Program: Linguistics, M.A. - San Diego State University

Mar 13, 2025

2023/2024 University Catalog

(Major Code: 15051) (SIMS Code: 114701; Applied TESOL - 114705)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the Master of Arts degree, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete a graduate program of at least 31 units of 500-, 600-, and 700-level courses.

A minimum of 25 units from courses in the Department of Linguistics. A minimum of 16 units must be from 600- or 700-level courses.

Advancement to Candidacy

All candidates must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees.

At Least 31 Units

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the Master of Arts degree, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees, the student must complete a graduate program of at least 31 units of 500-, 600-, and 700-level courses to include

Required Courses

(16 units)

LING 501 - Fundamentals of Linguistics Units: 3
LING 503 - Functions of Language Units: 3
LING 600 - Professional Development in Linguistics Units: 1
LING 795 - Seminar in Linguistics Units: 3 (6 units)

Three Units from the Following

LING 502 - Language in Mind and Society Units: 3
LING 551 - Sociolinguistics Units: 3
LING 552 - Psycholinguistics Units: 3

Note

Note that completion of LING 501 or equivalent is a prerequisite to LING 502, LING 551, and LING 552.

Students Selecting the General Linguistics Specialization Must Complete at Least 9 Units Selected from the Following

LING 602 - Advanced Study of Language in Mind and Society Units: 3
LING 610 - Topics in Historical Linguistics Units: 3
LING 620 - Advanced Formal Syntax Units: 3
LING 626 - Pragmatics Units: 3
LING 651 - Seminar in Sociolinguistic Research in the Speech Community Units: 3
LING 696 - Advanced Topics in Linguistics Units: 1-3 (with general linguistics content)

Students Selecting the Applied Linguistics (TESOL) Specialization Must Complete

LING 652 - Second Language Acquisition Units: 3
LING 656 - Quantitative Research Methods in Language Studies Units: 3

At Least Six Units From the Following

LING 650 - Materials Development in Applied Linguistics Units: 3
LING 653 - ESL Reading and Writing Units: 3
LING 655 - English for Specific Purposes and Content-Based Instruction Units: 3
LING 657 - Foundations of Language Assessment Units: 3

An Internship

An internship is required of all students selecting this specialization who have not taught ESL previously.

LING 740 - Internship in English as a Second Language and Foreign Language Teaching Units: 3

Students Selecting One Specialization

Students selecting one specialization may enroll in courses from the other specialization as electives.

Other Electives

Students must complete elective units from graduate courses in Linguistics. With the approval of the graduate adviser, a maximum of six units of courses with linguistics content taken in other departments may be accepted for graduate credit in linguistics. LING 505 does not count toward unit requirements for the Master of Arts degree in linguistics.

Culminating Experience

LING 799A Thesis Units: 3 (Plan A) or A written comprehensive examination (Plan B) Plan A students must select a committee of three faculty members, two of whom are from the Linguistics department, to supervise the thesis. In consultation with the graduate adviser, students select one of two options at the time of filing an official program of study.