Students who wish to earn a Masters of Arts or graduate certificate in English Linguistics do so through graduate coursework. While these degrees are not research degrees, they follow coursework in syntax, phonology and semantics, and applied and advanced linguistics topics. There are several different reasons to pursue graduate study in English Linguistics.
Preparation for Teaching
Students who wish to teach English to those who speak other languages may want to pursue a degree or graduate certificate coursework in English Linguistics with an emphasis on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Those who wish to teach at the undergraduate or graduate level, at an adult-education program, or to businesses or private institutions may wish to pursue a degree in English Linguistics, Applied Linguistics or Sociolinguistics.
Advanced Understanding of Language
Graduate students who are pursuing degrees in English, Literature or Creative Writing may wish to obtain a certificate in Linguistics or pursue further graduate study of Linguistics to enhance their research skills, broaden their career prospects or deepen their understanding and knowledge of the interplay between language and linguistics. Graduate students in less directly related areas, such as Philosophy, History or Computer Science, may also find their career prospects improved by the research and study of graduate level Linguistics.
Preparation for Research
The foundational education obtained in graduate-level Linguistics studies also prepares students for research careers and activities in fields such as education or child language development, where an understanding of the underlying structures and issues related to English language is key. Social workers, ethnographers or historians, whose research benefits from an academic understanding of the underpinnings of the English language, may find graduate work in Linguistics a useful background.
Professional Development and General Interest
Professionals working in fields ranging from teaching English, teaching English as a Second Language, writing, editing or communication may find they are interested in linguistic principles from a professional development perspective. Teachers who work with non-native speakers in other subjects may also find their teaching enhanced by an understanding of the underpinnings of language gained from graduate-level study of linguistics. Last, anyone seeking to understand more about language, its origins and how it works may pursue graduate coursework in linguistics to further their personal understanding.
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