Master of Arts, Language and Linguistics Option 
Students who wish to specialize in any of the various areas of English language and linguistics may design an M.A. program to meet their interests. Specialties include Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, and the Teaching of English as a Second Language, as well as the traditional sub-fields of linguistics. Psycholinguistics courses are offered through the Psychology Department.
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Joleen Hanson's masters paper explored the efficacy of the private diary assignment in the adult ESL classroom.Learn more. |
Course Requirements
To earn the M.A. degree, students must complete at least eight four-credit courses including the Master's Paper (ENGL 998). Unless the student already has a strong background in linguistic theory, the program of study must include one course in phonetics and phonology (ENGL 893) and one in syntax and semantic theory (ENGL 894).
Students may count towards their degree no more than two courses from outside the English department. Students with special research interest may enroll in courses of Independent Study (ENGL 995) with the consent of a sponsoring professor and their advisor. The student's advisor must approve the program of study. It is especially important to consult the advisor before registering for any courses not in the basic core of linguistics graduate courses. Students may take up to six years to complete the M.A. in English Language and Linguistics degree.
Foreign Language Requirement
Reading knowledge of one foreign language is required. Foreign students whose native language is not English may be said to have passed their foreign language requirement with their native language. With approval of the linguistics faculty, students who have passed sixteen credit hours in a foreign language with at least the grade of B will have demonstrated adequate competence. Language exams will generally be held in November and March and will consist of one page of linguistics material to be translated in an hour with the aid of a dictionary. Students should take this exam at the earliest opportunity in their degree program.
The Master's Paper
This should be a finished, polished scholarly paper approximately thirty-five pages in length. Students will receive four credits (graded on a credit/fail basis) by registering for ENGL 998, The Master's Paper. The work required for ENGL 998 must be original and not merely rewriting a paper previously submitted in a course or seminar. The semester prior to the end of the program, students must submit a written proposal signed by the professor who will supervise the research and by another professor who will serve as a second reader. Each student should then plan a series of regular conferences with them and expect demands for revision and rewriting to be made. The paper will not be accepted until the two readers have signed a final approval cover sheet. A copy of the paper, with the original cover sheet, must be submitted to the English graduate office no later than the last day of final exams.
Visit this page for a sample of recent master's papers from students in this program.
Faculty
English Department faculty at UNH work closely with graduate students, providing multiple and ongoing opportunities for professional growth.
Visit the English Department Faculty Page. The Faculty by Field section of this page may also be useful.
The Profession
Visit this page on the linguistics website for a listing of job ideas for linguists
Sampling of jobs for linguists
Please visit the Linguistics Program website for more information.
If you would like more information about tuition, fees, housing, and graduate life at UNH, visit the UNH Graduate School.