The MA - Linguistics provides students with an interdisciplinary education in the scientific study of language. Courses in general and computational linguistics serve students interested in cognitive and functional linguistics, language variation and change, speech synthesis, and machine speech recognition. Graduates in linguistics offer a set of highly specialized skills to computer companies working in speech technology and artificial intelligence. Many pursue careers with companies specializing in these areas. A small but significant number of linguistics graduates enter PhD programs for more advanced study. Other graduates pursue teaching careers in language and linguistics in domestic and overseas institutions.
Requirements for the MA - Linguistics include those established by the department. For information concerning university requirements, see the Academic Requirements section.
Graduation Requirements
University Graduation Requirements
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 .
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). For information on the GWAR, please see http://info.sjsu.edu/gcw.html.
Culminating Experience
Students have the option of completing the MA - Linguistics under one of two plans:
Plan A (Thesis)
Completion of 30 units; approved thesis proposal and thesis. The thesis option allows a student to pursue research in an area of common interest to the student and a faculty member. A thesis proposal may grow out of a course or be developed in LING 298 , and must be approved by the student’s advisor and thesis committee members. For Master’s Thesis requirements please visit http://www.sjsu.edu/cgs/current-students/thesis-and-dissertation-information/index.html.
Plan B (Comprehensive Exam)
Completion of 30 units; passing of a comprehensive examination.
