Progressive Master’s Degree in Language Sciences
Current USC students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in any Linguistics Department major are encouraged to consider the Progressive Master’s Degree in Language Science. Progressive MA students can begin work on their MA while finishing the requirements of the Bachelor’s, allowing students to earn both an MA and a BA/BS in as little as five years. The Progressive Master’s Degree in Language Science is highly individualized, and students accepted into the program will work with a faculty advisor to develop a selection of graduate level coursework appropriate to their individual interests. The program concludes with a summative project chosen by the student in cooperation with their advisor and a faculty committee. The goal of the Progressive Master’s Degree in Language Science is that graduates will enter the workplace or begin a more advanced degree at a high level of skill, academic maturity, and responsibility.
Students are admitted for the Fall term.
Students can apply in the spring semester of their Junior year or during their Senior year, but students applying in their Senior year are cautioned that the degree may require more time.
Students should submit the Interest Form before applying.
Students should complete the “Interest Form for the PDP MA in Language Sciences” form in the Fall semester of their Junior year. ( The interest form does not constitute a commitment.)
Admission Requirements
- Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics or one of the combined majors: Computational Linguistics, Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Linguistics and Philosophy, Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Culture.
- Applicants must be on track to have completed at least 64 units of undergraduate coursework, excluding AP, IP, or transfer units earned prior to graduating high school before beginning MA coursework.
- Applicants must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA.
- Applicants should expect to take 2 of the following before beginning MA coursework: LING 401, 402, 403, or 415. (Substitutions are possible, but subject to faculty approval.)
A Note on Financial Aid
Students should consult with the Financial Aid Office before applying.
Students enrolled in Progressive MA programs still must take 12 units of undergraduate coursework while in undergraduate status. Students have undergraduate student status until one of the following conditions has been met: (a) The student’s first bachelor’s degree has been conferred; or (b) The student is awarded a graduate research or teaching assistantship.
We encourage students to consult with their Advisor before applying to any graduate program.