If you have a keen interest in languages, then pursuing a Master’s in Linguistics would be ideal for you. The two-year long Master of Arts (M.A) in Applied Linguistics will provide you with a strong theoretical foundation of English and other languages. It will also prepare you for a variety of careers in teaching and academics.
The goal of the Master’s degree in Linguistics is to train program participants to describe and identify patterns in language, its use and structure, and help them apply that knowledge in the field.
Read this informative article to learn more about the Masters in Linguistics program requirements, and the curriculum covered during the program. It also discusses the career opportunities available to linguistics students.
What Is Linguistics?
The scientific study of language and its structure is called Linguistics. It also includes the study of semantics, phonetics, syntax, and morphology.
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Linguistics?
Linguistics graduates can kick-start a career in behavioral and social sciences and can enter one of the following fields:
-
Film and Theater: In this field, graduates can coach accents, dialects, and create languages.
-
Government Agencies: Individuals can work as translators and foreign linguists for the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Education, NSA, or the Foreign Service.
-
Branding and Advertising: Graduates can work on advertising strategies as copy writers and content developers.
-
Publishing: Graduates can take up a position in writing, publishing, or editing.
-
Education: Individuals can work as linguistics professors and can teach linguistics course at universities and colleges. They can design assessment, train teachers, develop language curriculum and teach English and other languages.
-
Language Preservation: Individuals can translate documents, establish literacy programs, and preserve and document endangered languages.
-
Technology: Graduates can work in artificial intelligence, text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition and language processing.
-
Language Therapy: Individuals can work with people who have speech abnormalities and language problems.
Post-Secondary Teachers
Linguistics graduates can work as post-secondary teachers after graduating. The following employment data has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2018: $78,470
-
Job Outlook (2018-2028): 11%
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
BLS has further categorized post-secondary teachers into English language and literature teachers. These professionals teach courses related to comparative literature, linguistics, and English language.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2019: $68,490
-
Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $80,180
-
State with the Highest Salary, 2019: California - $121,450.
-
State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: New York - 8,130.
Interpreters and Translators
These professionals convert information from one language to another.
-
Annual Median Salary, 2019: $51,830
-
Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $57,000
-
Job Growth, 2018-2028: 19%
-
State with the Highest Salary, 2019: Virginia - $75,770 per year.
-
State with the Highest Employment Level: California - 8,050 in 2019.
Note: These figures have been obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What to Expect in a Master-Level Linguistics Program?
This section will talk about the specialization options and modules that are available to the graduate students.
Areas of Concentration
Universities are currently offering specializations in various fields such as Phonology and Phonetics, Syntax, Semantics and Experimental Linguistics.
Linguistics Modules
Students are exposed to the following modules during the Master’s program: Historical Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Syntactic Description of English, Pedagogical Phonology, Reading and Writing Pedagogy, Assessing Language Abilities, Materials and Methods in TEFL, Semantics and Pragmatics, Syntax and Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition.
How to Choose a Linguistics Program?
While choosing a Master's degree in Linguistics, you should take into account a number of factors. These include the following: the duration of the program, the curriculum, the reputation of the school and the placement opportunities.
Admission Requirements
You should check with your school of choice and inquire about their admission requirements. Generally, students are expected to send the admissions form to the school, along with their transcripts, personal statements, reference letters and resumes.
Pre-Requisites
Candidates applying for the Master’s program should keep the following in mind:
-
It is expected that students will be familiar with the fundamentals of syntax, morphology, and phonology and must have studied at least one introductory course in linguistics.
-
GPA requirements vary from one educational institute to another.
Program Requirements
Individuals enrolled in the Master of Arts (M.A) in Linguistics have to complete around 36 credit hours. If the student has opted for a thesis option, then they will have to produce an original research, and will have to defend that thesis in front of the graduate committee.