Master's Program

Degree Requirements

The Linguistics MA degree requires a minimum 30 hours of approved coursework in the following categories:Ìý

  • 15 credits from 5 core Linguistics courses, as indicated below;Ìý
  • 15 credits from elective courses,Ìýincluding:
    • 4 (min) to 6 (max) thesis credit hours, for students on the thesis plan;
    • up to 6 credits of coursework outside LinguisticsÌýwith graduate advisor approval.Ìý

MA students choose either the MA thesis or Non-thesis (Comprehensive exam) plan to complete the degree requirements.

MA TimelineÌý

This is the typical progression for students to complete the Linguistics MA degree in 2 years, with required courses, links to forms, and deadlines.Ìý

ÌýFall semesterSpring semester
All students

Take required courses:

  • (Phonetics)
  • (Morphology & Syntax)
  • Electives as desiredÌý

Review Certificate options & requirements

Decide on Plan:Ìý

Take required courses:

  • (Phonology)
  • (Semantics & Pragmatics)
  • Electives as desiredÌý
Thesis plan students:

Before end of the semester

  • talk with potential thesis advisor about research question;
  • invite additional committee members:
    • at least one must be from the linguistics department;
    • optionally, one faculty member may be from another department;
    • faculty from institutions outside CU may not serve on MA thesis committees.

Recommended course:Ìý

LING 6360 () Deadlines

March 1: submit 2-page draft proposalÌýto the committee for feedback;
April 1: submit the MA Thesis Agreement with the approved proposal, signed by 2 committee members;
submit MA thesis planÌýto the Graduate School.Ìý

Over the summer:Ìý
Make independent progress toward the thesisÌý
(e.g. focused review of literature, building an experiment, collecting data, annotating existing data, etc.)

ÌýFall semesterSpring semester
All students

Take required course:

  • (Diachronic Linguistics)
  • Electives as desired to complete degree and certificate requirements.

Take electives as desired to complete degree and certificate requirements.

Deadlines for graduation forms (complete both)
Feb 1: submit .
March 1:ÌýApply online to graduateÌýthrough Buff portal.

Thesis plan students:

Take thesis hoursÌý

  • Meet regularly with advisor.
  • Do research and analysis.
Take thesis hours.Ìý

Timeline of activities & deadlines for the thesis:
Jan-Feb: write draft of thesis.
Early March: submit draft to committee and schedule defense date before the Graduate School deadline (usually first week of April).
Two weeks before defense date: submit MA final exam form.
Defend thesis & make revisions.
Submit Thesis approval form with revised and formatted thesis and upload toÌý by Graduate School deadline (usually second week of April).
Non-Thesis plan students:Request study materials from the department to prepare for the MA Comprehensive exam.Study for Comprehensive Exam.
Two weeks before exam date: submit MA final exam form.

Ìý

BAM (Bachelor's - Accelerated Master's) Timeline

BAM students complete some of the requirements for the MA while still at undergraduate status and complete the degree after moving to graduate status.Ìý

This is the typical progression to complete the BAM degree, with steps to complete at the undergraduate and graduate levels, deadlines, and links to forms.

Fall or Spring semester of Junior Year:Ìý
Following theÌý BAM Instructions, Forms & Deadlines:

  • Take the qualifying Graduate course.
  • Apply to the LING BAM.ÌýÌý
  • Submit Grad School BAM intent application.

Remaining semesters as Under-Grad:
Work with both UG and Grad advisors and takeÌý
additional Grad-level courses (up to 4 courses canÌý
be double-counted toward BA & MA).

In the final UG semester:

Apply to graduate with BA:

  • Submit the Ìýto identify whichÌý
    courses will be double counted and which will be usedÌý
    only toward the master's degree.
  • .

If planning to write a thesis:
Identify & discuss ideas with a faculty advisor andÌý
invite additional committee members, then:

  • Complete the MA Thesis Agreement to the departmentÌý
    (due Nov. 1 for graduation the following Fall,Ìý
    Apr. 1 for graduation the following Spring). Ìý
  • Submit MA Thesis Plan form to the Graduate School.Ìý
All Students

First semester

Complete required MA courses & take electives as desired to complete degree and certificate requirements.

Second (final) semesterÌý

Take electives as desired to complete degree and certificate requirements.

Apply to graduate with MA (complete both steps) according to the Graduate School deadlines:

Thesis plan students:

Take thesis hoursÌý

  • Do research and analysis.

Take thesis hoursÌý

Timeline of activities & deadlines for the thesis:
First two months – write draft of thesis.
End of second month – submit draft to committee and schedule defense date before Graduate School deadline.Ìý
Two weeks before defense date – submit MA final exam form.
Defend thesis & make revisions.
Submit Thesis approval form with revised & formatted thesis and upload toÌý by Graduate School deadline.

Non-Thesis plan students:Request study materials from the department to prepare for the MA Comprehensive exam

Study for Comprehensive ExamÌý

Two weeks before exam date: submit MA final exam form

Ìý

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