Degrees & Programs Offered

Undergraduate Degree Program

The undergraduate degree program seeks to give an overview of the discipline to raise ²õ³Ù³Ü»å±ð²Ô³Ù²õ’ awareness of the many aspects of that uniquely human phenomenon, language

 
 

 


What to Expect in the Undergraduate Program

Students begin with an introductory course to gain familiarity with the discipline and an understanding of the linguistic approach to language study.  Students are introduced to the structural analysis of language, including phonology (sounds), morphology (words), and syntax (sentences).  The program allows students to explore a number of subfields (e.g., language acquisition/teaching, linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics) as well as the flexibility to take elective courses outside the program. The program ends with a capstone class in which the students explore and conduct guided research in a subfield of their choice. Majors are required to study two languages, with four semesters in one language and two semesters in the other.

Audience at the 2016 Collaborative Language Research project

Arctic Village

Featured Course

LING F389      Klingon, Elvish and Dothraki: The Art and Science of Language Creation      (s)
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

Exposure to linguistics and linguistic anthropology through inventing a language. The range of human linguistic and cultural variation will inform design of the sound system, grammar, orthography, lexicon and cultural context for the language. The class as a whole will collaboratively create a basic ConWorld, lexicon, grammar and writing system.

If you're already studying language, you may be well on the way to a linguistics degree!

Study two different languages (other than English): 4 semesters of one language and 2 semesters of the second. UAF offers courses in many different languages.

Have you chosen your minor? The very interdisciplinary nature of the College of Liberal Arts means that you have so many options when it comes to tailoring your degree program so that it is just right for you. Here are some minors that students have paired with a B.A. in Linguistics:

Common Minors for Linguistics Majors

Speech-Language Pathology*

  Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-Language Pathology classes are taken at and through UAA. Students are welcome to speak with our faculty to learn about how to potentially carry those classes over to fulfill a Linguistics degree at UAF.

 

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

3 Credits
Offered Spring

Introduction to the field of linguistics as it pertains to the field of education. Includes discussions of language structure, acquisition and bilingualism, and variation and public policy. The course does not satisfy requirements for the B.A. in Linguistics. Cross-listed with ED F100. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Fall

The study of language: systematic analysis of human language and description of its grammatical structure, distribution and diversity. Also available via Independent Learning. (3+0)
1 Credit 
Offered Fall

Introduction to the field of Teaching English as a Second Language. (1+0)
3 Credits 
Offered As Demand Warrants

A comprehensive survey of the world's languages-- past and present. Topics include genetic relationships among languages, linguistic change, language universals, language classification and language families, as well as the interaction of culture and language. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Spring

An introduction to the study of the language and culture nexus. Questions addressed include: How does the language you speak affect how you think and view the world? How do ways of speaking structure culture? What do we know about how human language evolved? How does language encode cultural meaning? Prerequisites: ANTH F100X, ANTH F101X, ANTH F215, SOC F101X or LING F101X. Cross-listed with ANTH F260. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Spring

Central issues in second language acquisition research.  Includes a critical review of SLA theories and research.  Prerequisites:  LING F101; or permission of instructor (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants

Theories of the acquisition and development of first and second languages, including consideration of biological and sociocultural factors. Survey of traditional and contemporary theories, and implications for pedagogy and public policy. Recommended: LING F101. Cross-listed with ED F303. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Examination of relationships between language and gender, drawing on both ethnographic and linguistic sources. Topics include power, socialization and sexism. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X or permission of instructor. Cross-listed with ANTH F308; WMS F308. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Spring

Scientific study of human speech sounds, mechanism of their production, and sound systems of languages. Prerequisites: Upper-division standing or permission of instructor. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Study of principles and processes of word construction in language. Morphological structure of Alaska Native languages and other non-Indo-European languages. Prerequisites: LING F318 or permission of instructor. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Spring

Theory and practice of teaching a second language, including methodological approaches, second language acquisition theory, materials and testing. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X. (3+0)
3 Credits 
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years or As Demand Warrants

This class uses "hands-on" discourse analytic techniques of student-collected media data in order to examine whether or not there is a unified rhetorical style associated with the American Right; the nature of the relationship between a message, its form and persuasion; and how moral stance are taken in political contexts. Evaluation of the veracity, ethical or historical merits of conservative political stances is not part of the scope of this course. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; ENGL F111X; ENGL F211X or ENGL F213X. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered As Demand Warrants

An elective course in linguistics for majors. Content will vary from year to year and may be drawn from many areas of linguistics to include current research and methodologies. Course may be repeated two times for credit when content varies. Prerequistes: LING F101, LING F318 and LING F320 or permission of instructor. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Consideration of minority languages, including Alaskan Native Languages, in light of their histories, current status and factors affecting future maintenance. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X. Stacked with LING F650. (3+0)
3 Credits
Offered Spring Odd-numbered Years

Current issues in various subfields of linguistics including semantics and pragmatics, discourse analysis, bilingualism, lexicography, language philosophy and issues within a particular language or language group, e.g. Eskimo phonology, Athabaskan morphology. May be repeated once. (3+0)
 
Did you know?

Undergraduate students are welcome to take graduate level courses with special permission.

 

 

Ready to apply?


 

Graduate Degree Program

Welcome to UAF's Master of Applied Linguistics Program

 
 

UAF’s MA in Applied Linguistics allows you to specialize in one of two areas: Second Language Acquisition Teacher Education (SLATE) and Language in Society.

Second Language Acquisition Teacher Education (SLATE) provides a theoretical and practical foundation in second language teaching, language teaching, materials development and language assessment.

All graduate students regardless of concentration are required to take LING F600- Research Methods for Applied Linguistics, LING F602- Second Language Acquisition and LING F650- Language Policy and Planning as well as three electives. An additional two courses in the student's chosen concentration is also required.

**Please note, the requirement for LING F601 is discussed on an individual basis during advising.

Further coursework is determined by the student’s choice of concentration and in consultation with their committee.  For more information, please contact our program.

 

Graduate Course Descriptions

3 Credits
Offered Spring

Review of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, data gathering techniques and analytical tools (questionnaires, surveys, observations, testing) used in the study of applied linguistics. Topics will include ethical issues in human subjects research, how to conduct a literature review, how to conduct classroom-based research. Prerequisites: Graduate standing. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Provides experience in working with various languages to determine systematic principles of transcribing and organizing sounds; isolating morphemes; categorizing words into semantic categories; and understanding narrative and other rhetorical structures. For students whose specialty is other than linguistics who could benefit from a graduate-level introduction to linguistic methods. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall

Central issues in second language acquisition research. Includes a critical review of SLA theories and research. Prerequisites: LING F101 or LING F601; graduate standing; or permission of instructor. (3+0)

3 Credits

Scientific approach to the study of human speech sounds and the mechanism of their production (phonetics), as well as the exploration of the fundamental concepts of the sound systems of languages (phonology) and theories which allow for the analysis of real language data. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

The study of how meaning is encoded in words in languages of the world. Morphological and morphophonemic processes, lexical categories, derivation and inflection, productivity, tense, aspect, mode, case, concord, valence changes, morphological typologies. Similarities and differences among languages in the grammatical devices used to signal relations between nouns and verbs, negation, comparison, attribution. Prerequisites: LING F101 or LING F601; graduate standing; or permission of instructor. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Spring

Theory and practice of teaching a second language, including methodological approaches, second language acquisition theory, materials, and testing. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Exploration/discussion of theoretical perspectives in Second Language curriculum and materials development. Emphasis on the interconnectivity of materials, syllabus, curriculum and learning. As a result of this course, students will be able to choose, adapt and construct a variety of language teaching materials and understand the ramifications of syllabus and curriculum design. Recommended: LING F601. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Consideration of minority languages, including Alaska Native Languages, in light of their histories, current status, and factors affecting future maintenance. Stacked with LING F450. (3+0)

3 Credits

In-depth investigation of linguistic problems in selected languages. Includes phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic issues. Students will produce a grammatical sketch of a chosen language. Prerequisites: LING F318; LING F320; LING F601; or relevant course work. (3+0)

3 Credits
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Student works as an apprentice to a language teacher or a linguist doing fieldwork. Maintain a log and a portfolio of work. If teaching, goal would be to develop appropriate lesson plans and do mentored teaching. If doing fieldwork, goal would be to develop appropriate materials for teaching. Prerequisites: LING F603; LING F604; ANTH F632 or LING F610. (3+0)

 

Ready to apply?


BA to MA Program

Complete your BA and MA in 138 credits.

 
 

UAF’s Accelerated MA in Applied Linguistics facilitates a deep dive into SLATE with a strong undergraduate curriculum in language acquisition and teaching as well as an intense graduate experience in theory, practice and research. It provides the necessary tools to teach in language classrooms, both at home and abroad, or enter the Ph.D. program of your choice.


What does accelerated mean?

Bachelor of Arts

  • 120 credits
  • 4 years of coursework

Master of Arts

  • 30 credits
  • 2 - 3 years of coursework + 1 year of research

Accelerated B.A. to M.A.

  • 138 credits
  • 5 years of coursework + 1 year of research
 

 

 


 

  Have a minor in TESOL?
A double major is definitely for you! All TESOL courses count for the Accelerated MA in Applied Linguistics.












Who should apply?

Anyone interested in language acquisition or teaching and has a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in Linguistics courses and is enrolled (or thinking about a double major) in Linguistics.

How to apply

You will need copies of official transcripts from all colleges attended, a resume, a statement of goals and three letters of recommendation, including a letter of nomination from a faculty member who is willing to be your advisor.

 

See more about the Accelerated  B.A. to M.A. Program:

 

 

Ready to apply?

 


 

Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty in the UAF Linguistics Program are able to offer advanced students the possibility of a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Linguistics. 

 
 
Students work closely with their advisors and committee members to design a Ph.D. study program tailored to their interests with the expertise of the faculty at UAF. Linguistics faculty interests and specialties include phonology, phonetics, morphology, typology, syntax, discourse, second language acquisition, language policy and planning, forensic linguistics, Alaska Native languages, English, Foreign Languages, and Language and Education.

 

Ready to apply?