Bar-Ilan University

MA in Linguistics

Degree Specializations

The Linguistics Division provides the students with a solid foundation in both theoretical and applied linguistics. Each student's program is constructed by the individual student and his/her supervisors. The program may include specialization in a combination of two or more areas in linguistics, as well as in other fields such as brain sciences, psychology, or philosophy. Specializations can also involve research in the structure or use of a specific language or languages.

Programs and Fields of Study

The M.A. programs are designed to be completed in two years. In exceptional cases, the student is granted a third year to complete a thesis. Part-time study programs are possible for the MA without the thesis (Track B). The following table summarizes the three options for an MA in Linguistics in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University:

M.A. Track A (with thesis)

For research-oriented students who may want to continue to Ph.D. Courses: 7 Seminars with research papers in 2 of them, M.A. thesis.

M.A. Track B (without thesis)

For students who want to deepen their understanding of language and language processing. Courses: 11 seminars with research papers in 3 of them.

M.A. Thesis

For Track A (thesis/research track), a thesis proposal is required by the end of the first semester of the second year. The proposal is first approved by the thesis supervisor and then is reviewed by another faculty member from the Department and the University M.A. Committee.

When the thesis is completed and approved by the thesis supervisor, it is read and must be approved by two other readers. There is a final oral examination on the thesis.

Seminar Papers

Graduate students are expected to provide evidence of independent scholarship. The seminar paper is the primary medium toward this end. Each program (see above) requires a number of longer seminar papers. The student's thesis supervisor or the Linguistics Graduate Coordinator advises on which seminars to write these papers in. In graduate courses, the lecturer or professor determines the requirements and the grading criteria. According to University regulations, papers must be handed in before the beginning of the following academic year, unless an earlier time has been set by the lecturer/professor. Permission to submit late papers is granted in special circumstances by the University MA Committee. Students who wish to submit a late paper must fill out a request form to receive an extension (tofes pnia letoar sheni).

Graduate Students in Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students in the M.A. Track B (without thesis) may take up to three advanced undergraduate courses in their program of studies. They have the same requirements as undergraduate students in these courses. M.A. Track A (with thesis) students need permission from the graduate coordinator and the head of the department in order to take an undergraduate seminar. In such cases, the course requirements will be equivalent to work at the graduate level.

Final Examination for Track B Students (without thesis)

In the second (last) year of studies, students have an oral examination based on a set of readings agreed upon with a faculty member. Both the reading list and the date of the examination are to be approved in advance. The Linguistics graduate coordinator should be consulted about the examination at the beginning of the second year of studies.

Instructions for preparing for the final track B examination in Linguistics:

• Preparation of a short (at most 15 minutes) presentation based on the reading list or a seminar paper written by the student. Handouts or slides (Powerpoint or other) may be used, but reading from the handout is not appropriate.
• The objective is to raise questions that go beyond personal experience, showing that the articles have given the student original insights or that the student can integrate the material in the articles. Originality and creativity are desirable.
• The grade will depend on:
  • the extent that the student shows learning from the readings and studies in linguistics beyond simple repetition,
  • the extent that the student can engage the examiners in a discussion of linguistic issues.

Linguistics Colloquium

Advanced students in Linguistics are strongly encouraged to join the community of linguists by participating in scholarly meetings open to the public (colloquia and conferences). The departmental linguistics colloquium takes place about every two weeks on Tuesday afternoons and features speakers from the department and from other universities presenting research on a wide range of topics. You are encouraged to attend these meetings to broaden your understanding of linguistics and find out about all sorts of interesting topics and methods of research. Linguistics graduate students are required to attend the departmental linguistics colloquium for one full year during their graduate education in the department. All graduate students are encouraged to attend national and international conferences organized at the University. Some funding is available for graduate students giving papers at international conferences abroad.

Pace of Work

The University requires M.A. degrees to be finished within 2 years. The Department appreciates that this pace is rather fast for students with other responsibilities. To meet this requirement, we suggest students take prerequisite courses before formally applying for admission. We invite prospective students to meet with a supervisor to discuss what prerequisites would be needed and when the student should apply for formal studies. We make an effort to schedule graduate courses on one or two days of the week. These days can then be kept open for coursework. Teachers entitled to sabbatical leave should usually take their sabbatical during the second year of the M.A. program. Course requirements and seminar papers should be completed when they are due.

Continuing as a Graduate Student

According to University regulations, the minimum grade which can be counted towards a degree is 60%. Graduate students in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics are expected to maintain an 80% average. The Department adheres to the University rules on plagiarism very strictly.