Five Year BA/MA in Linguistics

The UMass Amherst Linguistics Department does not admit admit MA students from outside UMass, but we offer the opportunity to a few exceptional graduating seniors in our Linguistics BA program to stay an extra year to advanced study in our world-renowned graduate program, and earn an MA in Linguistics. Each student's curriculum will be individually designed based on his or her interests, goals, and previous study. Under some circumstances, courses taken as an undergraduate and courses from other departments can count toward the degree.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Linguistics BA/MA Program

Q: Who is eligible for this program?

A: The MA program is limited to UMass Amherst Linguistics majors (or Five College students who have taken a substantial number of linguistics courses at UMass) who have received A's in all linguistics courses.

Q: How many MA students are admitted per year?

A: No more than three per year.

Q: What are the course and credit requirements?
A: The MA requires 30 credits at the 500 level or above. At least 12 of these credits must be 600 level or above. The exact courses will be worked out with you individually, based on your interests, goals, and prior course work.
 

Q: Can I transfer credits, take courses in other departments, or apply previous courses toward the degree?
A: A maximum of nine credits can be taken in other departments. A maximum of nine credits taken as an undergraduate can be applied to the MA degree, but these cannot be courses that were used to satisfy your BA degree.

Q: Do I have to write a thesis for this degree?
A: No, the degree is based entirely on course work, without a thesis.

Q: I am not a student at UMass Amherst or the 4 colleges. Am I eligible for this program?
A: No.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Contact Ellen Woolford at woolford@linguist.umass.edu before you apply formally.

Q: What is the application deadline?
A: The final deadline for fall admission is June 30, but earlier inquiries are encouraged. Applications for spring admission are also accepted.

Q: How much are tuition and fees?
A: Up-to-date information can be found at http://www.umass.edu/bursar/fee_schedule.htm.

Q: Is financial aid available?
A: MA students are not eligible for TA-ships.

For financial aid information, see http://www.umass.edu/umfa/grads/.

Q: I want a break after going to school for 16 years. Can I defer admission for a year?
A: Yes

For further information about this BA/MA program, contact Ellen Woolford at woolford@linguist.umass.edu.