Graduate Studies: Admissions

Admission Requirements

MA PROGRAM:

  • At least a 3.2 grade-point average in courses taken in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade-point average between 2.8 and 3.2 may result in provisional admission.
  • At least two years of foreign language study at the college level and an introductory survey course in linguistics. (Students may be admitted without these requirements but must enroll in LIN 401 in the first term in residence and, if possible, in an appropriate language course. Language enrollment must continue until deficiencies are made up. Credits received in meeting the language requirement and for LIN 401 do not count toward the MA.)

Ph.D. PROGRAM:

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in linguistics or related field.
  • Master's thesis or other sample of written work as evidence of the ability to conduct doctoral-level research (submitted with application materials).
  • 3.5 (A-) grade-point average in all previous graduate work. A grade-point average below 3.5 but above 3.2 may result in provisional admission. (Depending on review by the faculty, previous graduate work may or may not meet certain program requirements. Needed coursework will be determined in consultation with the faculty.)

Admission Procedure

  1. Submit completed on line application form: http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm.
  2. Have three letters of recommendation, addressing qualifications for graduate study in linguistics, sent to the Department of Linguistics, Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages at Michigan State University.
  3. Have two official transcripts, from each college or university previously attended, sent from the registrar to the Department.
  4. Submit a statement of purpose and summary of academic background, including mention of previous study and other experience in linguistics and specific area(s) of interest in linguistics. (For MA applicants, 500-700 words; for PhD applicants, 700-1,000 words.)
  5. Take the Graduate Record Examination general test and have scores sent to the Department.
  6. If you are not a native-speaker of English, take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have your score sent to the Department.
  7. For PhD program applicants: Submit an MA thesis or other research paper, written in English. (MA applicants may optionally submit a representative sample of research writing.)

Deadlines

Last Day for Completion of Applications:

December 15 for the following Fall Semester
September 15 for the following Spring Semester

To be eligible for University and College Fellowship review, applications must be submitted and complete by November 30, for the following Fall Semester.

Application Forms

Application forms are available on line from The Graduate School at:

http://grad.msu.edu/apply.htm

Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages
Michigan State University
ATTN. Julie Delgado, Graduate Secretary
A-614 Wells Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1027

Tel: 517-353-0740
Fax: 517-432-2736
email: lingrad@msu.edu