Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Linguistics (BA) and Linguistics: Forensic Linguistics (MA), Dual-degree Program


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Qualified undergraduate students may elect to enroll in a dual-degree program, combining their undergraduate bachelor’s degree in linguistics with a master’s degree in linguistics: forensic linguistics. The dual-degree program requires the successful completion of a total of 148 s.h., including at least 112 s.h. at the undergraduate level and 36 s.h. at the graduate level. The dual-degree program can be completed in five years, including at least one summer session. Students who are admitted to the graduate portion of the dual-degree program may count the graduate courses LING 202 - Phonetics and Phonology (fall), LING 205 - Semantics and Pragmatics (spring), LING 206 - Sociolinguistics (fall), and LING 221 - Linguistic Field Methods (spring) toward both the BA and MA degree requirements, or other courses specifically approved by a linguistics adviser. These 12 s.h. will apply to the undergraduate degree in addition to the required 112 s.h. of undergraduate course work, for a total of 124 s.h. for the BA.

Admission to the Dual-Degree Program for Incoming Students


Incoming first-year students entering Hofstra may apply for admission to this dual-degree program. For those who choose to submit a standardized test score, a 1240 or better on the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (or an ACT score of 25) is recommended.  Applicants must have an overall high school GPA of 3.5 (or be in the top 15 percent of their high school graduating class) in order to be considered for admission.  First-year students admitted to the dual-degree program will be admitted automatically at the end of their junior year to the MA program in Linguistics: Forensic Linguistics provided they fulfill the following requirements:

  1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in linguistics courses at the time of application to the MA program, or upon completion of 92 s.h. of course work toward their BA degree in linguistics.
  2. Successful completion of LING 101 ,151  or SPCH 005A   LING 152 , and 171  or 172  by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.
  3. Submission of two letters of recommendation.
  4. Interview with program director (in person, by phone, or by videoconference).
  5. Submission of written statement of professional interests and goals.

Admission to the Dual-Degree Program for Current Hofstra Students


Qualified Hofstra students majoring in linguistics may apply, through the Office of Graduate Admission, to the dual-degree Linguistics (BA) and Linguistics: Forensic Linguistics (MA) prior to successfully completing 92 semester hours of undergraduate course work. In order to qualify for admission to the dual-degree program, a student must have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application and a 3.0 in the linguistics major. Students admitted to the dual-degree program should note that admission to the MA portion of the dual-degree program requires the fulfillment of the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 92 credits with a 3.0 overall GPA.
  2. Successful completion of LING 101 , 151  or SPCH 005A  LING 152 , and 171  or 172  by the end of the semester in which they apply for admission to the dual-degree program.
  3. Submission of two letters of recommendation.
  4. Interview with program director (in person, by phone, or by videoconference).
  5. Submission of written statement of professional interests and goals.

Undergraduate Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 30


See the complete requirements for the BA degree  as listed in this Bulletin.

Consists of the successful completion of 30 s.h. as follows: 12 s.h. of required courses, 12 s.h. of required graduate-level courses (taken in the senior year of undergraduate studies), and 6 s.h. of additional LING and/or other language-related elective courses.

Required Graduate-level Courses (12 s.h.)


  • LING 202 - Phonetics and Phonology Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 205 - Semantics and Pragmatics Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 206 - Sociolinguistics Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 221 - Linguistic Field Methods Semester Hours: 3

Or other appropriate courses as approved by a linguistics advisor.

Additional Linguistics/Language-related Electives (6 s.h.)


Recommended courses:

Graduate Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 36


The MA portion of the dual-degree program requires 36 s.h. of graduate-level courses. The program is composed of three components: core curriculum; electives; and capstone requirements.

Core Curriculum Courses - Semester Hours: 24


  • LING 202 - Phonetics and Phonology* Semester Hours: 3 (taken in final year of undergraduate studies)
  • LING 203 - Morphology and Syntax* Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 205 - Semantics and Pragmatics Semester Hours: 3 (taken in final year of undergraduate studies)
  • LING 206 - Sociolinguistics Semester Hours: 3 (taken in final year of undergraduate studies)
  • LING 221 - Linguistic Field Methods Semester Hours: 3 (taken in final year of undergraduate studies)
  • LING 231 - Discourse Analysis Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 239 - Language and the Law: Language as Evidence Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 250 - Corpus Linguistics Semester Hours: 3

* Place-out tests may be taken for LING 202 and 203. Students who receive a B+ or better will substitute an elective for each course receiving test out credit from the list below. (36 semester hours are still required.) Consult the linguistics adviser for availability.

 

Elective Courses - Semester Hours: 6


One course from the following in linguistics or, with the adviser’s permission, one course in another relevant discipline:

  • LING 204 - Introduction to Historical Linguistics Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 207 - Dialectology Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 219 - International Forensic Linguistics Semester Hours: 3

​(Upon adviser approval, LING 219 may be repeated once for credit when content varies. No more than 6 total credits of LING 219 and LING 220 may count toward the degree.)

  • LING 220 - Forensic Linguistics for Criminal Justice Semester Hours: 3

Upon adviser approval, LING 220 may be repeated once for credit when content varies. No more than 6 total credits of LING 219 and LING 220 may count toward the degree.)

  • LING 258 - Foundations in Forensic Linguistics Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 281 A-Z - Special Topics in Linguistics Semester Hours: 3
  • LING 290 - Internship in Forensic Linguistics Semester Hours: 3

(Ling 290 may be repeated once for elective credit for a total of 6 semester hours toward the degree.)

  • CSC 219 Cybersecurity for Everyone Semester hours: 3
  • CSC 249 Informational Retrieval Semester hours: 3
  • CSC 274 Natural Language Processing Semester Hours: 3

Capstone Requirements - Semester Hours: 6


LING 290 Internship and LING 303 Capstone or LING 290 Internship and LING 301 Master’s Essay. (Students may be permitted to enroll in LING 301 thesis with the approval of a linguistics advisor.)

  • LING 290 - Internship in Forensic Linguistics - Semester Hours: 1-3

(LING 290 may be repeated once for elective credit.)

and one of the following:

  • LING 303 - Capstone Project - Semester Hours: 1-3

(Students who do not complete the LING 303 Capstone Project within the semester they first register for it must re-register for one credit of LING 303 each subsequent semester until they complete their capstone. The additional semester hours do not count toward any degree requirements.)

or

  • LING 301 - Master’s Essay - Semester Hours: 1-3

(Students who do not complete the LING 301 Master’s Essay within the semester they first register for it must re-register for one credit of LING 301 each subsequent semester until they complete their thesis. The additional semester hours do not count toward any degree requirements.)

Graduate-Level Good Standing Requirements


Students must maintain a B average with no more than one C per semester. No more than two Cs will be counted toward the MA. Students who do not maintain a B average, or who receive a D grade or an F in any course, will be dismissed from the program.

Suggested Five-Year Sequence (148 s.h.)


First Year


FALL
Course Semester Hours
LING 101   3
WSC 001   3
Foreign Language 1 3
Humanities Distribution (AA)   3
LING 151  or SPCH 005A   3

TOTAL

15

 

SPRING

Course Semester Hours
LING 171  or 172   3
WSC 002   3
Foreign Language 2 3
Natural Sciences (NS ) or Mathematics (MA ) distribution 4
Liberal Arts Elective 3
TOTAL 16

Second Year


FALL
Course Semester Hours
LING Elective 3
Foreign Language 3 3
Humanities Distribution (CP)   3
Social Science Distribution (HP)   3
Natural Sciences (NS) or Mathematics (MA) Distribution   4
TOTAL 16

 

SPRING
Course Semester Hours
LING 152   3
Social Science Distribution (BH)   3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Foreign Language 4 3
Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Distribution   3
TOTAL 15

Third Year


FALL
Course Semester Hours
Liberal Arts Elective  3
Natural Sciences (NS) or Mathematics (MA) Distribution   4
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Cross-Cultural (CC) Distribution   3
TOTAL 16

 

SPRING
Course Semester Hours
LING Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Social Science (BH) Distribution   3
Humanities (LT) Distribution   3
TOTAL 15

 

Fourth Year


FALL
Course Semester Hours
LING 202 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
LING 206 3
Physical Education Elective 1
Liberal Arts Elective 3
TOTAL 16

 


SPRING
Course Semester Hours
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
Liberal Arts Elective 3
LING 221 3
LING 205 3
TOTAL 15

Awarding of BA Degree: 124 s.h.

Summer Between Fourth and Fifth Years


Course Semester Hours
LING 290 3
LING 207 3
TOTAL 6

Fifth Year


FALL
Course Semester Hours
LING 203 3
LING 231 3
LING 239 3
TOTAL 9

SPRING
Course Semester Hours
LING 301or 303 3
LING 220 3
LING 250 3
TOTAL 9

 

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