The Master of Arts in linguistics emphasizes theory and research. It prepares students for academic and non-academic careers.

The Linguistics program in the Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures has particular strengths in phonology, syntax, and language acquisition.

The phonology curriculum emphasizes current theoretical perspectives, including Optimality Theory, and the collection, description, and interpretation of novel phonological and phonetic data. Courses feature extensive work in data analysis and problem-solving, focusing on the construction and evaluation of phonological theories, particularly in light of new empirical data.

The syntax curriculum includes the dual emphases of empirical and theoretical perspectives. It offers a variety of foundational courses that build analytic and argumentation skills, as well as specialized coursework on current issues in syntactic theory. The courses consist of intensive work in problem-solving. They combine the discovery and description of new linguistic data with the exploration of the implications of such facts in testing and constructing syntactic theories.

The curriculum in language acquisition includes courses that provide an overview and analysis of current second language acquisition research. Work focuses on experimental research investigating the influence of the first language, environmental and contextual factors, and related topics.

Learning Outcomes

The master's degree in linguistics is intended for students who want to pursue a PhD in linguistics or are interested in linguistics-related professional areas. 

Students are expected to:

• be familiar with the basics of theoretical linguistic approaches to phonology and syntax, be able to analyze linguistic data using formal theoretical linguistics approaches, and be familiar with the basics of articulatory and acoustic phonetics and approaches to multilingual language acquisition research;
• be familiar with the basics of empirical research in linguistics and be able to use appropriate software and methods to understand original research;
• be able to write a formal research paper in syntax, phonology, or second language acquisition while demonstrating a critical evaluation of a particular problem or issue they have investigated;
• be familiar with the basics of multilingual language acquisition from both theoretical and empirical perspectives; 
• formulate a research project by the end of their third semester if they have articulated the goal of continuing to a PhD program in linguistics; and
• explore course options in areas related to their professional development if they are not planning on continuing to a PhD program in linguistics.

The Master of Arts in linguistics requires a minimum of 34–37 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a Graduate College major program grade-point average of at least 3.00. The degree is offered with two options: without a thesis (34 s.h.) and with a thesis (37 s.h.). A student's advisor must approve all courses that count toward the degree. All courses must be taken on an A–F graded basis.

Core Courses

Students complete the following set of required core courses in phonetics, phonology, syntax, and language acquisition for a total of 22 s.h.

Electives

Students are encouraged to use electives to focus on a specialized area, such as data analytics. With advisor permission, additional non-linguistics courses may be considered as elective options. 

Students not completing a thesis take 12 s.h. of linguistics courses (prefix LING) numbered 4000 or above, excluding LING:4010, LING:4050, LING:4900, LING:6900, and LING:7900. These may include a maximum of 6 s.h. total from LING:4195 Linguistics Lab II, LING:5090 Special Projects, and LING:7100 Special Projects.  

Students completing a thesis take 15 s.h. of linguistics courses numbered 4000 or above, excluding LING:4010, LING:4050, LING:4900, and LING:7900. This may include a maximum of 9 s.h. total from LING:4195 Linguistics Lab II, LING:5090 Special Projects, LING:6900 Master's Thesis, and LING:7100 Special Projects. Students must take at least 3 s.h. in LING:6900 Master's Thesis. 

Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.

Academics

University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.

Admissions

Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.

Financial Support

Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.

Applicants to the MA program in linguistics must submit an application to the Graduate College, including three letters of recommendation. Applications for admission should be submitted as early as possible for the following academic year.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Career opportunities in linguistics can be found in academia, government, industry, and the non-profit sectors.

A number of companies, such as Microsoft, Xerox, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and other high-tech firms, regularly hire employees with linguistics degrees. Opportunities also exist for government work, for example, as a special agent linguist for the FBI.

The Linguistic Society of America has a wealth of resources available to individuals interested in pursuing a career in linguistics.

The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Linguistics, MA

a

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

b

Complete 12 s.h. of Department of Linguistics coursework, which may include a 9-12 s.h. focus. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate coursework and sequence.