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Graduate Degree Programs

Catalog: Linguistics, M.A.

Catalog: Linguistics - TESOL/SLAT option, M.A.

Catalog: TESOL/SLAT, Certificate of Advanced Study

The Department of Linguistics at the California State University, Fresno offers an M.A. in Linguistics and an M.A. in Linguistics with an option in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (TESOL/SLAT). Students may also get a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Computational Linguistics or Cognitive Science. The Department also offers a Graduate Certificate in TESOL/SLAT (see below). For specific requirements, see Degree Requirements below; for general requirements, see Division of Graduate Studies.

The Master of Arts degree program in Linguistics assumes a baccalaureate degree major in an appropriate field and at least three upper-division courses in linguistics as prerequisites. The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies assumes a baccalaureate degree major in Computer Science or Cognitive Science or equivalent coursework.

Graduate students are required to complete at least 30 units of courses with a minimum of 21 units of graduate level courses, and to pass a comprehensive examination or complete a thesis.

Watch an info session for the MA in Linguistics here.

Requirements for Admission

• Bachelor's degree
• GPA: 2.9 or above
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Statement of intent (about 300-400 words)

GRE is not required

All the official documents should be sent to the university admissions office as instructed in the online application.

English Proficiency Requirement for International Students:

TOEFL – 80 iBT, or

IELTS – 6.5, or 

Pearson’s Test of English - 53, or

iTEP – 4.5, or

Fresno State’s AEI program – 550 Institutional TOEFL

Contact the graduate coordinator, Dr. John Boyle, for admission requirements and prerequisites.

For additional information, visit Graduate Admission at the International Student Services and Programs.

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Master of Arts Degree Requirements (Roadmaps)

• Prerequisites: Students who do not have a sufficient background in linguistics are required to take upper-division undergraduate linguistics courses to attain classified standing. These include LING 139, 142, 143, 148, 165, (all students), and 141 and 171I (TESOL/SLAT students). Upon examination of the student's academic record, different number of prerequisite courses will be specified for individual student at admission. Prerequisite courses are usually taken after students enroll in the graduate program and 9 units (3 courses) of the prerequisite courses can be applied towards the MA degree.
• Graduate course work: The graduate program consists of at least 31 units, 22 of which must be 200-level courses. Both the Linguistics and the TESOL/SLAT options are required to take the core curriculum courses in addition to option-specific required courses and electives. 

• Culminating Experience: Select one of the following : 

Thesis: LING 299A-B (6 units)

LING 298A-B (6 units) OR LING 298A + 3 unit elective  

Comprehensive Exam + 6 units electives

• Graduate Level Writing Competence

California State University, Fresno requires that students have graduate level writing abilities before being advanced to candidacy for the M.A. Students demonstrate these abilities by writing a scholarly paper which is adjudicated for quality.