Master's Program

 

MA Degree Requirements

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

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

B. Language requirement

MA students must fulfill the language requirement, demonstrating knowledge of a language other than their own native language. 

C. Exam / Thesis options 

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

MA Timeline in detail

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

 Fall semesterSpring semester
All students

Take required courses:

Review Certificate options & requirements

Decide on Plan: 

Take required courses:

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: 

LING 6360 (Research Design and Output in Linguistics) Deadlines

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

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

 Fall semesterSpring semester
All students

Take required course:

  • LING 5570 (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 Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree.
March 1: Apply online to graduate through Buff portal.

Thesis plan students:

Take thesis hours 

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

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 to UMI/Proquest 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.

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. 

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: 
Following the  BAM Instructions, Forms & Deadlines:

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

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

In the final UG semester:

Apply to graduate with BA:

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

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

First semester

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

Second (final) semester 

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 hours 

  • Do research and analysis.

Take thesis hours 

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. 
Two weeks before defense date – submit MA final exam form.
Defend thesis & make revisions.
Submit Thesis approval form with revised & formatted thesis and upload to UMI/Proquest by Graduate School deadline.

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

Advising & tracking progress

Students must meet with the Graduate Advisor each semester before the enrollment period begins. After advising, the advising hold is lifted in the online registration system. 

Each student should make their own copy of the MA Record of Progress, update it every semester, and share it with the advisor for the advising session.

MA Record of Progress