Graduate Programs
Welcome to the Graduate Programs of Linguistics & Cognitive Science
The Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at the University of Delaware offers master’s and doctoral degrees, a 4+1 accelerated degree as well as a certificate program in cognitive science. Our mission is to provide students with the intellectual ability to understand, create, integrate and apply sophisticated, discipline-specific knowledge.
Whether you are interested in the areas of theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, descriptive linguistics or language and cognition, our programs include rigorous coursework, scholarship, instruction and community involvement. Our interdisciplinary approach gives students opportunities to collaborate across the College of Arts & Sciences and the University of Delaware.
Faculty advisors mentor graduate students and empower them to pursue independent research interests. Our faculty mentors have authored hundreds of research publications, are influential in prestigious organizations and editorial boards around the world, and consistently attract major funding from leading national agencies.
15 Orchard Road
EXPLORE OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Questions?
Contact Benjamin Bruening, director of graduate programs for the Department of Linguistics & Cognitive Science (bruening@udel.edu).
Application Process Update
Beginning with applications for fall 2024, GRE scores are optional and no longer required for admission to the program.
How to Apply
All applications for admission must be completed online. The University of Delaware's graduate application system is designed to put the applicant in control of not only the application but all documents associated with that application. You should have no need to send a single item by mail during the application process. Self-managing your own application in this way is possible because the system has designated areas within the application where each required document should be uploaded.
If you have any problems in filling out an on-line application, contact gradadmissions@udel.edu or call the admissions office at (302) 831-2129.
The application deadline for consideration for financial aid for fall admission is January 1. That means that all documents and letters of recommendation have to be uploaded and received by that date. It is in the interest of candidates to apply early. Applicants who are not seeking funding must apply by May 1. The deadline for spring admission is December 1. Because the Ph.D. program requires a progression of courses from fall to spring, spring admission is not recommended for applicants to the Ph.D. program and is rarely granted.
Students with a B.A./B.S. or M.A./M.S. in linguistics or in an appropriate related field may apply (related fields include, but are not limited to, English, modern languages, psychology, education, cognitive science, philosophy, mathematics, and computer science). Students without a degree in linguistics proper may be asked to take additional courses to meet minimum training in linguistics.
Note that any student interested in admission to the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate (ING) Ph.D. program should be aware that the application deadline for the ING program is December 1, not January 1. See the ING program page for more information.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs are required to submit the following:
- A completed application form;
- Official transcripts from all previous universities or colleges;
- Three letters of recommendation;
- A personal statement describing interests and objectives;
- A writing sample. This can be a paper from previous course work or from original published or unpublished research that demonstrates the ability to use the methods of research and inquiry that characterize scholarship in linguistics, cognitive science, or other related scientific disciplines.
Foreign students whose language of education is not English must also arrange to have original TOEFL scores submitted; a minimum score of 100 on the IBT (600 on the paper-based test, or an equivalent IELTS score of 7.0) is required for admission. Foreign students who hold a university degree from an institution in an English-speaking country are not required to submit TOEFL scores. Foreign students whose native language is not English and who are awarded a teaching assistantship must successfully complete the University's ITA program.
Please note: The ETS University of Delaware institution code is 5811. NO DEPARTMENT CODE IS NEEDED FOR OUR INSTITUTION. For TOEFL, list the department code as 01.
Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet the stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
Students in the 4+1 accelerated program earn an undergraduate degree (B.S. in cognitive science or B.A. in linguistics) and an M.A. degree in linguistics and cognitive science within five years, saving both time and expenses.
Currently enrolled undergraduate students at UD who are pursuing a B.S. in cognitive science or a B.A. in linguistics may be eligible to apply. The program may also consider students from related disciplines such as anthropology, computer and information science, philosophy and psychology (and other fields by application).
Candidates for the combined degree who complete the requirements for the B.S./B.A. but fail to complete the additional M.A. requirements will receive the B.S. or B.A. degree.
Please note: The M.A. degree in linguistics and cognitive science is not a professional program in speech pathology and does not offer a concentration in speech pathology.
Use the "apply" button at the top of this page to apply via the Graduate College application portal.
The departmental graduate studies committee will review all applicants on a rolling basis. To ensure that all requirements for both degrees can be fulfilled, the ideal time for students to apply for admission to the combined B.S./B.A. and M.A. program is at the end of the sophomore year. However, applications at other times will also be considered.
At the time of application, the student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, at least the following courses: LING101, CGSC170 and two additional 400-level LING or CGSC courses.
Initial admission will be based upon the following:
- SAT or ACT scores used for admission to UD
- An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.25
- Personal statement specifically addressing interest in the 4+1 program
- Writing sample
- Two letters of recommendation from UD faculty
Admission is competitive so meeting the minimal requirements for admission does not guarantee admission nor does the failure to meet a requirement result in an automatic rejection.
* Note: The GRE is not required for admission to the combined B.S. / B.A. and M.A. program by UD undergraduates.
Upon admission into the program, the student will meet with the 4+1 advisor and the M.A. advisor to develop a preliminary program of study, including elective courses. The student will then, for the duration of the program, meet with either advisor prior to registration for each of the semesters leading to completion of the combined B.S./B.A. and M.A. program.
Continuation in the 4+1 program is contingent upon maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in undergraduate courses with CGSC and LING designations and in graduate coursework. Satisfactory progress also includes appropriately following the prescribed program of study.
Students who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirements or fail to show progress toward the degree will be placed on probation. If the situation is not corrected by the next semester, will be removed from the combined B.S./B.A. and M.A. program. They may, however, continue in the undergraduate major unless their undergraduate progress is unsatisfactory according to the rules in effect for the their undergraduate program.
Students are strongly encouraged to finish the undergraduate portion of their 4+1 program before starting the final graduate year. Students should also be aware of the fact that after eight semesters of studies as undergraduate students they will be charged graduate tuition.
Students in the combined B.S. / B.A. degree and master of arts in linguistics and cognitive science degree must complete the full 124 credit hours of the B.S./B.A. undergraduate major as well as the full 30 credit hours of the M.A.
See the description of the M.A. in Linguistics and Cognitive Science for requirements of that component of the program.
Course Overlap and Substitutions
In the event that a student in the combined B.S./B.A. and M.A. program completes — as an undergraduate — a required graduate course or other 400-level course with content very similar to a 600-level course and elects to count that course toward the bachelor’s degree, s/he will be permitted to substitute another appropriate graduate course for the M.A. component of the program.
Similarly, when a student completes a 400-level undergraduate course that has content very similar to that of a parallel 600-level graduate course, s/he may substitute another appropriate graduate course for the M.A.
All course substitutions must be made in consultation with the student’s advisor(s).
Currently enrolled graduate students in master's or doctoral programs at UD are eligible to apply for the certificate in cognitive science. The 15-credit interdisciplinary program is meant to inspire students to escape their disciplinary boundaries and acquire new skills in adjoining programs. They must complete 9 to 12 hours outside their home department.
- Applicants must select qualifying courses for the graduate certificate in cognitive science. (See the approved list in the UD Catalog.)
- In consultation with his or her advisor, the student must submit a plan of study to the cognitive science certificate steering committee as early as possible. The applicant must comply with the following requirements:
- Complete no more than six credits of course work toward the certificate before presenting the plan.
- Include a cohesive rationale for the proposed courses.
- Identify a faculty member from one of the relevant departments other than the home department as certificate advisor, who must approve the plan of study.
- The steering committee will review the plan and email the approval to the student and provide feedback if the plan must be revised.
- After they complete the proposed plan of study, the student must submit a completion application form for graduate certificate (available through the Graduate College at UD) to the program director with a one to two-page document that illustrates how the coursework to the student's research.
- Unless revisions are necessary, the signed form is returned to the student for submission to the Graduate College. Once the form is processed by the Graduate College, the student will receive the certificate upon graduation.
The University of Delaware holistically supports its graduate students, beginning with their health and wellbeing. Benefits include a subsidized health plan and physical and behavioral health services. UD fosters a culture of academic excellence, with committed faculty and staff and access to state-of-the-art research facilities and technology. UD prioritizes professional development with job training, internships and industry partnerships. Graduates further enhance their professional growth and visibility with opportunities to work on interdisciplinary research teams, present their work at conferences and publish in academic journals. Visit the links below to learn how UD is supporting society’s future leaders, scholars, and innovators.
