Graduate

MA Program in Linguistics (M.A.)

Students with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics (or equivalent) are admitted to the one-year M.A.

Introductory courses in phonetics, phonology, syntax and semantics(equivalent to our LIN228, 229, 232, and 241 -- see descriptions below) are required of all students; without these four courses students cannot be admitted to a graduate program. Courses in current phonology and syntax, equivalent to LIN322 and 331, are also recommended for admission to the one-year M.A.

In exceptional cases, a student may be allowed to take one of these required courses during the one-year M.A., provided that the student does not plan to write a Forum paper in this area.

The department also offers a two-year M.A. to very exceptional students from universities whose programs we are familiar with, but who lack a strong background in linguistics due to a lack of courses at their home university. More often, however, we recommend that such a student take the courses required for admission to the one-year M.A. as a special student, either at the University of Toronto or elsewhere. Please note that a student in the first year of a two-year M.A. does not qualify for the University of Toronto's graduate funding guarantee.

LIN 228 - Phonetics
A detailed study of the sounds of human languages, including articulatory and acoustic components.
LIN 229 - Sound Patterns in Language
An elementary course in theoretical phonology.
LIN 232 - Syntactic Patterns in Language
Description and analysis of syntactic phenomena in a variety of languages from a generative perspective.
LIN 241 - Introduction to Semantics
An introduction to meaning within linguistics and the interpretation of language in context.
LIN 322 - Phonological Theory
An introduction to theories of non-linear phonology and lexical phonology.
LIN 331 - Introduction to Syntactic Theory and/or Minimalism
An introduction to the foundations and formal frameworks of current generative grammar concentrating on Chomsky's Government and Binding Theory.

Course Work

The one-year M.A. programme consists of four full course equivalents. Courses required for completion of the Masters degree include field methods (JAL 1145H), intermediate phonology (LIN 1121H), intermediate syntax (LIN 1131H), analysis and argumentation (LIN 1181H), and Linguistic Forum (LIN 1290L), or their equivalents.
For all but Linguistic Forum, a student who has already taken any of these courses at the undergraduate level must select other graduate courses to bring the total to four full course equivalents.
For students in the two-year M.A., LIN 1121H, 1131H, and 1181H are normally to be completed in the first year, while LIN 1290L must be taken in the final year of registration in the programme. Other courses are chosen by the student in consultation with the graduate coordinator and the advisor.

Advisor

Each M.A. student will be assigned an advisor by the graduate coordinator, based on the student's interests and the available faculty advisors. The advisor will supervise the writing of the Forum paper. Students in the two-year M.A. are assigned an advisor in the second year.

Forum (LIN 1290L)

In the Forum, each M.A. student in the final year of the programme prepares an original research paper. The paper must display scholarly merit, originality, and a knowledge of the topic. Each student works closely with an advisor in preparing this paper. The course meets on a regular basis and each student is expected to make a series of presentations on his/her topic over the course of the year.

Language Requirements

All students must demonstrate an ability to read professionally in one language other than English. The choice of language is to be approved by the graduate coordinator, having regard to the student's field of research. With the approval of the graduate unit, students may show demonstrated competence in computer programming in lieu of the language requirement.

Students seeking counselling and information should contact the Graduate Coordinator.

Application Deadline

January 15