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Linguistics and Communication is a Research Master's programme that puts a strong focus on methodological issues and allows students to specialise in a wide range of linguistic sub-disciplines.

Programme structure

The Research Master’s programme in Linguistics and Communication comprises 120 ECTS.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Perspectives on Language and Communication 1
    Period 1
    Period 2
    12
  • Free-choice electives: recommended electives
    Period 1
    Period 2
    12
  • LOT Winterschool
    Period 3
    6
  • Statistics in Linguistics and Communication
    Period 4
    6
  • Perspectives on Language and Communication 2
    Period 4
    Period 5
    12
  • Restricted-choice electives: Tutorial / Internship
    Period 5
    Period 6
    6
  • Restricted-choice electives: LOT Summerschool
    Period 6
    6
COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Life after Graduation
    Period 1
    6
  • Free-choice electives: recommended electives
    Period 1
    Period 2
    12
  • Restricted-choice electives: Tutorial / Internship
    Period 2
    Period 3
    12
  • Research Project Linguistics and Communication
    Period 4
    Period 5
    12
  • Research Master's Thesis Linguistics and Communication
    Period 4
    Period 5
    Period 6
    18
Compulsory course
Elective
UvA Course Catalogue: Linguistics and Communication
  • Core courses

    The two core courses “Perspectives on Language and Communication 1 and 2” (24 ECTS in total) will get you acquainted with performing linguistic research from different theoretical and thematic perspectives. Each of the two courses focuses on a specific topic. The first course’s topic is ‘the utterance’, which is tackled from a syntactic, phonological and discourse-pragmatic approach with the corresponding methodologies. Information about the second course’s topic will appear here shortly.

    The core course “Statistics in Linguistics and Communication” (6 ECTS) will familiarise you with mixed-effects models and the statistical programme R and teaches you how to statistically analyse your own research data.

    The core course “Life after Graduation” (6 ECTS) prepares you for entering the work field. You will engage with current trends in the academic field of linguistics and familiarise yourself with job possibilities both within and outside of academia. You will also learn how to apply for a job and set up a CV, and you will organise an alumni event.

  • Electives

    The elective space allows you to tailor the programme to your individual interests.

    For example, you could choose to specialise in linguistic typology and take the following four courses of the one-year Master’s Linguistics track General Linguistics:

    • Phonetics-Phonology Interface 1
    • Syntax-Semantics Interface 1
    • Language Acquisition and Disorders 1
    • Sign Linguistics 1

    Or you could choose to specialise in communication and rhetorics and take the following four courses of the dual Master’s Communication and Information:

    • Introduction to Argumentative Discourse across Domains
    • Argumentation and Communication in Health
    • Argumentation and Communication in Law
    • Argumentation and Communication in Politics

    Or you could choose to specialise in the sociolinguistics of one language, e.g. Spanish, and take the following four courses of the one-year Master’s Linguistics track Language & Society:

    • Spanish/Hispanic Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics
    • Language in Use: Acquisition & Variation
    • Contact, Conflict & the Media
    • Topics in Sociolinguistics

    Other possible electives in the area of linguistics are e.g.:

    • L2 in the Classroom (MA Linguistics track Language, Literature & Education)
    • Acquisition, Change and Variation in Slavic languages (MA Linguistics track Language & Society)
    • Early vs. Late Acquisition (MA Nederlandse Taal en Cultuur)
    • Cognition & Language Development (rMA Brain & Cognitive Sciences)
    • Introduction to the Philosophy of Language (MA Philosophy)
    • Semantics and Cognition (MA Logic)

    It is also possible to take electives from outside the area of linguistics or outside the University of Amsterdam.

  • LOT school courses

    As part of this programme, you will also participate in courses offered by the Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics (LOT - Landelijke Onderzoeksschool Taalwetenschap), taught by renowned scientists from all over the world. You will take two methodology courses at a LOT winter school (6 ECTS in total).

  • Thesis

    The Master’s thesis (18 ECTS) reports on research that you have carried out under the supervision of an academic staff member of the ACLC.

ACLC lectures

Throughout your studies, you are encouraged to attend the biweekly ACLC lectures, where you will become acquainted with research conducted by ACLC members and will have the opportunity to listen to national and international guest speakers. After each lecture, you will have the possibility to socialise with your peers and the guest speakers.

Copyright: UvA
We can’t make decisions without arguing internally with ourselves because we have language to organise our thoughts, weigh them, and sometimes impact our interlocutors. If in reading this you can’t stop asking yourself how this came about, how it works, and what it may teach us about our humanity, then come join our very selective programme, embedded in the ACLC. Prof. Enoch Aboh

Would you like to spend a semester abroad?

This is possible in the third or fourth semester of the programme. In the past, students spent a semester at such places as the University of Edinburgh or at Charles University Prague, or used this time to do an internship abroad.