MA in Linguistics at Boston University

Programme overview

The MA in Linguistics is designed to provide students with a solid foundational knowledge of the traditional core areas of linguistic analysis, as well as a deeper specialization in a chosen subfield or interface area. Our goal is to help students reach a level of preparation suitable for the pursuit of more advanced work in linguistics, or in allied fields with a commitment to the study of language.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Duration: 32 units required | Study mode: full-time | Location: Boston, MA, United States

What you will study

The MA in Linguistics requires 32 units. Students entering the program without the necessary background to take these courses may be required to take prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses (CAS LX 601 Phonetics, LX 621 Syntax, and LX 631 Semantics) will not be counted as units toward the degree. Course requirements are as follows: CAS LX 722 Intermediate Syntax: Modeling Syntactic Knowledge

Official programme page

Application information

USD 73,024 a year (2026-27). Full-time tuition (12-18 credits per semester, $36,512 per semester) for Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's students for 2026-27, as stated on the CAS cost of attendance page. Tuition only: excludes student services and health & wellness fees, he Source

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's programmes admit for Fall 2027; Spring 2027 entry is offered for selected programmes (Economics MS programmes, History of Art & Architecture MA, Preservation Studies MA, Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence).

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Fall 2027 master's deadlines are mostly priority January 15 and final March 15 (African American & Black Diaspora Studies priority February 15, final March 15; Preservation Studies February 15; Sociology and History of Art & Architecture January 15). Spring 2027 deadlines for selected programmes are priority October 15 and final November 15. Applications are submitted through the online application; the GRE is required only for the Economics MS/MA programmes and the MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences.

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities