Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for applications?

In order to apply to the graduate program in the Department of Linguistics, you must apply via our online application. Applications for the one- or two-year stand-alone MA programs are due by March 15 of every year and admissions will be considered on a rolling basis.  Two-year MA applicants who submit by February 28 will be notified of the resulting decision in time to attend a prospective student day in the spring. Two-year MA applicants who meet the March 15 deadline will be notified by April 1. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. It is important that you begin your application process early so that test results are submitted in advance of the deadline and enough time is allowed for your recommenders to submit their letters. 

When will I hear what decision has been made about admission?

MA applicants will be considered as they are complete from early January. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

PhD applicants should receive a response by mid-March. Final decisions on financial aid for PhD candidates cannot be made before March.

All applicants will be notified by late April, at the latest.

I have transcripts and other materials to send through regular mail. What address should I use?

Do not send any materials via regular mail.

All application materials, including transcripts, should be uploaded via the online application. If there are documents that will not upload properly, first contact the GradCas helpline:

You can log in to your application and contact GradCas using the chat icon in the lower right corner. You can also contact GradCasby phone at 857-304-2086 or by email at gradcasinfo@liaisoncas.com. Note the following:

Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM ET.

For the quickest response, log in to your application and contact them by chat. They typically provide responses to emails within two business days; however, response times can take up to three business days when they are at their busiest. Be sure to have your CAS ID number (located under your name in the upper-right corner of the application) when contacting GradCAS.

If your writing sample is too large for an upload, you can send a portion of your writing sample.  See question below about writing samples.

 What are the prerequisites for entry into the program?

You do not need an undergraduate major in Linguistics to apply to Pitt’s Linguistics Graduate Programs. Students who enter our programs often have degrees in a variety of modern languages, anthropology, communications, computer science, education, English, or psychology. This is not an exhaustive list, however.

For the MA program, the applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent.  A minimum grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale) is the academic requirement for admission to full graduate study. 

For the PhD program, evidence of excellent potential for doctoral-level study in linguistics and a good fit between the applicant's scholarly interests and those of relevant faculty is the major substantive criteria for an admission.

PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to directly contact those faculty members of the Department who they might like to work with before applying to the program.

What is the relative importance of disciplinary background, grade point average, letters of recommendation,  and English language proficiency scores?

All of these factors are important, but a good score on one of them can compensate for a weak showing on some other factor. If English is not one of the applicant’s first languages, we also consult the TOEFL or IELTS score for further information on verbal proficiency.

Is the GRE required for admission?

No, the GRE is no longer a requirement for admission to the MA or PhD programs.

What about financial aid?

View information on financial aid »

I am applying for a degree program. Do I need to apply for funding separately?

All applicants to the graduate program are considered for departmental funding as teaching assistants or for Arts and Sciences fellowships. There is no separate application for funding.

How much is the monthly stipend for TAs and TFs?

Learn more about current stipend and funding info. Students can elect to receive these funds over the course of 8 or 12 months

Can I apply for spring semester admission?

No. Because of our course sequencing we only admit in the fall.

Where can I see detailed course descriptions?

Visit the University's Graduate Catalog at:  https://catalog.upp.pitt.edu/index.php?catoid=171 

How long does the program take to complete?

The one-year MA/TESOL program takes 2 semesters or about 9 months to complete the required 30 credits.

The MA programs in Linguistics/Applied Linguistics usually take 2 years, or 4 semesters, to complete 30 credits and they have a four-year statute of limitation. (It is possible to complete the MA program in Linguistics/Applied Linguistics in 3 semesters with careful planning or to be part-time in the fourth semester.)

The PhD program takes from 5-6 years to complete and has an eight-year statute of limitation.

Graduate classes in Linguistics are not offered in the summer sessions.

What program do I check on the online application if I want to apply to the MA/PhD program?

Choose the "PhD program."

What kind of writing sample should I submit?

The best form is a research paper of 10-20 pages that you wrote for a class and that shows congtrol of an academic style such as MLA, APA, etc. Shorter reports provide less insight into your ability to develop a set of ideas. 

I would like to get conditional admission until I improve my English.

We do not offer conditional admissions. English fluency is an important part of our admissions.

I am an international student. What is your requirement for the English language test score?

For admission to graduate study in the Department of Linguistics at the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, a recommended TOEFL score of 90 (with a score of at least 22 in all of the four sections of speaking, listening, reading and writing) is required for all applicants. If taking IELTS instead of TOEFL, the minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each of its four sections) is required for all applicants.

For admission to graduate study in the MA in TESOL or the MA in Applied Linguistics with TESOL Certificate programs, the recommended TOEFL score is 95 or higher on the iBT TOEFL (Skill Requirements: Reading and Listening – 22 or above; Speaking and Writing – one skill must be at the level of Advanced) and the recommended IELTS Score is 7 or higher on the IELTS (Skill Requirements: Speaking and Writing – combined minimum of 13). 

English Language Proficiency :In recognition of physical and financial constraints experienced by many international applicants with regard to conventional test options, the Dietrich School will accept the Duolingo English Test as an alternative to TOEFL and IELTS for the 2020/21 application season. The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken on demand in ca. one hour (requires computer with camera, microphone, speakers, internet connection). It involves an adaptive test via a graded section that evaluates applicants’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills (45 mins) and a video interview recording answers to open-ended questions (10 mins).Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session. For more information, please visit Duolingo’s website. The minimum Duolingo score acceptable for admission to Department of Linguistics MA programs in AY2021 is 120.  (Candidates with very strong preparation in linguistics and or Teaching Experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they have at least 115 on the Duolingo test.) Applicants must share their Duolingo test results either by uploading them as a PDF under ‘Additional Information’ in their online application (preferable) or by sending the test results in PDF format to the Graduate Administrator for the admitting program.

Contact us

If you have further questions, please contact the Graduate Administrator, Michael Orbin, at Mike.Orbin@pitt.edu.

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