Requirements

Students earning an MA degree in Linguistics at the University of Montana complete a 36-credit-hour program of study. Thesis and non-thesis options are available. Any student may elect to pursue the non-thesis option. Students wishing to pursue the thesis option must submit a thesis proposal draft in April of their second semester, and a final thesis proposal one week before the start of the following Fall semester. Students whose proposals are approved may then elect to pursue the thesis option. The requirements for each option are listed below.

Non-Thesis Option

  • Coursework (36 credits)
    • LING 571 Phonetics and Phonology (3 credits)
    • LING 572 Generative Syntax (3 credits)
    • LING 574 Historical Linguistics (3 credits)
    • LING 589 Morphology (3 credits)
    • LING 575 Linguistic Field Methods (3 credits) or LING 584 NA Indigenous Languages & Linguistics  (3 credits)
    • 3 semesters of LING 570 Seminar in Linguistics (9 credits)
    • 4 elective courses* (12 credits)
  • Comprehensive Exam

Thesis Option

  • Coursework (30 credits)
    • LING 571 Phonetics and Phonology (3 credits)
    • LING 572 Generative Syntax (3 credits)
    • LING 574 Historical Linguistics (3 credits)
    • LING 589 Morphology (3 credits)
    • LING 575 Linguistic Field Methods (3 credits) or LING 584 NA Indigenous Languages & Linguistics  (3 credits)
    • 2 semesters of LING 570 Seminar in Linguistics  (6 credits)
    • 3 elective courses* (9 credits)
  • Thesis (6 credits)
    • LING 699 Thesis (6 credits)

* Elective courses: LING 477, LING 478, LING 491, LING 573, LING 575**, LING 584**, LING 570, or LING 494 (equivalent, LING 570)

** If LING 575 is taken to satisfy a required course, this cannot be used for an elective course. The same rule applies to LING 584.