Linguistics Applications FAQs

The Graduate School offers some fee waivers based on affiliation with certain programs and organizations. 

The Linguistics department also offers a limited number of application fee waivers. 
To apply, please submit to the department:

• a brief statement explaining why you would benefit from a fee waiver;
• a draft of your statement of purpose; and
• unofficial transcripts from any post-secondary institutions you have attended. 

The deadline to apply is Nov. 1. All students requesting waivers must have an open and (near) complete application on the Graduate School site. Applicants receiving a waiver will be notified by mid-November. 

The Linguistics Admissions Committees begin their evaluations as soon as the application deadlines have passed and the Graduate School has cleared all applications. Acceptance letters are usually sent out before the end of February. 

Incoming students can discuss transfer of credits with the Graduate Advisor and petition transfers according to the rules and procedures established in the Graduate School transfer credit instructions. Approved transfer credits will appear on the CU graduate transcript and will count toward the requirements for the degree.

The Linguistics department encourages applicants with varying backgrounds. Successful MA students have come from areas as diverse as teaching, English literature, foreign languages, law, anthropology, history, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. 

If your background does not include at least one general linguistics course, please be sure your statement of purpose demonstrates some knowledge of the field of linguistics, even if you are not yet trained in the field.

A BA in linguistics is not required. However, the admissions committee look for applications that demonstrate: 

• focused interests in linguistics; 
• a general understanding of what linguistic analysis entails; and 
• aptitudes that facilitate success in linguistic analysis.

Yes. Knowledge of a language other than one’s native language is a prerequisite to admission to the MA. This requirement can be fulfilled by:

• passing at least one college-level language course at the third year level or above with a minimum grade of B;
• passing two years of college-level language courses in two different languages with a minimum grade of B;
• passing an evaluation of language skills when proficiency is not the result of formal study.

English fulfills this requirement for international students who were educated in a different language. 

No, there are separate applications for these two degrees, and you should look carefully at the Linguistics and CLASIC degree descriptions and admissions requirements before choosing which program is most appropriate. You can access either application from the Graduate School applications link.

In general, there are more background requirements for admission to the CLASIC program, including programming, math, and computer science courses. Please see the CLASIC FAQs for additional information about how to prepare for application. The CLASIC application does ask whether you would also like to be considered for the LING MA and answering "yes" does not entail an additional application fee.

If you do not have the background required for CLASIC but are still interested in aspects of computational linguistics, you may consider applying to the LING MA and including a graduate certificate in Human Language Technology. 

Yes, current MA students in the department can apply to the PhD program in their second year of matriculation in the MA program. All materials must be received by the department by the Dec. 15 application deadline.

How to apply:

• Submit the Department Application Form, to which you will attach your statement of purpose and your current unofficial transcripts. You may also upload a writing sample (optional).
   
• Fill in the Waiver Form, save a copy of the completed online form (screenshot or PDF), and send it to the three people who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you. Your recommenders should send their letters directly to the department by the Dec. 15 deadline. 

Yes. PhD applicants with less background in linguistics and/or little knowledge of other languages, or who have not completed enough of the prerequisite courses, may be considered for admission to the MA program rather than the PhD. 

The applications asks whether you would also like to be considered for the MA and answering "yes" does not entail an additional application fee.

You do not need an MA in linguistics, but to be considered for admission to the PhD program, you must have taken at least four of the following five qualifying courses, which should be listed on your eligibility statement: 

• phonetics
• phonology
• morphology & syntax
• semantics & pragmatics
• diachronic linguistics 

Note that courses focusing mostly on one language (e.g., Syntax of English) are generally not adequate. 

Exceptional applicants may be considered with three of the five qualifying courses, but are expected to satisfy the remaining deficiency within the first two years of matriculation in the PhD program.

The eligibility statement you append to the PhD application should list courses you have taken that correspond to at least four of the prerequisite qualifying courses (for reference, see the linked course descriptions): 

• phonetics (LING 5430)
• phonology (LING 5410)
• morphology & syntax (LING 5420)
• semantics & pragmatics (LING 5430)
• diachronic linguistics (LING 5570)

 You may provide additional information on anything  about the courses on your list you think might not be clear.