Linguistics Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
Minor in Linguistics
Master of Arts in Linguistics

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

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The B.A. in Linguistics requires a minimum of 120 units which includes courses for the major, General Education, all University requirements, and free electives.

Language Requirement
Linguistics majors are required to take two progressive semesters of any two languages or four progressive semesters of any one language.

Core Requirements (15 units)
Linguistics 351 Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics and Phonology (3)
Linguistics 406 Descriptive Linguistics (3)
Linguistics 408 Syntax (3)
Linguistics 412 Sociolinguistics (3)
Linguistics 430 Historical Linguistics (3)

Electives (18 units)
Two must be from linguistics upper-division courses other than those listed as required above; and four may be selected from linguistics upper-division courses or from the courses listed below:

Child Development 312 Human Growth and Development (3)
English 303 The Structure of Modern English (3)
English 440 History of the English Language (3)
Foreign Languages, any upper-division course (3)
Philosophy 368 First Course in Symbolic Logic (3)
Psychology 415 Cognitive Processes (3)

Students must consult with an adviser in linguistics before establishing their individual programs of study. Other courses in the university may be taken as electives with the permission of the adviser.

Minor in Linguistics

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The minor in linguistics provides a solid introduction to the scientific study of language for students in a related major field. Students are required to take: Linguistics 106, Linguistics 351 and Linguistics 406. In addition, 12 units in elective courses selected with the approval of the undergraduate adviser are required. It is thus possible to tailor the minor to individual needs in rounding out a course of study in the student’s major area of specialization.

Laboratory of Phoenetic Research
The Laboratory houses the program’s sound spectrograph, recording equipment, and an extensive collection of tape recordings of lesser known languages and dialects. It is also the editorial home of the California Linguistic Notes.

Master of Arts in Linguistics

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Application Deadlines
Applications need to be postmarked no later than March 1st for the fall semester and October 1st for the spring semester. However, deadlines may be changed based upon enrollment projections. Check the university graduate studies website for current information http://www.fullerton.edu/graduate/.

Admission to Graduate Standing: Conditionally Classified
Requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.50 in the last 60 semester units attempted.

Graduate Standing: Classified
Classified graduate standing requires a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics or a related field from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 grade-point average in the major courses provided that a minimum of 24 units of upper-division course work is included.

If the student holds a bachelor’s degree in a major other than Linguistics, 24 units of upper-division course work in Linguistics with a minimum of 3.0 grade-point average must have been completed. Included among the 24 units of course work must be the following courses or their equivalents:

Linguistics 351 Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics and Phonology (3)
Linguistics 406 Descriptive Linguistics (3)
Linguistics 408 Syntax (3)
Linguistics 412 Sociolinguistics (3)
Linguistics 430 Historical Linguistics (3)

A student who has not completed one or more of the preceding four courses may enroll in the required course(s) concurrently with graduate course work in the program.
If the student lacks the prerequisite number of Linguistics courses, they must be made up before commencing the master’s degree program, with at least a 3.0 GPA in such makeup course work. In the event that the student’s GPA in prerequisite Linguistics courses is less than 3.0, six to nine units of probationary, adviser-approved course work may be assigned. If the GPA in these probationary courses is 3.0 or better, the student may be classified. Some courses taken to make up qualitative deficiencies may be credited toward the M.A., if completed with a grade of B or better, and if applicable to the student’s particular study plan. Courses taken to remove quantitative deficiencies may not be applied to the M.A. program.

Knowledge of one foreign language is required (equivalent of Foreign Languages 317 course). Students without course work in a foreign language may demonstrate proficiency by a score of average or better on the MLA-ETS Proficiency Examination for Advanced Students. Work toward fulfillment of this requirement may be taken concurrently with graduate work in linguistics.

Modifications of certain prerequisite requirements may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.

A study plan must be developed and approved for admission to classified graduate standing.

M.A. Study Plan Requirements
Descriptive and Historical Linguistics (15 units)
Linguistics 501 Research Methods and Bibliography (3)
Linguistics 505 Phonological Analysis (3)
Linguistics 507 Grammatical Analysis (3)
Linguistics 508 Theories of Syntax (3)
Linguistics 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)

Specialized Electives (9 units)
Course work selected from any one of the following six areas of specialization, including other courses in the university with the approval of the adviser:

Applied Linguistics
English 303 Structure of Modern English (3)
FL Ed 468 Language Transfer and TESOL (3)
FL Ed 509 Advanced Principles of TESOL: Listening/Speaking (3)
FL Ed 510 Advanced Principles of TESOL: Reading and Writing (3)
FL Ed 515 Pedagogical Grammar in TESOL (3)
FL Ed 527 Second Language Acquisition (3)
FL Ed 560 Second Language Assessment (3)
French 466 Introduction to French Linguistics (3)
French 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
German 466 Introduction to German Linguistics (3)
German 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Linguistics 305 The English Language in America (3)
Linguistics 307 Speech/Language Development (3)
Linguistics 416 Anthropological Linguistics (3)
Linguistics 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Spanish 466 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (3)
Spanish 467 Dialectology: Current Trends in Modern Spanish (3)
Spanish 468 Spanish-English Contrastive Analysis (3)
Spanish 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Anthropological Linguistics
Anthro 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
FL Ed 468 Language Transfer and TESOL (3)
Linguistics 416 Anthropological Linguistics (3)
Linguistics 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Analysis of Specific Language Structures
FL Ed 468 TESOL Contrastive Analysis (3)
French 466 Introduction to French Linguistics (3)
German 466 Introduction to German Linguistics (3)
Japanese 466 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (3)
Spanish 466 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (3)
Japanese 468 Japanese-English Contrastive Analysis (3)
French 500 Graduate Seminar: Advanced Structure and Style (3)
German 500 Graduate Seminar: Advanced Structure and Style (3)
Spanish 500 Graduate Seminar: Advanced Structure and Style (3)
French 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)
German 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)
Spanish 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)
English 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Spanish 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
French 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
German 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Linguistics 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Communication and Semantics
Anthro 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Linguistics 416 Anthropological Linguistics (3)
Linguistics 417 Psycholinguistics (3)
Linguistics 442 Changing Words: History, Semantics and Translation (3)
Linguistics 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Speech Comm 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Disorders of Communication
Linguistics 307 Speech/Language Development (3)
Linguistics 369 Language, Sex Roles, and the Brain (3)
Linguistics 417 Psycholinguistics (3)
Linguistics 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)
Speech Comm 461 Audiology and Audiometry (3)
Speech Comm 472 Voice and Craniofacial Disorders (3)
Speech Comm 475 Fluency Disorders (3)
Speech Comm 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Linguistics or a Related Field Elective (3 units)

Linguistics 597 Project (3 units)
A minimum of 15 units in 500-level courses is required. Satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination is required at the conclusion of the program. The examination may be repeated only once. A reading list for the examination and specifications for the project are available in the program office.
For further information, consult the graduate adviser.

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