Linguistics, Graduate Certificate

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The Linguistics, Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit program of study designed to enhance graduate students’ understanding of linguistic theory and its applications to their major field. The certificate allows students to undertake in-depth study of several core areas of linguistic theory without adding an extensive additional course load to their graduate program. The Certificate program offers participants a deeper understanding of the field of linguistics, a valuable asset for students and professionals in a wide variety of specializations. For example, the program complements concentrations in rhetoric, literature, writing studies, anthropology, computer science, primary and secondary education, speech pathology, and other fields as well.

Note: Students who are enrolled in this program solely are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Program Learning Outcomes

The goal of the Linguistics Graduate Certificate is to provide students with interdisciplinary training in linguistic theory, language documentation and revitalization, and/or computational linguistics, as their interests dictate.

Students will be able to:

demonstrate knowledge of several subfields of linguistic theory and related methodologies.
demonstrate competence in the primary and secondary literature of several subfields of linguistics.
apply their knowledge and competence in linguistics to the development of conference presentations, journal articles, statements of teaching philosophy, syllabi, and other examples of professional and academic output, as appropriate to their major field of study.

Contact Information

Dr. Ian Clayton
iclayton@unr.edu
(775) 682-6378
Department of English
Frandsen Humanities 016

Admissions Requirement

There will be two ways to gain admission to the Linguistics Certificate.

Students already enrolled in graduate programs at UNR can incorporate the Certificate into their existing program by completing the Declaration of Certificate form with the Graduate School. Students earn the Certificate by taking additional courses as necessary to meet the requirements of both programs. Students currently enrolled in graduate programs at UNR should discuss their interest in the Linguistics program with their principal advisors in their home department.
Students not currently enrolled in other programs at UNR can complete the Certificate independently by completing the application for admission. Upload a copy of your academic transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree has been earned and upload a personal statement. The application deadline for the fall semester is April 1st and the application deadline for the spring semester is November 1st. Applicants to the Certificate program must meet the requirements stipulated for Graduate School admission in the University of Nevada, Reno Catalog.

I. Program Requirements

Students will take one core course in linguistics at the 600 or 700 level. Students will also take three elective courses at the 600 or 700 level, representing at least two different disciplines within linguistics. The course of study will be determined in consultation with a faculty mentor. Students are encouraged to develop individualized plans of study that meet scholarly and career goals. In most cases, linguistics courses can be counted toward both the Certificate and main program requirements.

Students must earn at least a “B” in course work used to complete Certificate requirements and maintain a 3.0 Certificate GPA. Coursework in which a grade of “C” or lower is earned may not apply toward completion of the Certificate. If the course is required for the Certificate, it must be repeated to earn a grade of “B” or better.

A. Core course (3 units)

Students may choose one from the following list, or another suitable course in consultation with the English Department linguistics faculty and their advisor.

ENG 611B - Principles of Modern Grammar (3 units)
ENG 611C - Theories of Morphology (3 units)
ENG 611D - Theories of Syntax (3 units)
ENG 612A - Linguistics (3 units)
ENG 612D - Introduction to Phonology (3 units)
ENG 613A - Sociolinguistics (3 units)
ENG 613D - Introduction to Experimental Phonetics (3 units)
ENG 616B - Language and Gender (3 units)
ENG 617A - Introduction to Computational Linguistics (3 units)
ENG 713 - Problems in Language (3 units)

B. Electives (9 units)

Electives should represent at least two different disciplines within linguistics. They may include any graduate-level linguistics courses offered by the English Department, including any of those listed under the Core Course requirement but not used to fulfill that requirement. With the approval of the English Department linguistics faculty and the student’s advisor, one elective may also be a graduate level course in an adjacent field, including but not limited to Anthropology, Computer Science, Philosophy, or World Languages and Literatures.

Topics courses, such as ENG 713 , may each be taken twice for credit—as the Core Course and/or as Elective(s)—when the topic varies.