|
![]() |
 |
(Including African Languages [Amharic, Arabic, Bamana, Lingala, Swahili,
Wolof, and Zulu], Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, and Sanskrit)
Head of the Department: Elabbas Benmamoun
Graduate Student Services
3080 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-6269
Fax: (217) 244-3050
E-mail: deptling@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree 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 seven major areas: computational linguistics,
historical linguistics, phonology/phonetics, psycholinguistics (including
language acquisition), 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).
For an application and more detailed information on departmental programs,
offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial aid, write
to the above address.
Admission and Advising
Undergraduate preparation for the study of linguistics at the graduate
level 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. Graduate College
admission requirements apply. The head of the department serves as
coordinator of graduate studies and adviser for new students. As students
progress in their studies, they select their own advisers according
to their individual needs and interests.
Master of Arts
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 3.0 (A = 4.0) and satisfy other department
and Graduate College requirements. All candidates in this program
are required to take five courses (LING 410, 501, 502, 541, 542),
choose one course from each of two sets: (LING 425/450, 509/550/551),
and take 12 graduate hours of electives. Electives may not contain
more than one unit of LING 590. 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
master of arts degree may write an acceptable master’s thesis
under LING 590, for 4 graduate hours in addition to the 40 graduate
hours course requirement (for a total of 44 graduate hours).
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. requires a grade point average
of 3.5 or better for all graduate work in linguistics, distinction
in passing the qualifying examination, and submission of 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 successfully
conducting advanced linguistic research.
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete at least 104 graduate
hours of graduate work, or 64 graduate hours beyond the master’s
degree. The minimum 104 graduate hours must include the course requirements
listed above for the master’s degree (or their equivalent),
the two core courses (LING 504, 516), a course in mathematical linguistics
(LING 407) or an appropriate course in social statistics, at least
two advanced courses as required for the area of specialization, and
32 graduate hours 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 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. 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 three-fourths 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.
|
|
|
