units in the
University, in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, research
assistantships, or departmental assistantships. 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.
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