Graduate Studies

Our M.A. in Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature (LLCL) prepares students for careers in teaching, government and public service, translation and interpretation, publishing, cultural and literary work, international companies, and NGOs.  Many of our students continue on to Ph.D. programs in discipline-specific areas or comparative & cultural studies, including the Comparative Studies Ph.D. Program at FAU.

Application Deadlines:

We accept graduate students for Fall and Spring enrollments:

  • Fall 26 application deadline (classes start in August 2026):
    • March 1, 2026 for all students
  • Spring 27 application deadlines (classes start in January 2027):
    • September 1, 2026 for international students who require an F1 visa;
    • November 1, 2026 for all other students

Tracks and Concentrations:

Most students complete the M.A. degree in two years. Students choose either a thesis track (30 credits) or a non-thesis track (36 credits) for one of the available M.A. concentrations:

A non-concentration option is coming in Fall 2026 for those who wish to take a mix of LLCL courses across languages and linguistics. 

ESL Studies Certificate:

Students in French, Spanish, Italian, and Linguistics concentrations can also pursue the Graduate Certificate in ESL Studies . Up to four courses (12 credits) can double-count toward the MA degree and the certificate. 

Combined Degree:

Current BA in LLCL: Linguistics students can apply to the Combined BA-to-MA degree option. Combined degree students take up to 12 graduate credits in their senior year that double-count toward both degrees, allowing students to complete the M.A. in under two years.

Non-Degree Option:

Domestic applicants who intend to study part-time can enroll as non-degree students and take up to two classes (6 credits) before applying to the M.A. program. If admitted to the M.A., the non-degree credits would be counted toward the degree. This option may work for those applicants who  miss the application deadline,  those who are not yet ready to commit to an MA degree, those who do not fully meet admission requirements (e.g., because of a low undergraduate GPA), and career-change applicants without any background in languages or linguistics. Non-degree applications can be processed as late as the first week of August for Fall classes and the second half of December for Spring classes. Please reach out to LLCL Graduate Studies for more details if interested in this option.

Course Offerings and Modality:

Graduate students take a combination of in-person and online classes. In-person graduate classes meet at/after 4pm on the Boca Raton campus. Students can attend all in-person graduate classes remotely via Zoom if they cannot come to campus.

Teaching Assistantships & Other Funding Options:

Full-time domestic and international graduate students can apply for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions that come with a tuition fee waiver , a stipend , and health insurance . GTAs receive pedagogical training and work under faculty supervision. GTAs assist with grading or teach introductory courses in linguistics (taught in English) or one of the languages offered by our department (Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish). 

Tuition fee waivers for GTAs cover tuition fees and non-resident fees only. Waivers do not cover non-tuition fees, such as activity and service fees, athletic fees, technology fees, health fees, etc. For a full list of fees, see the Tuition Fee Calculator. 

MA and combined degree students can also apply for stipends and fellowships offered by the department, university, federal programs, or external organizations.

   How to Apply

Are you interested in the MA in LLCL Program?