Linguistics

The Linguistics program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers students a comprehensive exploration of the scientific study of language. This interdisciplinary field combines insights from anthropology, psychology, computer science, and philosophy to analyze the structure, use, and acquisition of human language. Students in this program have the opportunity to examine various aspects of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, allowing for a well-rounded understanding of how languages function and evolve. The curriculum is designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, preparing graduates for careers in academia, technology, linguistics research, language technology development, education, and speech therapy. Students can also engage with specialized topics such as language documentation, computational linguistics, sociolinguistics, and psycholinguistics, fostering a broad and in-depth perspective on language phenomena. The program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and empirical research methods, equipping students to conduct independent investigations and contribute to advancements in the field. With access to state-of-the-art laboratories and a supportive academic community, students will have ample opportunities for hands-on learning, internships, and collaborative projects. Upon graduation, students will possess a solid foundation in linguistic theories and methodologies, enabling them to analyze language data rigorously and apply their knowledge in various professional contexts. Overall, the Linguistics program at UMass Amherst prepares students to understand the complexities of human language and to utilize that knowledge in innovative and impactful ways in a globally connected world.

First Year

• Fall Classes: 601 (Transformational Grammar), 603 (Generative Phonology), 610 (Semantics & Generative Grammar), 791A (Linguistics Colloquium)
• Spring Classes: 604 (Syntactic Theory), 606 (Phonological Theory), 791A, two electives

Second Year

Fall Classes: 791A, Area Workshop, seminars and proseminars

• Choose first Doctoral Guidance Committee (DGC) with GPD in September
• Attend DGC meeting

Spring Classes: 791A, Area Workshop, seminars/proseminars

• Submit first Generals to DGC by April 1
• Defend first Generals before end of classes
• Choose second DGC with GPD by end of May
• Attend DGC meeting

Third Year

Fall Classes: 791A, Area Workshop, seminars and proseminars

• File first Generals by first day of classes
• Attend DGC meeting

Spring Classes: 791A, 3-unit course and 6 units of independent study

• Submit second Generals by end of January
• Defend second Generals by March 15
• File second Generals by last day of classes
• Notify Graduate Program Secretary of Breadth paper
• Ask Graduate Program Secretary to prepare Doctoral Candidacy Nomination (D-2) memo
• Attend DGC meeting

Fourth Year

Fall Classes: seminar and/or Dissertation Credits

• Write dissertation prospectus with faculty guidance
• Form a disserataion committee
• E-mail Graduate Progam Secretary with request for Graduate School committee memo
• Attend DGC meeting

Spring Classes: seminar and/or Dissertation Credits

• Submit prospectus to committee for approval by March 1
• Prepare Graduate School cover sheet for prospectus and file with Graduate Program Secretary
• Submit approved prospectus to Graduate School by May

Fifth Year

Fall Classes: program fee or Dissertation Credits

• Check to see if your statute of limitations has expired

Spring Classes: Dissertation Credits or program fee

• Submit advisor-approved dissertation draft to committee by March 15th
• Ask Graduate Program Secretary to reqest oral examination by April 15
• Defend dissertation by end of May
• Submit a defense results memo

• A completed Application Form.
• A $75 application fee. This fee cannot be waived or deferred.
• International Student Sponsor Statement is required of all international students.
• One official transcript from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where (nine) 9 or more credits were taken are required. If they are not mailed directly from the college/university, they should be enclosed in sealed envelopes signed by the college/university.  If the official transcripts and/or degree certificate(s) are not in English, notarized English language translations in duplicate must accompany them. Do not list colleges/universities where (eight) 8 or fewer credits were taken.
• Letters of recommendation (academic references) from two (2) professors or instructors who have taught you in courses in the field you are applying to here. After submission of the electronic application, we will send an email to each referee giving them instructions on how to electronically deliver the recommendation to the Graduate School. All recommendations will be considered confidential unless the applicant doesn't waive his/her right of access.
• Scores from the following standard examinations:
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examination)-General Test required by nearly all graduate programs - (refer to Degrees and Programs Offered)
  • GRE SUBJECT TEST (not a universal requirement-refer to the Programspage for those programs requiring a Subject Test)
  • GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)-for graduate applicants to Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, and Sport Management


  • English Language Test: Either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System)-only the academic version of test is accepted, or PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)

Scholarships

The University does not award student funding of any kind unless this is explicitly stated in writing by the graduate department to which the applicant has applied. Assistance in the form of a teaching or research assistantship is becoming increasingly limited. Tuition scholarships and fellowships are few and are not usually awarded during the first year of attendance, before the student has an academic performance record at the University itself. All applicants should plan on being self-financed, without recourse to part-time employment at the University, at least through the first academic year, unless they have specifically been offered some form of assistance by the department.

 Recommendations from the student's academic program play an important part in determining who will be awarded these waivers of tuition, and competition for the tuition scholarships is great. Those incoming graduate students who have not received any other type of financial assistance and who are interested in applying for a tuition waiver should contact their department directly. Applicants should be aware that the competition for new student tuition waivers is intense. Very few waivers are granted to new students and the few that are granted, are based only on departmental recommendations.

Graduate Assistantships


The University offers a number of teaching and research assistantships in the instructional and research programs of various departments. Stipends vary greatly from as little as $5,000 for a half assistantship to $16,000 for a full assistantship for the calendar year. International applicants who are awarded assistantships, and who have no supplemental means of support, must make sure that the assistantship is adequate to meet their minimum financial needs, refer to Estimate of Expenses. Graduate assistants are not required to pay tuition charges provided their stipend is $5,000 or higher ($ 2,500 is the minimum for a one semester waiver of tuition and most fees). Assistantships are awarded for a maximum of one academic year at a time. A graduate assistantship is not a scholarship, and a full assistantship requires a work contribution by the student averaging 20 hours per week, and Federal and State income taxes will be withheld from earnings.

Research Assistantships


A number of research assistantships, with no teaching duties, are available to qualified graduate students in various departments. Funds are provided by either private industry, the U.S. Government (especially in agriculture, engineering, and the sciences), or by the University itself.

Teaching Assistantships


Many departments offer teaching assistantships to qualified, enrolled graduate students. International applicants are eligible for these assistantships. Since teaching assistantships involve instruction, all incoming students who have been awarded a teaching assistantship and whose native language is not English must demonstrate oral English proficiency, either by passing the Test of Spoken English administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) before their arrival on campus at their own expense or by passing the SPEAK test upon arrival at no cost to the student. In order to pass the TSE or SPEAK test, students must score 50 or above.

University Fellowships


These Fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a very competitive basis and are intended to help superior students pursue graduate study without a work requirement and obtain a degree in the minimum possible time. They are normally awarded only after a graduate student has completed two semesters at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A University Fellowship is for only one year. A tuition waiver accompanies a University Fellowship, and no service is required.

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers a comprehensive program in Linguistics designed to provide students with a deep understanding of language structures, functions, and usages across different contexts. The curriculum encompasses various subfields including phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, enabling students to explore the fundamental aspects of language from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The program aims to develop students' analytical skills, critical thinking, and research capabilities, preparing them for careers in academia, language technology, speech pathology, and other related fields. Students have opportunities to engage in empirical research, participate in linguistics laboratories, and collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge projects. The program also emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating insights from psychology, computer science, anthropology, and cognitive science to provide a holistic understanding of language phenomena. Through coursework, seminars, and research projects, students learn about language acquisition, language variation and change, sociolinguistics, and computational linguistics. The Department of Linguistics at UMass Amherst is known for its active faculty who are recognized experts in various linguistic subfields, fostering an intellectually stimulating environment. Additionally, students have access to numerous resources including linguistics software, corpora, and fieldwork opportunities, both locally and globally. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to pursue graduate studies or enter industries where linguistic skills are in high demand, such as technology companies working on natural language processing, educational institutions, and governmental agencies. Overall, the Linguistics program at UMass Amherst aims to prepare students to understand and analyze the complexities of human language, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for a variety of professional pathways.