Master of Arts in English: Concentration in Linguistics
Due to budget problems in the State of California, the California State University system, including San Francisco State University, will not be accepting applications to graduate degree programs for spring 2010. Check http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/program-deadline.htm for fall 2010 degree program deadlines. The fall 2010 application period begins October 1, 2009.
Program Description
The M.A. in Linguistics provides students with a solid grounding in the tools of language analysis. The course offerings in contemporary linguistic theory cover a broad spectrum of the levels of linguistic structure: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, discourse analysis, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. The program provides a background for teachers of English at the secondary and community college levels, for other specialists in education, and for those who wish to pursue advanced studies in the structure of language. Since the program allows considerable choice in coursework beyond a basic set of core requirements, the student in consultation with an adviser can plan a program to suit individual interests and career requirements. The Linguistics Teaching Assistant Practicum (ENG 804) enables students to apprentice with faculty who teach undergraduate language studies classes in order to gain knowledge and experience in the various skills needed to teach linguistics concepts in the classroom. For more information about ENG 804, please click here. The Linguistics Program maintains a separate website with relevant resources and additional advising information.
Program Requirements
Applicants with deficiencies may be admitted conditionally but must complete English 421, 424, 425, and 426 during the first year of residence. All students must have a 3.0 (B) average for their last 60 units of work prior to application for this program. English 421, 424, 425, and 426 must be taken for letter grades; students must have a 3.0 (B) cumulative average in these subjects, with no grade lower than B-, in order to continue in the program. Literature courses may be taken for a letter grade or credit.
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Pre-Program Requirements
Students entering the M.A. program with a concentration in Linguistics must have a Bachelor of Arts degree which includes the following courses or their equivalents (as approved by an adviser):
- English 421 (Structure of English)
- English 424 (Phonology/Morphology)
- English 425 (Language in Context)
- English 426 (Second Language Acquisition)
- Six upper division or graduate units in British or American literature
- Language requirement as described below
Foreign Language Requirement:
Ten semester units or the equivalent of a modern European language, plus a minimum of one semester or the equivalent of a non-Indo-European language concurrent with English 426, will be required of all candidates for the M.A. in English with a concentration in Linguistics. The student has the alternative of satisfying the modern European language requirement by examination. Units earned in foreign language study are not to be included in the Graduate Approved Program.
Written English Proficiency Requirement:
As stated in the Bulletin, all graduate students must be certified for two levels of English Language Proficiency.
Level One: Satisfactory performance on the final research paper for ENG 426, Second Language Acquisition, or, if the course is waived, an equivalent paper. Students whose writing ability is not satisfactory will be required to take a graduate-level composition course, such as ENG 670 or CHS 514. This course may not be used to fulfill other requirements for the M.A. In addition, all foreign students must have a TOEFL score of 570 before beginning the program.
Level Two: Satisfactory performance in ENG 895 or ENG 898.
Program and Required Courses 30 Units
Required core courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...18
ENG 719 Seminar: Contemporary Semantic Theory . . . . . .3
ENG 723 Seminar in the Structure of English . . . . . . . . . . .3
ENG 725 Special Topics in Linguistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ENG 727 Research Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3
ENG 728 Seminar in Sociolinguistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3
ENG 729 Seminar in Psycholinguistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Related courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....9
Nine units will be taken on advisement from one or more of the following areas.
TESOL
ENG 651 Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language: Basic Principles
ENG 653 TESOL: Pedagogical Grammar
ENG 720 Seminar in Language, Literature and Culture: TESOL
ENG 722 Seminar in Language Testing
ENG 726 Practicum in TESOL
*ENG 730 Introduction to Graduate Study: English as a Foreign/Second Language
*ENG 731 Seminar in TESOL Listening and Speaking Skills
*ENG 732 Seminar in TESOL Reading and Writing Skills
* ENG 730 is a prerequisite for ENG 731 and a
prerequisite for ENG 732.
Linguistics
ENG 422 History of the English Language
ENG 724 Special Topics in the Study of Language
ANTH 500 Descriptive Linguistics
PHIL 830 Seminar in the Philosophy of Language
Speech and Communication Studies
SPCH 503 Sex Roles and Communication
SPCH 541 Intercultural Communication
SPCH 750 Seminar in Communication and Culture
Reading and Writing
ENG 654 Tutoring in Reading
ENG 656 Topics in Reading in the Secondary School
ENG 657 Grammar and Rhetoric of the Sentence
ENG 658 Projects in Study and Reading Techniques
ENG 704 Introduction to the Teaching of Writing
ENG 715 Projects in the Teaching of Reading
ENG 716 Projects Teaching Writing
Literature
ENG 429 Stylistics
ENG 655 Studies in Adolescent Literature
ENG 720 Seminar in Language, Literature and Culture: TESOL
ENG 782 Seminar in Chaucer
Thesis or Comprehensive Examination:
Students may choose between a comprehensive examination (including both a written and an oral component) or a thesis. If the thesis option is chosen, students will take English 898 (Thesis)--3 units. Those who choose the comprehensive examination option will take an additional English 895 (Field or Research Project)--3 units. The total unit requirement for the M.A. in Linguistics is 30 units.
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Career Options/Alternatives:
The M.A. in Linguistics prepares students for a variety of teaching and research positions in which the emphasis is on the structure of language. The program provides a background for teachers of English at the secondary and community college levels and for other specialists in education. Graduates of the program may teach English language or writing, work in the fields of speech production or speech recognition, or go on to further study in linguistics or related disciplines.
Admission Procedures
Part I: Application to Graduate Studies:
- Complete an online application with Graduate Studies through CSU Mentor at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/. NOTE: Do not submit your Statement of Purpose to Graduate Studies, as it will be included with the materials you send to the department. On page 9 of the Graduate Studies Application, simply state that your personal statement has been sent directly to the English Department.
- Send one set of transcripts from all colleges attended to Graduate Studies.
The phone number for Graduate Studies is (415) 338-2234.
Part II: Application to the English Department:
Send the following materials together in one package directly to the English Department:
- A 1-2 page typed statement of purpose detailing why you are interested in the Linguistics concentration.
- One set of official transcripts from all colleges attended.
These documents should be on file in the English Department no later than April 1 for fall admission, or November 1 for spring admission.
Current Students Checklist
Obtaining Classified Status
Students admitted with Conditionally Classified status normally obtain Classified status after Graduate Division reviews and approves the Graduate Approved Program (GAP). Under certain circumstances, you may wish to obtain Classified status before filing the GAP. After you have fulfilled the conditions outlined in your Notice of Admission, contact your department office about the procedure for changing your status from Conditionally Classified to Classified. If your program requires you to provide evidence that you have met these conditions or other requirements, such as a foreign language, bring proof of completion to the department office and ask that it be added to your file.
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Semester Before Taking English 895/English 898
_____ Submit your Graduate Approved Program (GAP)
- The usual deadline for submission of this form to the department is in early October or early March, depending on the semester.
- Use this form to describe how you will fulfill the requirements of your degree.
- Prepare the GAP form online before printing. If necessary, print out a blank copy and type in the information. If the form is handwritten, it will be rejected by Graduate Division.
- Bring your completed GAP form and a printout of your unofficial SFSU transcript to an advisor for review and signature.
_____ Submit your Proposal for Culminating Experience (CE) and your Protocol Approval Form (PAF)
- The usual deadline for submission of these forms to the department is in early October or early March, depending on the semester.
- If you are writing three squibs, use the Proposal form "895: Field Study/Applied Research Project"; include the title and a brief abstract for each squib, and list the three members of your committee, all of whom must sign the form. Your committee chair is normally your primary graduate advisor.
- If you are writing a thesis and plan to collect data from human participants, use the Proposal form "898: Thesis With Human/Animal Subjects"; include the title and a brief abstract and list the members of your committee, all of whom must sign the form. Your committee chair is normally your primary thesis advisor.
- If your data collection will not involve human participants, you should use the Proposal form: "898: Thesis Without Human/Animal Subjects."
- If you plan to collect data from human participants for either a squib or a thesis, you must also prepare the paperwork related to obtaining approval for your research protocol. Check the Institutional Review Board's website for more information, and consult with your advisor on the preparation of this paperwork.
- Prepare your Proposal form online before printing. If necessary, print out a blank copy and type in the information. If your Proposal is handwritten, it will be rejected by Graduate Division.
Do you have questions about the GAP, Proposal for Culminating Experience, or Protocol Approval process? Ask in your department office, consult with your advisor, or visit the Graduate Division website. Note that we prefer that you submit your GAP and your Proposal forms to the department office at the same time.
Semester of Graduation
____ Enroll in ENG 895 or 898
- Submit the SFSU ADD Form to the department office as soon as possible after the start of the semester.
- Enter your name, phone number, SFSU ID# on the ADD form. Also, enter “ENG 895” or “ENG 898”in the designated field, and then obtain the signature of your first reader.
- You may not enroll for this course online or by phone.
_____ Apply for graduation
- The deadline to apply for graduation is the 4th Friday of the semester.
- Prepare the Application for Graduate Degree online before printing, and then obtain an advisor’s signature.
- Pay the application fee at the Bursar’s window, and then submit the application to Graduate Division.
_____ Check your transcript
- Complete any necessary paperwork to change Incomplete grades.
_____ Submit your thesis to Graduate Division
When Graduation is Delayed
_____ Re-apply for graduation
- If you do not graduate during the semester in which you initially enrolled in ENG 895/898, you must re-apply for graduation in the semester in which you will complete your requirements.
_____ Maintain enrollment status
Students admitted before Fall 2008
- If you do not submit your thesis by the deadline, your instructor will assign you a grade of ‘RP’ (report in progress).
- You do not need to re-register for ENG 895/898 in subsequent semesters.
- You do not need to pay fees for subsequent semesters.
Students admitted beginning Fall 2008
- Graduate students who earn RPin ENG 895/898 have an additional “grace semester” after the posting of the RP grade to continue writing the thesis. To maintain current status during this grace semester, students do not have to pay fees or register for courses.
- If students do not graduate at the end of the grace semester, they must enroll in a 0-unit Culminating Experience course via the College of Extended Learning for each subsequent semester.
_____ Check your transcript
- When you submit your thesis to your readers, you must also provide your 895/898 course instructor (your committee chair) with a Petition for Grade Change.
- Fill in your name, SFSU ID#, and the semester of enrollment in ENG 895/898; your professor will note that the RP grade should be changed to CR and will submit the petition to the department.
_____ Note your seven-year deadline
If you do not graduate during the semester of your initial enrollment in your culminating experience course, we recommend that you remain mindful of your seven-year deadline. Your degree must be awarded within 7 years from the start of the term of the earliest course listed on your GAP. EXAMPLE: if the earliest course listed on your GAP was taken in the Spring 2008 semester, you must graduate no later than the January, 2015. Students whose deadline has expired must petition for an extension of the seven-year limit; such an extension may be granted only once.
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For more information contact:
Department of English
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway
San Francisco, CA 94132
415/338-2660
Inquiries concerning admission to the university, application forms, the university Bulletin, financial aid, etc. should be addressed to:
Graduate Studies Division, ADM 250
San Francisco State University
16OO Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, California 94132.
Graduate Division
415/338-2234
SFSU on the Internet
For access to the University Bulletin (catalog), Class Schedule, academic department web-sites, and other campus information, visit SFSU on the World Wide Web: http://www.sfsu.edu
