Introduction
For information on applying and admissions, please consult the Linguistics Department website.
The M.A. degree involves a two-year course of study. It may be completed in one year by students who have a B.A. in linguistics from UC Santa Cruz and who have taken a number of the core graduate courses during their undergraduate career; the combined B.A./M.A. program provides another pathway to the M.A. program.
Every year, UC Santa Cruz undergraduates in the final year of their linguistics or language studies major can apply to be admitted into the graduate program to pursue the M.A. in theoretical linguistics. Interested students should discuss the possibility with one or more faculty members and formally apply online to the graduate program during the fall quarter of the senior year.
For up-to-date information about the application process, consult the Linguistics Department’s website; and see the graduate coordinator.
Requirements
Course Requirements
The following courses must be taken by all students.
All students are required to take two additional core courses drawn from the following list:
Students must take the third core course from the above list of 'B' courses, or one course from the following list:
Electives
Additionally students must take three electives that form a coherent plan of study, as determined by the student’s advisor in consultation with the student. These electives are typically drawn from graduate courses offered by Linguistics and other related disciplines and independent study courses with Linguistics faculty.
Other Requirements
Foreign Language Requirements
Reading competence in one foreign language, to be demonstrated by examination at the end of your first year.
Course Credit Requirement
The nine required courses must be taken as 5-credit courses. For any of the courses above, satisfactory completion (grade of P or A- or higher) prior to entry to the M.A. program will count toward course requirements for the M.A. degree. Pursuant to UC Santa Cruz Graduate Division policy, students must complete a minimum of 35 credits within the Linguistics Department graduate curriculum as an M.A. student.
Master's Thesis
Students in the master’s program complete a master’s thesis in linguistics. This thesis often grows out of a promising term paper written by the student, and is read by a committee composed of three faculty members in linguistics. Preparation for research projects should begin far in advance. In general, a good goal for those working on their M.A. thesis is to approach a possible thesis chair by the end of their first academic year.
Applying for Graduation
See the Graduate Student Handbook for administrative requirements.
See the Academic and Administrative Calendar for Announcement of Candidacy dates.
Note: The completed master’s thesis, and cover sheet, should be submitted to the Graduate Division and a pdf copy of the thesis, and cover sheet, should be submitted to the graduate coordinator.