Hispanic Linguistics
Graduate Programs in Hispanic Linguistics at UIC
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Hispanic Linguistics offers M.A. and Ph.D. programs led by nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Our faculty members in Hispanic linguistics have a special interest in bilingualism with a range that encompasses the whole gamut within sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics and theoretical perspectives. Topics being currently researched include: adult second language acquisition, second and third language phonology, language attrition, bilingual language policies, heritage language maintenance, bilingualism in the community, and the syntax and morphology of code switching. Moreover, faculty members and students bring a strong interdisciplinary focus to scholarship and teaching, and actively collaborate with other UIC programs such as the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, the Department of Psychology and the College of Education.
These are some of the graduate seminars taught by our faculty from the last three years:
- Experimental phonology
- Diasporic bilingualism: Latin@ Spanish and English abroad
- Experimental pragmatics
- The syntax and morphology of code-switching
- Assessing language representation, processing and acquisition
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Our facilities include the Bilingualism Research Laboratory, the Cognition of Second Language Acquisition Laboratory, and the Language in Context Research Group, the Psychology of Multilingualism Research Laboratory, and the Multilingual Phonology Laboratory. Our labs are equipped with state of the art technology and offer many opportunities for our students to be involved in experimental research and fieldwork. Our graduate students’ funding in part comes in the form of Research Assistantships linked to the laboratories, in addition to the Teaching Assistantships offered to many graduate students in the School of LCSL.
UIC Talks in Linguistics, a bi-weekly series sponsored by the department and organized by our students, as well as yearly conferences organized by the department, connect our students to the international linguistic community. In particular, The Bilingual Research Forum, which takes place biannually, has brought some of the best-known scholars of bilingualism in the world. You can check the program of our last BRF on the forum website.
Another important aspect of the graduate program is the importance placed on professional development. The department offers a specialized yearlong seminar that prepares students for the job market and for life as an academic. Additionally, graduate students acquire extensive experience as instructors in basic language and introductory major courses, as well as attend seminars and workshops on teaching methodology, the use of technology in the classroom, the creation of a teaching portfolio, and classroom management. The School of LCSL additionally offers a professional certificate in Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy.
Prospective students with a B.A. degree in a related field (e.g., Hispanic Linguistics, Linguistics) or an M.A. in an unrelated field should apply to the M.A. program. As an M.A. student, you will then have the option to apply to continue in the Ph.D. program.
Students who already possess an M.A. in a related field (e.g., Hispanic Linguistics, Linguistics) should apply to the Ph.D. program.
For those interested in the Master in the Teaching of Spanish, please see the page for that program.
For more information about our programs, please contact our Director of Graduate Studies.
If you are having difficulties with the application, contact the Director of Graduate Studies.