We offer a terminal MA degree in Linguistics or Applied Linguistics. They are the same program, but students will be given a choice for their preferred degree title at the time of graduation. Students should choose a sequence /selection in at least two focus areas among the following five: (A) Sociolinguistics, (B) Hispanic Linguistics, (C) Second Language Pedagogy, (D) LCTL or Other Modern Language, and (E) Statistics/Data Science. The degree requires 30 minimum credits.
Students are also encouraged to take a capstone course to draw together elements of their coursework. This is optional but highly recommended. Capstone courses involve applying linguistic knowledge to real world problems in a research context or a place of work. Courses include LING 2900 Linguistic Internship, LING 2902 Directed Research, LING 2990 Independent Study, or an advanced seminar with the permission of the instructor. There is no thesis requirement for the MA.
Required Core Courses: 12 credits
- 2578 Phonetics
- 2579 Phonology or 2773 Morphology
- 2777 Syntactic Theory
- 2144 Research Methods
In addition, entering students must take LING 1000 (Introduction to Linguistics) if they have not already taken an equivalent introductory course, but LING 1000 will not count toward the 30 credits required for the MA degree.
Minimum additional 18 credits; include two focus areas
Students should complete two among the five foci, detailed below. However, they should bear in mind that not all courses are offered every semester/year, their offering is often contingent on enrollment, and that some time conflicts may arise which we cannot resolve. The Director of Graduate Studies will advise students accordingly in enrollment periods.
(A) Sociolinguistics Focus. 6+ credits
Students could take: 2267 Sociolinguistics and (2253 Pidgin and Creole Language or 2274 Language Contact). In addition, students may like to take two special topics courses related to sociolinguistics, including: 2270 Advanced Sociolinguistics, 2271 Discourse Analysis, 2269 Variation Analysis, and 2860 Historical Linguistics.
(B) Hispanic Linguistics Focus. 6+ credits
Students could take: 2394 Spanish Dialectology and 2391 Spanish Phonology. In addition, students may like to take two special topics courses related to Hispanic Linguistics and Culture.
(C) Second Language Pedagogy Focus. 6+ credits
Students must take 2142 Second Language Teaching in the first semester. Students could also take: 2146 Second Language Acquisition or LING 2773 Linguistic Structure of English. In addition, students may like to choose other pedagogy courses offered by the Department in the One Year MA in TESOL and the TESOL Certificate progams, and further, if they choose to, complete the TESOL Certificate in conjunction.
(D) Less-Commonly-Taught Language (LCTL) or Modern Language Focus. 6+* credits
Students might like to take focus courses in a LCTL (Arabic, Hindi, Quechua, Swahili, Turkish, and more) or other modern language (Chinese, French, and more). In addition to basic language courses (*some may not count towards the 30 required credits, as per Pitt Graduate Catalog), content courses in LCTL include LING 1520 Introduction to Arabic Linguistics and LING 1721 Sociolinguistics of Sign Languages.
(E) Statistics/Data Science Focus. 6 or 13** credits
Two options depending on the number of courses students would like to take in this focus area.
- Essential – a basic foundation focusing on the programming/statistics package R. 6 credits. A sequence of two courses: LING 2010 Statistics for Research in Linguistics (R) and LING 2020 Data Science for Research in Linguistics w/ R.
- Plus – adds the Python programming language. 13 credits. Take two additional courses taught on Python: CS12 Intro to Computing for the Humanities (**4 credits, does not count towards 30 required credits, Summer or Spring of year 1) and LING 2330 Intro to Computational Linguistics. (CS 12 and LING 2010 are prerequisites for LING 2330.)
Example Sequences
Sequence 1: 36-37 credits with (C) Language Pedagogy focus and (E) Data Science focus
| Semester 1 (fall) | Semester 2 (spring) | Semester 3 (fall) | Semester 4 (spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2144 Research Methods | 2010 Stats for Ling Research | 2020 Data Science w/ R | Capstone: 2900 Internship or 2902 Directed Research or 2990 Independent Study |
| 2578 Phonetics | 2579 Phonology or 2146 SLA or 2736 Structures or CS 12 Intro to Comp. w/ Python** |
2150 Tech in Language Teaching or I&L 2253 Assessment or 2330 Intro to CL |
2738 Structures or 2146 SLA or 2141 Teaching across Cultures |
| 2142 Second Language Teaching | 2777 Syntactic Theory | 2773 Morphology or 2150 |
Optional: 2143 Materials or 2195 Practicum |
Sequence 2: 30 credits in three terms, including 12 credits in Semester 2, with (E) Data Science focus and a 2nd focus.
| Semester 1 (fall) | Semester 2 (spring) | Semester 3 (fall) |
|---|---|---|
| 2144 Research Methods | 2010 Stats for Ling Research | 2020 Data Science w/ R |
| 2578 Phonetics | 2579 Phonology | Capstone: 2900 or 2902 or 2990 |
| 2773 Morphology or Focus 2 course |
2777 Syntactic Theory | Focus 2 course |
| Focus 2 course |
Sequence 3: 2-year MA combined with TESOL Certificate (= C Language Pedagogy focus) and (A) Sociolinguistics focus
| Semester 1 (fall) | Semester 2 (spring) | Semester 3 (fall) | Semester 4 (spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2144 Research Methods | 2777 Syntactic Theory | 2773 Morphology | 2143 Materials |
| 2578 Phonetics | 2267 Sociolinguistics | 2274 Language Contact | 2146 Second Langugae Acquisition |
| 2142 Second Language Teaching | 2738 Structures of English | I& 2253 (=LING 2145) Testing & Assessment | Optional: 2141 Teaching Eng. across Cultures |
| 2195 Practicum*** | (2195) | (2195) | (2195) |
*** 2195 Practicum is 1 credit. It is offered every term but only taken once.
Other MA Requirements
Course Grades. Students must attain a B+ in all core courses. See the Graduate Handbook for further policy details.
Language requirement. Proficiency in one foreign language is required for the MA degree. For speakers whose first language is English, it is met by three terms of a language taught at the college level. See the Graduate Handbook for further policy details.
Comprehensive exam. The comprehensive exam is fulfilled by attaining a grade of B+ or better in all core courses. See the Graduate Handbook for further policy details.