Linguistics MA

UCL (University College London)

The Linguistics MA aims to give students a thorough grounding in modern theoretical linguistics. Students gain a basic understanding of the three core areas of linguistics: phonetics and phonology, syntax, and semantics and pragmatics. They are then able to tailor the programme to meet their personal linguistic interests. Students gain knowledge and understanding of current research in theoretical linguistics and are prepared for independent research. Students focus on the core areas of linguistics: phonetics/phonology, syntax, and semantics/pragmatics alongside a range of optional modules suited to their personal interests. On completion of the programme, they will be able to formulate appropriate research questions, find and evaluate relevant literature, develop and test new hypotheses, and produce cogent, structured and professionally presented reports. The programme is particularly suitable for students whose undergraduate degree included a minority of linguistic course-units, who have studied linguistics of a more traditional type elsewhere, or who have encountered linguistics only indirectly (through studying, e.g., psychology, philosophy, English language, or foreign language teaching). The programme is also suitable for good graduates who have an interest in linguistics but have little or no prior experience with formal linguistics study. Students with an extensive background in theoretical linguistics (e.g., those who completed a full undergraduate degree in pure Linguistics) might be better suited in our phonology or syntax specialisation MA Linguistics programmes or our MPhil Linguistics programme.