Master in Linguistics / Program Overview

Ø Background to the program and subject area:

Master’s Degree in Linguistics provide graduate students with profound knowledge on theoretical and general linguistics, descriptive linguistics (whether focusing on English or on other languages) and combinations of these specialisms.
 
Ø Vision statements of the program:
To explore how language works and encourages excellence in scientific research through building and testing theories based on precise descriptions of natural languages, suitable methodologies and empirical and theoretical results from a range of disciplines.
 
Ø Mission statements of the program:
The MA programme in Linguistics at UJ focuses on the latest developments and trends in linguistics and linguistic theory. It essentially pursues the academic investigation of language as a human phenomenon in its historical, psychological, and social dimensions, through effective and innovative postgraduate teaching and high-quality faculty and student research which incorporates the major disciplines of linguistics (i.e. phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.)
 
Ø Program Aims:
At the successful completion of the Master’s Degree in Linguistics, students should be able to:
1-    Describe and explain recent linguistic theory, research, and methods; and how to apply them to a range of professional fields and to the structure and function of language as used in natural discourse.
2-    Recognize and analyze the grammatical system of English and other languages, particularly Arabic.
3-    Analyze specific sounds and understand systematic properties of the sound system of English.
4-    Compare and contrast languages in terms of systematic differences in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, and language acquisition sequence.
5-    Evaluate and discuss academic problems on the basis of history, traditions, distinctive character, and place of applied linguistics in a multilingual society.
6-    Utilize computational tools for linguistic research and other linguistic applications such as lexicography and language teaching.
7-    Explain and systematize large amounts of linguistic data from linguistic corpora.
8-    Analyze and deal critically with information from linguistic theory and data, and utilize that information to structure and formulate scholarly arguments.
9-    Prepare and present seminars to a professional standard.
10-  Design and carry out , interpret and critique research in the discipline and write theses or reports to a professional standard, equivalent in quality to that of publishable papers.
11-  Work efficiently, both independently and collaboratively, and uphold social and professional responsibilities.