Overview

The BA/MA program in Linguistics is designed for those well-prepared students who wish to obtain a master’s degree by adding a fifth year of intensive study in Linguistics. The program is offered by the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) in conjunction with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS).

The combined BA/MA degree requires a total of 38 4-credit courses (152 credits). The requirements combine those of the BA and MA degrees. However, up to two graduate-level Linguistics courses may be used to simultaneously satisfy the requirements of both the BA and the MA degree, thereby reducing the total number of required courses from 40 to 38. With advisor consent, GRS LX 600- or 700-level courses can be substituted for the corresponding CAS LX 300- or 400-level course in satisfaction of the BA requirements, thereby enabling those courses to count simultaneously towards the BA and MA program (up to a maximum of two).

Students who wish to combine the BA honors program with the MA must complete the thesis option within the honors program and may not include additional directed study courses as part of the MA degree.

Students who think they may be interested in this dual degree program are strongly encouraged to discuss their interest as soon as possible with their advisor and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Applying to the BA/MA Program

The BA/MA application must be submitted by April of the junior year using the online application form (see Undergraduate Resources). You can apply as early as your 4th semester of enrollment or as late as the spring semester of your junior year. The deadline for January admission into the program is typically in the preceding November; for September admission, in the preceding April.

Read the “Supplemental Forms/Documents” section of the application form carefully. You will need to have two faculty members agree to provide letters of recommendation (you will list their names), and you will need to upload a program of study form that has been approved and signed off on by your advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

For admission, students will normally have completed the core courses (CAS LX 301, 321, 331) by the end of their junior year and attained a cumulative GPA through the end of the junior year of 3.5 overall and 3.65 in linguistics courses. However, one can submit an application before completion of the core courses, with advisor approval, as long as the plan of study incorporates them within the required time frame.

Note: students considering the BA/MA program may wish to register for the graduate versions of certain courses (crucially, not including the required core courses). Please consult with your advisor as early as possible in your undergraduate career if you think you might have an interest in this joint program.

Contacts

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Director of Graduate Studies