A limited number of courses are available during the summer. For a full-time student, it will typically take between three and four semesters to complete the degree requirements. The Graduate School allows up to three years from matriculation for the completion of all degree requirements for the Master's degree. It will typically take 4 years to do the coursework, which allows up to three years to write the dissertation. The length of time required to complete the dissertation depends on many factors, including the nature of the topic, the extent of the student's prior research in the area, whether the student is employed while writing the dissertation, focus, discipline, and so on.
Career opportunities vary depending on the subfield of linguistics.
A MS in linguistics is generally seen as leading to Ph.D. studies, and a Ph.D. is generally preparation for an academic career. There are also nonacademic careers for MSs and PhDs in other subfields of linguistics, though the primary career opportunities are academic and are highly competitive. For more information about careers in linguistics, please consult the heads or other faculty in the concentrations. As part of their professional development, graduate students will want to subscribe to the relevant electronic discussion groups, join the professional organizations, attend conferences, and monitor job postings. Yes, students with a Bachelor's degree and strong credentials may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program as of Fall 1999, or may choose to apply to the MS program.