1. Master of Arts Degree in Linguistics
North-Eastern Federal University
Yakutsk, Yakutia, Russian Federation

2. Overview Code: 45.04.02 Name: Master’s program in linguistics
Duration of the program: 4 semesters
Degree issued: MA
Head of the program: Sang-Cheol AHN

3. What is linguistics?
Linguistics is the science of language and language is the most important communication tool that human beings possess. Language distinguishes us from other living creatures in this world. With language, we can think, communicate and collaborate with other people effectively. Moreover, we can understand the issue of who we are and what we are capable of becoming better by analyzing language and understanding this most important tool of ours. The science of language includes sounds, grammar, meaning, language change, etc. Linguists apply the scientific method to the study of language, making observations, forming and testing hypotheses, developing models and theories, and applying these research results to everyday life.

4. What is the purpose of the program?
The aim of the program is to train the students with a high level curriculum and make them qualified linguists or experts, so that they can take key roles in the various linguistics-related activities at high quality international standards. Their roles will also contribute to the enhancement of the serious academic atmosphere in Sakha and Russian linguistics.
The need for establishment of the program
We will provide the prospective students with various high quality classes, so that they become acquainted with current trends in various fields of linguistics. After finishing this educational program, students should be able to take a major role in professional linguistics-related activities and apply their research knowledge and skills to their future careers.

5. What are the organizational principles?
Integration of linguistic theories and research.
Interdisciplinary approach with the other departments, i.e., all departments related with languages, medicine, computer science, philosophy, psychology, etc.
Wide application of new educational and research technologies, improvement of scientific and methodological support for individual students, depending on their needs.
Interdisciplinary fields and a corresponding curriculum for each field: 1) Theoretical field, 2) Applied field, 3) Experimental field
Scientific communication in a foreign language, especially in English.

6. What is the program about?
Main tasks:
Introduction of innovative research methods for enhancement of scientific research atmosphere
Application of interdisciplinary research trends for better communication with neighboring fields
Application of the fundamental disciplines to professional research tasks
Formation of active research environments in English and development of research potentialities at the international level. (Teaching in English is strongly encouraged.)
Development of the students’ research and professional opportunities

7. How is the students’ training organized?
This program offers various study topics such as the ways in which dialects differ, how languages have developed historically, the ways in which children acquire their first language, differences between the speech of men and women, how the sound systems and grammars of different types of language are organized, what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact, plus much else besides. Our particular strengths include: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, historical linguistics, typology, language contact and sociolinguistics, endangered languages, field linguistics, language documentation, and quantitative corpus-based approaches. Therefore, students will study not only those compulsory classes required by the university (or the faculty of foreign philology), but also the following electives and major classes.

8. Organization of the program
Compulsory courses: assigned by the university
History and Methodology of Science
Pedagogies and Psychology for Higher Education
Common European reference framework for languages /
Common European language policy

9. Major classes : taught in English
The first year
General Linguistics and History of Linguistic Doctrines
Phonetics
Phonology
Syntax
Semantics and Morphology
Historical Linguistics
Language and Culture
Theoretical Basis and Categories of Grammar
Introduction to Indo-European Linguistics /
Introduction to Altaic Linguistics
Discourse Pragmatics
Special Topics in Linguistics

10. Major classes : taught in English
The second year
Quantitative Linguistics and Information Technologies
Languages of the World / Language Contact and Bilingualism
Contrastive linguistics /Psycholinguistics
English proficiency (compulsory): Scientific English
(Every semester, taught in English
Major focus on
Interfaces in Linguistics
Academic writing in English
Foreign Language requirement: Selection after consultation
Selection among French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean

11. What are the typical characteristics?
Basic subjects to consider:
Basic schema for the linguistics program for Master’s degree
Knowledge and research experience which can be obtained from the program
Current trends and functions of linguistic studies
Acquisition of necessary information through web sites
Motivation for students and faculty members (Especially, teaching and communication in English)

12. What would students learn?
Linguistics is a major that gives you insight into one of the most intriguing aspects of human knowledge and behavior. Majoring in linguistics means that you will learn about many aspects of human language, including sounds (phonetics, phonology), words (morphology), sentences (syntax), and meaning (semantics). It can involve looking at how languages change over time (historical linguistics); how language varies from situation to situation, group to group, and place to place (sociolinguistics, dialectology); how people use language in context (pragmatics, discourse analysis); how to model aspects of language (computational linguistics); how people acquire or learn language (language acquisition); and how people process language (psycholinguistics, experimental linguistics).

13. What advantages would students get?
Students with training in linguistics can acquire valuable intellectual skills, including analytic reasoning and argumentation, and learn how to study language scientifically. That is, they will be trained in making insightful observations, formulating and evaluating clear hypotheses, making valid arguments and drawing optimal conclusions, and communicating their findings to neighboring fields. As a result, the linguistics program will prepare students for various career opportunities:
Taking advantage of these opportunities thus allows the students to be more well grounded and better informed, and will open more doors for them after graduation.

14. Short-term overseas exchange program
One month overseas academic training : on the 2nd semester
Qualified students will be supported for their participation in overseas linguistics conferences.

15. What sorts of job opportunities?
Education: People with a background in linguistics and education can develop materials for different populations, train teachers, design assessments, find effective ways to teach language related topics in specific communities, or use the language of a community effectively in instruction.
Teach at the university level: If you go on to get a graduate degree in linguistics you might teach in departments such as Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Speech/Communication Sciences, Anthropology, English, and departments focused on specific foreign languages. Also, good teachers of English and foreign languages need linguistics to understand better how their language works and to enable their students to learn more easily .
Translator or interpreter: Skilled translators and interpreters are needed everywhere, from government to hospitals to courts of law. For this line of work, a high level of proficiency in the relevant language(s) is necessary, and additional specialized training may be required.

16. Job opportunities (2)
Health sciences: a background in linguistics is crucial for speech therapists and other medical professionals who deal with speech loss due to developmental difficulties, illness, and injury.
Computer industry: Training in linguistics can equip you to work on speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and computer-mediated language learning.
Publishing industry: people with a background in linguistics are particularly well equipped to work in editing, publishing, and writing, and to work in the development of language reference resources.
Work with dictionaries (lexicography): The development of good dictionaries requires the help of qualified linguistic consultants. Knowledge of phonology, morphology, historical linguistics, dialectology, and sociolinguistics is key to becoming a lexicographer.
Work for a testing agency: Linguists help prepare and evaluate standardized exams and conduct research on assessment issues.

17. Job opportunities (3)
Business: companies rely on people with linguistic training to develop product names and catchy ad campaigns. Companies that specialize in advertising often do extensive linguistic research on the associations that people make with particular sounds and classes of sounds and the kind of wording that would appeal to potential consumers.
Become a consultant on language in professions such as law or medicine: The subfield of forensic linguistics involves studying the language of legal texts, linguistic aspects of evidence, issues of voice identification, and so on. Law enforcement agencies such as police departments, law firms, and the courts hire linguists for these purposes.
Working with indigenous cultures: field linguists work with speakers of undocumented languages to develop writing systems, to raise awareness of and pride in the language, and to provide written resources to the speakers.

18. What kinds of students can apply?
We wish to admit applicants who will thrive in our graduate program. We will thus look for evidence of:
academic potential as evidenced in past academic achievement
an understanding of what linguistics is basically.  That is, we prefer students who have at least some basic knowledge in Linguistics
a strong motivation to engage in Linguistics
an understanding of, and passion for, study

19. Financial Support
Five qualified applicants are eligible for full scholarship on a competitive basis.
Other students who show higher academic performance at the entrance examination will get 40 ~ 60 % partial scholarship.
To be considered for financial support, you must indicate your interest on your application.

20. How do students get admitted?
The following materials are required components of the admission application. 
Application form
Statement of Purpose
Official transcripts for graduation record/score
Letter of Recommendation (for foreign students)
Writing Sample (for foreign students):  A writing sample, preferably on a linguistic topic, but in any case something that displays your research abilities and English writing skills.
All applicants will be interviewed in English, as well as given a possible written test. Sample questions and answer keys are posted. (Foreign applicants are advised to contact the international relations office for application procedure: _______________.

21. Join our linguistics program and take advantage of all the associated opportunities!