Linguistics (Master's) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The MA in Linguistics offers training in core theoretical linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, with optional sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and child language acquisition. Students finish with a thesis or an MA by exam.

Faculty: College of Arts and Letters | Department: Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures (Linguistics) | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

The focus is linguistics as a science rather than applied uses. The department has research groups in language acquisition, sociolinguistics, semantics-pragmatics and phonetics/laboratory phonology, and an interdepartmental cognitive science specialization is available.

Career pathways

Many MA graduates go on to PhD programmes; others work in data science, natural language processing, education and academic advising.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

At least an introductory linguistics course (otherwise LIN 401 Introduction to Linguistics in the first semester). GRE not required. Three recommenders, an academic statement of 500-700 words, CV, transcripts and application fee. Fall deadline Dec 1. TOEFL 100 minimum for regular admission (IELTS 7.5 cited); waiver sometimes possible.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May) in the MPH programme; intake terms for other graduate programmes are set by each department or program.

The graduate application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants, with one fee per application; applicants may submit up to two applications to different graduate majors per semester. Applications are reviewed by the department or program, which sets its own deadlines.

MPH application deadlines (SOPHAS completion): fall May 18, spring October 18, summer February 15; MSU supplemental application: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer March 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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