Course details

Summary

Engage in advanced scholarship and contribute your own research to the existing knowledge in your field.

In a research masters you can contribute to the existing knowledge in your field by defining and managing a research project alongside some of New Zealand’s leading scholars.

In a taught masters you can deepen your knowledge in small classes with these leading scholars and complete a smaller research project such as a dissertation.

Linguistics

Our capacity for language sets us apart from other species, and is an important part of our national and ethnic identities. The heart of Linguistics is the study of the structure of human languages. Linguistics also examines their history and the ways in which they change the acquisition of language and the role language plays in human interaction. Linguistics is connected to any discipline concerned with human communication, languages and literature, as well as anthropology, artificial intelligence, human biology, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

Applied Language Studies and Linguistics offers a comprehensive postgraduate programme in Linguistics. You can study the following topics within Linguistics.

Language as code

This aspect of Linguistics examines grammatical systems, the meanings that are encoded in lexical items, phrases and clauses, and sound systems.

The social contexts of language

You can examine the status and use of different languages in a single society and the use of standard and non-standard language. We study the role language plays in personal and social identity, the place of language in social and cultural capital, and the key role of language in education and employment.

Language acquisition and change

Other Linguistics courses deal with the acquisition of language by children and the ways in which languages change over time.

Linguistic theory

We cover all the main areas of linguistic theory: syntax, phonology, historical linguistics, language contact, semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis and sociolinguistics. Research methodology is an important aspect.

Linguistics and your career

You could use your knowledge and skills in fields such as language education, language policy, artificial intelligence, voice synthesis, speech pathology, audiology, translating and interpreting, and the automatic processing of documents.

Required course of study

120-point (one-year) MA

The 120-point MA requires one year of full-time study, with admission from a BA(Hons) or PGDipArts. It is available as either a research or taught masters.

240-point (two-year) MA

The 240-point MA requires two consecutive years of full-time study, with admission from a BA or approved equivalent qualification. It is available as either a research or taught masters.

Further study options

Doctor of Philosophy

Master of Arts Other Subjects: Ancient History, Anthropology, Applied Linguistics, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Criminology, Development Studies, Drama, Economics, Education, Employment Relations and Organization Studies, English, French, Gender Studies, Geography, German, Greek, History, Italian, Japanese, Languages and Literature, Latin, Logic and Computation, 毛利 Studies, Mathematics, Media, Film and Television, Museums and Cultural Heritage, Music, 毛利 Studies, Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, Screen Production, Sociology, Spanish, Statistics, Translation Studies.

Entry criteria

Admission for 120-point (1 year) programme: applicants must have completed a BA(Hons) or PGDipArts in Linguistics with an average grade of B or higher. Admission for 240-point (2 years) programme: applicants must have completed a BA with a major in Linguistics. They must have an average grade of B or higher in at least 45 points above Stage II in the major.

English language requirements: