Department of Linguistics and Language Development

Office: Clark Hall 473

Telephone: 408-924-4413

Professors

Swathi Vanniarajan

Associate Professors

Stefan Frazier, Chair
Hahn Koo
Scott Phillabaum

Assistant Professors

David Malinowski
Julia Swan

Overview

Linguistics, the scientific study of human language, explores what language is, how it works and which features human languages have in common. Our curriculum focuses on understanding how the languages of the world work and on addressing the English language needs of our culturally diverse society. Students in the Department of Linguistics and Language Development (LLD) are part of an ethnically and linguistically diverse student body, taught by nationally and internationally recognized faculty. We offer graduate and undergraduate degrees in linguistics, a certificate in computational linguistics, a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and undergraduate and graduate certificates in TESOL. Our research infrastructure includes a state-of-the-art computer lab, a phonology lab, and access to computerized language data. Approximately 25% of our students come from other countries and contribute greatly to our programs.

Graduate Programs

Requirements for Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing

Students holding an accredited baccalaureate degree and who otherwise satisfy the graduate level admissions requirements of San José State University (in the case of students with baccalaureate degrees from a university where English is not the principal language of instruction the minimum score of 577, computer score of 233, or Internet based score of 90 on the TOEFL or 7.0 on IELTS) are eligible for admission as conditionally classified students. Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units.

Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing

Students are eligible for admission as classified graduate students if they hold an accredited baccalaureate degree and otherwise satisfy the graduate level admissions requirements for San José State University (in the case of students with baccalaureate degrees from a university where English is not the principal language of instruction, this includes a minimum score of 577, 233 on the computerized version, or 90 on the Internet based version on the TOEFL or 7.0 on IELTS). In addition, students in the MA Linguistics program are eligible for admission as classified graduate students if they have completed at least nine semester units of acceptable work in linguistics equivalent to San José State University’s LING 101 - Introduction to Linguistics , LING 111 - Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics , and LING 112 - Introduction to Syntax with a grade of “B” or better in each of these three classes. For students in the MA TESOL program, two courses are prerequisite for admission to classified standing: LING 101 - Introduction to Linguistics , and LING 107 - Patterns of English , which must be completed with a grade of “B” or better in each.

Students admitted as conditionally classified may complete the requirements for classified standing after admission to the program; however a “B” grade must be achieved in all prerequisite courses. Additionally, the granting of classified standing is subject to the coordinator’s review of the conditionally classified student’s work.

Requirements for Admission to Candidacy

The requirements for admission to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree in Linguistics or TESOL are those established by the university and the department. For information see the Graduate Policies and Procedures section.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Candidacy includes successful completion of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). For graduate courses that meet the GWAR, refer to the GWAR Course List on the College of Graduate Studies website.

Requirements for Graduation

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures .

Programs

Courses

Linguistics

Linguistics & Language Development