Research Skills Requirement

Students who are specializing in historical Indo-European linguistics have more specific research skill requirements; please see the second heading below.

general research skills requirement

For students concentrating in any area other than historical Indo-European linguistics: M.A. students may choose one of the options in either (1) or (2) below. Ph.D. students must complete one of the options in both (1) and (2).

[In other words, M.A. students may choose reading knowledge of a modern foreign language OR a research methods course; Ph.D. students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a modern foreign language PLUS a second research skill, which may be a research methods course or reading knowledge of a second foreign language.]

Please consult with the Graduate Coordinator or your major professor to determine which option is recommended for you, based on your area(s) of interest. 

1. Reading knowledge of a modern foreign language. This requirement may normally be satisfied in one of three ways:

a. Receiving a passing grade on a departmental foreign language translation test. These tests are offered once a semester by Romance Languages, Germanic and Slavic, and other departments.

b. Earning a grade of B or higher in any UGA foreign language course at the intermediate (2000) level or above.

c. Earning a grade of B or higher in a translation course, such as GRMN3500 Techniques of Translation, FREN2500 French for Reading Knowledge, or SPAN2500 Spanish for Reading Knowledge.

For students who are native speakers of a language other than English, please consult with the Graduate Coordinator about satisfying this requirement.

2. One of the following options:

a. Completion of LING6400 Quantitative Methods in Linguistics

b. Completion of LING6880 or LING8880 Field Methods in Linguistics

c. Completion of STAT6210 Statistical Methods I or STAT6310 Statistical Analysis I

d. Reading knowledge of a second modern foreign language as described in (1) above.

Requirement for students with a primary concentration in historical Indo-European linguistics

Much of the literature in historical Indo-European linguistics is written in German and French, so a reading knowledge of these languages is essential.

All students pursuing an M.A. in historical Indo-European linguistics should demonstrate a reading knowledge of German, as described in (1) above, by the end of their third semester. (Students who plan to apply to Ph.D. programs in Indo-European linguistics are strongly advised to acquire a reading knowledge of both French and German prior to applying to these programs.)

All students pursuing a Ph.D. in historical Indo-European linguistics should demonstrate a reading knowledge of both German and French by the completion of their program of study.

Updated: 7/26/21