5: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

General Information | Programs and Degrees Offered | Admission Information
Financial Assistance | Graduate Academic Regulations
Requirements for Specific Graduate Degrees | Departments and Programs | Faculty

Non-Departmental | Anthropology | Art | Asian and Middle Eastern | Asian Studies | Astronomy
Biochemistry | Biology | Biological and Physical Sciences | Biophysics | Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell Biology | Chemistry | Classics | Commerce | Drama | Economics | English | Environmental Sciences
French | German | Government and Foreign Affairs | Health Evaluation Sciences | History | Linguistics
Mathematics | Microbiology | Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics | Music | Neuroscience
Pharmacology | Philosophy | Physics | Psychology | Religious Studies | Russian and East European Studies
Slavic | Sociology | Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese | Statistics | Surgery

Program in Linguistics
Course Descriptions | Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Master of Arts Degree   A minimum of 30 credits, 18 elective chosen in consultation with an advisor and 12 credits as follows: LNGS 701; LING 502; a course in the structure of a modern or ancient language (note: this must be a linguistics course; language courses do not count toward the linguistics major); a course in theoretical linguistics. The latter two courses, as well as the remaining 18 credits of elective courses, are chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Comprehensive Examination   All students must pass a comprehensive qualifying examination, normally offered in the spring of the second year, consisting of written and oral components.

Thesis (optional)   Three of the total 30 credits may be devoted to writing a thesis. This option is recommended for those who plan to move on to a Ph.D. program in linguistics. Before beginning a thesis, a student must have successfully completed both parts of the comprehensive examination, and must submit a written thesis proposal signed by two members of the linguistics committee who have agreed to supervise the research.

Language Requirement   Reading knowledge of French or German is required. Competency is determined by written examination. Other languages may be substituted by petition to the linguistics committee.

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