Certificate in American English Linguistics

The 15-credit certificate in American English linguistics focuses on the structure, usage, and dialects of American English. It can be an invaluable asset in any career demanding sharp research skills, theoretical and observational powers, and analytical abilities.

This certificate program is open to anyone, regardless of whether you have been admitted to a degree program at UMass Amherst. The requirements can be completed entirely in the classroom, or with a combination of online and classroom courses.

You don’t need to apply for admission for the certificate, but we recommend you contact the department to let them know your plans. The required courses are LINGUIST 101 (People and Their Language) and LINGUIST 201 (How Language Works: Introduction to Linguistic Theory). Beyond these, you’ll choose eight credits of electives from the following four courses: LINGUIST 370 (The Sounds of Englishes), LINGUIST 389 (Introduction to African American English), LINGUIST 411 (Introduction to Language Acquisition), and LINGUIST 413 (Language Variation and Social Context). You may be able to substitute other courses for these with permission of the program.