Department website: https://worldlanguages.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Master of Arts
- Graduate Certificate
Nature of the Program
The M.A. program in Linguistics includes 30 hours of core and elective courses and is designed to provide students with a well rounded perspective on the field. Students also have the opportunity to engage in research projects that reflect their interests within a given subject and that serve to complement and augment the information imparted through in-class activities. The program may be completed either by taking comprehensive exams, or by writing and defending a Master's thesis.The program is intended both for students seeking preparation for doctoral studies in linguistics or a related field, as well as for those seeking a professional degree with a goal of pursuing careers in language related fields.
Available Financial Aid
Graduate teaching assistantships are available to students admitted to any of our three M.A. programs for teaching different languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, English as a Second Language, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. The assistantships carry full university tuition remission and a nine-month stipend (August–May); there are also limited opportunities to teach during the university’s summer session.
In addition to the graduate teaching assistantships, a limited number of meritorious tuition waiver awards are sometimes available from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences through the department. These awards are based on academic performance and financial need.
Graduate Teaching Assistants
The department values the contributions made by our graduate assistants and strives to help them become effective teachers. Graduate assistants normally teach two courses (six class-hours per week). They work under the direct supervision of the course coordinator in the language area, but they are fully responsible for their courses (including evaluating their students’ work). The coordinator will conduct orientations and organizational meetings with graduate assistants and provide course materials (such as syllabi). In addition, the coordinator will periodically observe individual classes in order to assess the graduate assistants’ performance and to provide encouragement and assistance.
All graduate teaching assistants must register for one of our language teaching methods classes (LANG 421, LANG 521, or LANG 621, depending on the language they are teaching). In addition, graduate assistants must register for LANG 690 each semester of employment. Students who have already received an M.A. in World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics from West Virginia University may be ineligible for an assistantship in this department.
Additional Points of Information
Advising
All graduate students will have a primary advisor (to be assigned by the chairperson). Students should consult with their advisor when they register for courses or add and/or drop courses. In addition, the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies is available to answer questions regarding the degree program, requirements, comprehensive examinations, graduation, etc. Students may consult with the chairperson regarding departmental matters.
Study Abroad Opportunities for Graduate Students
Qualified teaching assistants in French may compete for the Marguerite Eynard McBride Award, which funds an academic year in France. Year-long exchange programs for graduate students are also in place for France and Spain. The department also sponsors study abroad during the summers in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Spain, and Taiwan that graduate students may participate in if they meet the program’s requirements. Grants are available on a competitive basis through the department and through the Office of International Programs to assist students who wish to study abroad.
Faculty
Chair
- Amy S. Thompson - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
Associate Chair
- Sandra Stjepanović - Ph.D. (University of Connecticut)
Professors
- Lisa DiBartolomeo - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
Russian and Polish Language and Literature, Slavic Folklore, Culture and Cinema, Science Fiction, the Holocaust - Daniel Ferreras - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty; French and Spanish, Comparative Romance Literature, French/Spanish 19th and 20th Century Novel, Theory of the Fantastic - Valérie Lastinger - Ph.D. (University of Georgia)
French, 18th-century French Literature, French Women Writers - Amy S. Thompson - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Applied Linguistics
Associate Professors
- Manal AlNatour - Ph.D. (University of Arkansas)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Arabic Studies, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies - Susan Braidi - Ph.D. (University of Delaware)
Regular Graduate Faculty; ESL/Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Syntax - Heiko ter Haseborg - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Education, Applied Linguistics - Yilin Liao-Carlson - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
Chinese Studies - Cynthia Chalupa - Ph.D. (Ohio State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Fin de Siècle German and Austrian Literature, Poetry, Foreign Language Pedagogy - Deborah Janson - Ph.D. (University of California Los Angeles)
- Jonah Katz - Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Phonetics, Phonology, Theoretocal and Experimental Linguistics, Music Cognition - Tania de Miguel Magro - Ph.D. (The State University of New York, Stony Brook)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Spanish Literature and Culture, Spanish Language, Spanish Golden Age Literature - Sergio Robles Puente - Ph.D. (University of Southern California)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Spanish Phonetics, Phonology, and Sociolinguistics - Sandra Stjepanović - Ph.D. (University of Connecticut)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Linguistics, Syntax, Psycholinguistics, Semantics - Nicole Tracy-Ventura - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Spanish, Applied Linguistics - Annastella Vester - Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
Italian, Contemporary Italian Literature, 18th and 19th-century Italian - Ching-Hsuan Wu - Ph.D. (The Ohio State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Chinese, Applied Linguistics
Assistant Professors
- William Justin Morgan - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
Spanish, Applied Linguistics - Rafael Osuna Montanez - Ph.D. (University of Connecticut)
XXth–XXIst century Spanish essay, novel, graphic novel, short story, play, film and poetry with an emphasis on the Spanish Civil War, the Dictatorship, and Post-Franco Spain 1975-2017. - Marie Paillard - Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University)
20th and 21st century Francophone literatures from the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean - Adrienne Washington - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
Regular Graduate Faculty; Linguistics - Sonia Zarco-Real - Ph.D. (University of Connecticut)
Peninsular literature and Hispanic transatlantic studies
Teaching Instructors
- Yumiko Adachi - M.A. (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- Livia Cascao - M.A. (West Virginia University)
- Lindsey DeBolt - M.A. (West Virginia University)
- Tracy Dingess - M.A. (West Virginia University)
- Arleana Mago - M.A. (Mississippi State University)
- Beatrice Malvisi - M.A. (University of Pittsburgh)
- Lindsei Pereira da Silva - M.A. (West Virginia University)
- Jennifer Simpson - M.A. (West Virginia University)
- Kristen Williams - M.A. (West Virginia University)
Professors Emeriti
- María Amores - Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University)
- Sandra Dixon - Ph.D. (Brown University)
- Ahmed Fakhri - Ph.D. (University of Michigan)
- Pablo González - Ph.D. (University Complutense de Madrid)
- Michael Lastinger - Ph.D. (University of Georgia)
- Kathleen McNerney - Ph.D. (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico)
Admissions
The Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics offers both an M.A. program and a graduate certificate in Linguistics. The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- The M.A. program in Linguistics includes 30 hours of core and elective courses and is designed to provide students with a well-rounded perspective on the field in preparation for Ph.D. programs or jobs.
- The Graduate Certificate in Linguistics is a 12-hour program that provides students with foundational knowledge in the science of human language. While the Certificate integrates well with our M.A. program in TESOL, it also opens the door for students in other fields that intersect with the study of Linguistics (e.g., English, Speech Pathology, Education, Computer Science, and others) to enhance their graduate studies.
M.A. in Linguistics
In addition to the university requirements for admission, applicants to the master’s program must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (cumulative as well as within the major) and should possess an undergraduate degree in Linguistics (or an acceptable related area). Admission to our M.A. program is competitive.
Graduate Certificate in Linguistics
To be considered for admission to the Certificate, applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in their most recent degree program, as well as evidence of an introductory Linguistics course on their transcript.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Students applying for fall admission to the M.A. program may be considered for a teaching assistantship. Interested applicants should fill out the WLLL TA Application and upload it, along with supporting documents, as part of the personal statement in the graduate application. Applicants will first be considered for admission to the program. If admitted, they will be considered for an assistantship. Applicants who wish to be considered for an assistantship should submit a completed application by February 1st.
We normally do not award assistantships to start in a Spring semester. Students who are admitted in the spring semester and would like to be considered for an assistantship to start the following Fall, can fill out the WLLL TA application and email it to the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies by February 1st.
List of Admission Requirements for both programs:
- See the steps to apply for admissions and access the application here.
- All prior transcripts.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic references for the M.A., one letter for the certificate. Letters of recommendation should be from a professor who knows and can comment on the applicant's academic potential.
- Resume.
-
A personal statement of 300-word discussing the applicant's academic background, past accomplishments, reasons for selecting this program and how it relates to future goals.
-
An academic writing sample in English. The sample may be a paper previously submitted for an academic course. In general, it should be 10-15 pages, although longer submissions are also welcome.
International Applicants:
Application Deadlines:
- For admission to the fall semester, completed applications must be received by February 1st.
- For admission to the spring semester, completed applications must be received by October 1st.
For questions, please contact: WorldLangInfo@mail.wvu.edu
Certain application requirements may be waived based on a preliminary review of an application by the program.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
M.A. Major Code: 14D6
Certificate Code: CG60
For specific information on the following program, please see the link to the right:
- Linguistics, M.A.
Curriculum Requirements
- Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. French majors complete FRCH 496.
- Writing and Communication Skills Requirement: The French Bachelor of Arts is a SpeakWrite Certified ProgramTM. SpeakWrite Certified programs incorporate and develop students’ written, verbal, visual, and mediated communication skills across the curriculum.
- Calculation of GPA in the Major: French majors must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.25 for graduation and in French Major Requirements.
- Residency Requirements: Students completing a major in world languages/world language studies at WVU must fulfill a residency requirement by completing at least fifteen credit hours on campus in their language/area of study, excluding courses numbered 100, 101, 102, 200, 203, 204, 493, and courses obtained through credit by examination.
- Benchmark Expectations: For details, go to the French Degree Progress tab.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 63 | |
| ECAS B.A. Requirements | 12 | |
| French Major Requirements | 33 | |
| Linguistics Degree Requirements | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 138 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 33 | |
| LANG 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 29 | |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
ECAS Bachelor of Arts Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Arts Requirement | ||
| Foreign Language | 12 | |
| Global Studies and Diversity Requirement | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
French Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 6 | |
| Select two of the following courses: | ||
| Language Through Civilization | ||
| Language Through Culture | ||
| Structure and Communication | ||
| Advanced Readings | ||
| Electives | 24 | |
Select 8 classes from the list below: | ||
| 1-Additional upper-division French classes (may include alternate courses from above). | ||
| 2-Up to 6 credits in FLIT 230-239, 330-339, FCLT 230-239, 330-339, LING 311, or a course in a directly related area approved by the department. | ||
| Capstone Requirement | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Linguistics Degree Requirements
- Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at the graduate level. No more than 12 hours of coursework done at the 400 level will be counted toward the degree.
- Grade Point Average: Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.75, and a GPA of 3.00 in coursework applied to their graduate program.
- Graduation Requirement: In addition to completing 30 hours of coursework, students must pass comprehensive examinations or successfully defend a thesis.
- Comprehensive Examinations: The comprehensive examinations are intended to evaluate students’ knowledge, including the ability to synthesize and evaluate ideas in their area of emphasis. The examinations are based on standardized reading lists and coursework.
- Thesis: A student may request to write a thesis and prepare an oral defense. For more information about this option, see the document “Thesis Guidelines.”
- Benchmarks: For details, go to the Linguistics Degree Progress tab
- Additional Requirements:
- Students must satisfy the foreign language requirement by the time they graduate:
- Students in the major in Linguistics who are native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in a second language prior to graduation by completing one language course of level 204 or above, with a grade of B or better, or by taking the departmental placement examination in one language and placing above the 204-level.
- International students whose native language is not English are considered to have satisfied this requirement by virtue of their TOEFL or IELTS score.
- Students must satisfy the foreign language requirement by the time they graduate:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CORE COURSES: | 24 | |
| Phonology | ||
| Syntax | ||
| Sociolinguistics | ||
| Cognitive Foundations of Language | ||
| Methods of Research | ||
| Advanced Phonology | ||
| Advanced Syntax | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Structure of Modern French | ||
| Structure of Spanish | ||
| History of Linguistics | ||
| Discourse Analysis | ||
| Language Typology | ||
| Psycholinguistics | ||
| Spanish Prosody | ||
| ELECTIVES: | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the following list: | ||
| American Culture | ||
| The Teaching of Foreign Languages | ||
| Second Language Reading | ||
| English as a Second Language Methods | ||
| Teaching Foreign Language in College | ||
| English as a Second Language Theory | ||
| Second Language Writing | ||
| Language Assessment | ||
| Literacy in a Second Language | ||
| English as a Second Language Linguistics | ||
| Applied Linguistics | ||
| English as a Second Language Phonetics | ||
| Research (up to 6 credits) * | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
For specific information on the following program, please see the link to the right:
- Linguistics, Graduate Certificate
Degree Progress
M.A. in Linguistics
- All students should complete a plan of study by the end of their first semester.
- Students will be evaluated in writing at the end of the Spring term on a yearly basis. If adequate progress is not made, students may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.
- Students who choose the thesis option should typically defend their thesis topic by the midterm of their second semester, have their thesis proposal approved by the end of the second semester, and submit and defend their thesis during the semester in which they intend to graduate. The student’s thesis committee may revise these deadlines.
- Students who choose the examination option should complete the examinations during the semester in which they intend to graduate.