Graduate

Master of Arts in Navajo Linguistics

The Linguistics Department offers a MA with a concentration in Native Languages of the Southwest with a choice of three focus areas: 1) Field research on Native American Languages, 2) Issues in Bilingual Education, or 3) Navajo.

Candidates for the MA with a Concentration in Native American Languages of the Southwest with a focus in Navajo must take the 21 hours of core courses required for the MA. In addition candidates must take:

NVJO 511 Navajo Verb System I
NVJO 512 Navajo Verb System II
NVJO 515 Advanced Navajo
NVJO 501 Navajo Linguistics

Additionally candidates must choose one course from either of the other two focus areas: 

Field Research: choose one course from the following:

LING 511 Language Documentation
LING 513 Linguistic Field Methods
LING 515 Native American Languages
LING 559 Language and Culture
NATV 545 Politics of Identity
NATV 502 Education, Power and Indigenous Communities

OR

Bilingualism and Bilingual/Multicultural Education: choose one course from the following:

LING 590 Childhood Bilingualism
LING 568 Seminar in Psycholinguistics: Bilingualism
LLSS 554 Teaching the Native American Child
LLSS 560 Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities
LLSS 580 Seminar in the Education of the Bilingual Student

General Requirements of MA Program

Plan I : 24 hours coursework and 6 hours thesis

Plan II : 32 hours coursework only, no thesis

  • A minimum of 12 hours of 500-level coursework is required under either plan.
  • All work, including transferred coursework, must be completed within 7 years.
  • To remain in good standing in the program the student is expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

 For a general overview of the MA degree, click here. For more detailed information on the MA program, see the Graduate Student Manual.