MA Linguistics at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Gain a broad background in linguistics as well as in-depth expertise in your chosen area of specialization with support and interesting opportunities from our nationally and internationally recognized faculty. The linguistics graduate program provides a strong foundation in the field, a range of career opportunities and valuable skills transferable to many careers. Students enjoy personalized guidance from our experienced faculty and diverse course offerings.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Linguistics | Duration: 9 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Receive solid training in an area of specialization in conjunction with courses in traditional areas of linguistics, including syntax, phonology and historical linguistics. Our program is truly interdisciplinary and encourages diverse theoretical and applied approaches.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Language Teacher, Language Programmer, Policy Developer, Academic Publisher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Required Documents Official Transcripts . Please submit transcripts for all prior undergraduate and graduate study. 3 Letters of Recommendation . Personal Statement . Please ensure that your statement addresses the following questions, though you do not need to address them in the exact order below (maximum 1,000 words total). What kind of linguistic research do you see yourself conducting in graduate school? Be as specific as possible, offering examples as relevant. How have you learned about linguistics, whether through classes, readings, seminars, or other experiences? What insights have you gained that further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well-suited for this field? What relevant experience, training, or coursework do you have, given the type of research you wish to pursue (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, or formal research)? Are there any...

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 applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific. The Moore School of Business, the Arnold School of Public Health and the College of Nursing use their own applications; the Moore School charges an additional $50 application fee for graduate programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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