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.

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.

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).

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.