MA in Linguistics - Signed Linguistics in Austin United States | University of Texas at Austin

The Department of Linguistics provides graduate programs for both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, with a strong focus on theoretical approaches across all linguistic disciplines. The curriculum ensures comprehensive training through mandatory courses in five fundamental areas: phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and field methods. Specialized advanced courses are available in the department's key focus areas, including phonetics and phonology, syntax and semantics, descriptive and documentary linguistics, computational linguistics, and signed language linguistics, along with topics aligned with faculty research expertise. Students can also pursue relevant coursework in other departments such as Anthropology, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Computer Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Statistics, and various language departments.
Although the department typically doesn't admit students solely for an MA degree, exceptions may be made for applicants with specific circumstances requiring MA-only enrollment. MA-only students generally do not qualify for financial support. PhD applicants should select PhD as their target degree, regardless of whether they already hold an MA. Both MA and PhD students complete identical core coursework. The MA program requires full-time attendance, with classes primarily scheduled weekdays between 8 am and 5pm.Add body text in this space.
The University of Texas at Austin's Linguistics Department maintains a distinguished legacy in signed language research. This work encompasses experimental phonetics of signed languages, grammatical structures, sociolinguistic aspects of signing communities, historical development of signed languages, multilingualism among signers, and first/second language acquisition of signed languages. Research extends beyond American Sign Language (ASL) to include various global sign languages and their communities, such as those in Brazil, Mexico, and Tajikistan, as well as emerging sign languages in Peru and Mexico.