Programs of study

The University of Ottawa Master’s in Linguistics program has been in existence since 1970.   This program provides students not only with a solid foundation in theoretical linguistics and an overview of the sub-disciplines of empirical linguistics but it also allows them to develop research skills.  It is an intensive 12-month program consisting of six courses and a major research paper.

The M.A. in Linguistics prepares students for doctoral studies in Linguistics or related fields (e.g. audiology, speech language pathology, forensic linguistics), or for careers requiring excellent knowledge of language and linguistics (speech-recognition and speech synthesis, database and search engine development, professional writing, language teaching, development of language policies, etc.).

Essential requirements

In order to be able to successfully complete an MA in linguistics, students must be able to:

• Read, understand and summarize in a critical fashion the scientific literature in linguistics;
• Evaluate the scope of what is known within a specific subdiscipline in linguistics;
• Communicate clearly orally and in writing; this includes the ability to structure an argument and target the correct level of specialization for the relevant audience;
• Understand, assimilate and integrate criticisms and comments from peers and professors;
• Apply linguistic theories and methodologies to new empirical domains or research questions;
• Define research questions with a scope that is appropriate to the different types of research activities;
• Organize their work, negotiate deadlines with team members and professors in a realistic manner and respect deadlines;
• Understand and manage administrative constraints.

Overview of program requirements

Students are required to take three mandatory classes in syntax, semantics and phonology, and three optional classes from at least two sub-areas such as psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, sociolinguistics, language documentation, phonetics. Generally speaking, students complete their coursework requirements in the two first semesters. Click here for the full list of courses available to M.A. students.  Refer to the student handbook to see the selection offered in a given academic year.

Upon completion of their coursework, students must write a major research paper.  This original contribution of approximately 50 pages in length consists of an informed and critical review of existing literature on a given topic as well as a formal or empirical analysis of linguistic data. Click here for a list of completed M.A. theses and mémoires.

Detailed compulsory program requirements as well as suggested timelines are available in the student handbook. 

Note that in accordance with the University of Ottawa’s bilingualism policy, students are free to submit their coursework, and Major research paper in either French or English and they may interact with faculty members in the language of their choice.

Students are strongly encouraged to benefit in the departments’ research activities by joining their reading groups, participating in research lab activities and attending presentations by invited speakers .

Admission requirements

A B.A. with honours in Linguistics (or the equivalent) is required for admission into the M.A. program.  Applicants to the M.A. program whose B.A. with honours is in an area other than linguistics may be admitted to a qualifying program, which is personalized for each student to take account of previous preparation. 

Further details:

For more detailed information on the program

For the graduate student handbook

To apply to the M.A. in Linguistics program

To learn how to fast-track from the M.A. to Ph.D.

For information on funding available to graduate students

The University of Doctoral program in Linguistics program has been in existence since 1980.  This program provides students with an overview of the field while allowing students to specialize in a sub-area of their choosing, whether theoretical or applied.  Ph.D. students also develop the advanced research and professional skills required for academic careers.  This program consists of six courses, two comprehensive examination papers and a doctoral dissertation.

The goal of the Ph.D. in Linguistics is to train highly qualify linguists equipped to pursue academic careers or other careers in the private sector that require strong analytical skills, particularly in areas related to language.

Essential requirements

In order to be able to successfully complete a PhD in linguistics, students must be able to:

• Read, understand and summarize in a critical fashion the scientific literature in linguistics;
• Evaluate the scope of what is known within a specific subdiscipline in linguistics;
• Communicate clearly orally and in writing; this includes the ability to structure an argument and target the correct level of specialization for the relevant audience;
• Understand, assimilate and integrate criticisms and comments from peers and professors;
• Apply linguistic theories and methodologies to new empirical domains or research questions;
• Define research questions with a scope that is appropriate to the different types of research activities;
• Organize their work, negotiate deadlines with team members and professors in a realistic manner and respect deadlines;
• Understand and manage administrative constraints.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of debated and developments in progress in their field of research;
• Master technical and experimental skills needed for their field of research
• Demonstrate their ability to disseminate their research results in national and international forums, as is demonstrated by high-quality comprehensive exams

Overview of program requirements.

Students are required to take two mandatory classes in either syntax, semantics or phonology, four additional classes chosen in consultation with their supervisor, and a doctoral seminar, a class in which they learn professional skills (writing abstracts, presenting papers and posters and conferences, submitting and reviewing articles to academic journals, etc.).  Click here for the full list of courses available to Ph.D. students.  Refer to the student handbook to see the selection offered in a given academic year.

All students must satisfy a comprehensive examination requirement consisting of two substantial research papers in different fields. These article-length papers must present original research of publishable quality.

Students must also present a thesis incorporating the results of original research in the sub-field of their choice.  The thesis must demonstrate the student’s research skills, their ability to review extensive literature on a selected topic, their critical analysis skills, application of appropriate research methodology, and their ability to synthesize, analyze and integrate information from their own research and their principal discipline.  Click here for a list of completed Ph.D. dissertations.

Detailed compulsory program requirements as well as suggested timelines are available in the student handbook.

Note that in accordance with the University of Ottawa’s bilingualism policy, students are free to submit their coursework, comprehensive examination papers and dissertation in either French or English and they may interact with faculty members in the language of their choice.

Students are also strongly encouraged to benefit in the departments’ research activities by joining one or more of their reading groups (link), participating in research lab activities (link) and attending presentations invited speakers’ (link).

Admission requirements.

The MA in Linguistics (or the equivalent) is required for admission to the doctoral program.

Since 2011, there is also a fast-track procedure to go directly from the MA to the PhD. Click here to find out more. 

Further details:

For more detailed information on the program

For the graduate student handbook

To apply to the Ph.D. in Linguistics program

To learn how to fast-track from the M.A. to Ph.D.

To apply to the Collaborative Doctoral Program in Canadian Studies

For information on funding available to graduate students