Graduate Bulletin

Linguistics, M.A.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SOCIAL WORK

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1

* * NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS * *

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from faculty or others familiar with the applicant's academic ability and achievement.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

No specific coursework is required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Statement of Goals:

The statement should be roughly 500-1,000 words in length and should address the applicant's specific interests and academic goals.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Scores are expected to be in the 50th percentile for both the verbal and quantitative sections.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred if the courses have been completed with a grade of "B" or better and if the courses are appropriate electives for the program. Required courses are not normally accepted in transfer. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

CS 5501:  Modern Linguistics I-Syntax

CS 5502:  Phonology I

CS 5503:  Morphology

CS 5505:  Issues in Linguistics

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Comprehensive Examination:

Comprehensive examinations are intended to ensure that graduating students have retained and integrated the content of the curriculum and are able to apply linguistic constructs and methods of inquiry to concrete problems. Subject areas consist of syntax, phonology, morphology, and a fourth area chosen by the student under advisement. Comprehensive examinations are taken in the final semester of matriculation. Questions are written by core or affiliated faculty members with expertise in the areas being tested. Evaluation is done by the faculty member who wrote the question. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the subject area, an ability to apply that knowledge to concrete problems, and the ability to write coherent academic prose. Examinations are administered as required. One hour is allowed for each question. The examination may be taken over one or two days. Proctoring is done by faculty members or department clerical staff.

Thesis (Optional):

Completing a master's thesis is optional. If a student elects to write a master's thesis, up to six hours of credit in CS 9996:  Thesis Seminar may be counted toward the required total of 30 hours.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

http://www.temple.edu/chp/departments/commsci/

Department Information:

Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders

1701 N. 13th Street (265-62)

Philadelphia, PA 19122

chp@temple.edu

215-204-7543

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Dawn Dandridge

ddandrid@temple.edu

215-204-7543

Program Coordinator:

Gary Milsark, Ph.D.

gary.milsark@temple.edu

215-204-1875

Interim Chairperson:

Carol Scheffner Hammer
cjhammer@temple.edu
215-204-3971

About the Program

The M.A. Program in Linguistics has two purposes: (a) it serves as a bridge program for students with undergraduate degrees in other fields who want to enter Ph.D. programs in Linguistics; and (b) with an appropriate selection of electives, it prepares students for careers in second language instruction and related applications of Linguistics. Core coursework focuses on formal linguistics and the history of the field; electives include advanced work in formal linguistics, as well as courses in languages, Philosophy, Psychology, TESOL, and other fields related to Linguistics.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders

1701 N. 13th Street (265-62)

Philadelphia, PA 19122

chp@temple.edu

215-204-7543

Interdisciplinary Study:

Students in Linguistics regularly take courses in Anthropology, Education, English, Philosophy, Psychology, and Spanish.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Faculty research activity is in morphology, phonology, and syntax. Affiliated faculty in other departments have research interests in language acquisition, second language instruction, semantics, and socioloinguistics. Faculty members have expertise in Bantu, Germanic, Romance, and Slavic languages.

Job Placement:

Graduates who have not gone on to Ph.D. programs have become teachers of English as a second language, translators, and linguistic fieldworkers. Some students are in-service teachers and fieldworkers.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

All courses are available to nonmatriculated students who have the appropriate background, but only 9 credits can be applied to the degree if admitted to the program.

Financing Opportunities

Teaching Assistants work with faculty in laboratory classes. Research Assistants assist faculty in research projects. Academic Interns and Graduate Externs do database management for the clinical education program or the speech-language-hearing center or engage in other administrative duties. Assistantships carry a stipend and tuition remission for 9 graduate credits. Students may be supported for more than one semester. Applicants interested in competing for assistantships should submit an assistantship application (included in the application packet) and curriculum vitae with their application to the program, and should have all application materials in by February 1.

Updated 10.14.08