Faculty of Arts

Master of Arts in Language Studies

Programme Director: Dr Cynthia F K Lee

This is an MA by coursework degree offered to those presently engaged in or planning to engage in language-related professions. The programme considers the needs for linguistic sophistication with regard to Chinese and English language issues for the following professions in particular: language teachers, administrators and language officers, instructors in tertiary and adult/continuing education, translators, and media specialists.

The MA in Language Studies provides foundation knowledge about language and prepares students for special applications of linguistic analysis to problems arising from the students' particular interests, careers and concerns. The aim is to train graduates who can adapt to a range of situations and address questions of language description and language use. Teaching is carried out through lecturers, workshops and student-centred discussions.

Requirements

The MA in Language Studies is a taught degree programme comprising part-time study over a normal period of two academic years, or full-time study over a normal period of one academic year (non-dissertation option only). With the approval of the Programme Director, students can request to extend their study period to a maximum of three part-time years. Students are required to take all the five core courses. In addition to the core courses, students may choose to take (1) two electives and a dissertation; or (2) four electives (without a dissertation) to fulfil the graduation requirements. Classes will be delivered on weekday evenings and/or Saturdays.

Students who have satisfactorily completed all the above requirements and achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above will be awarded an MA in Language Studies degree. To be awarded Distinction for the programme, students should attain a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or above, with no course grade below B- and no repeated courses. Students attaining a cumulative GPA between 3.40 and 3.69 will be awarded merit. An interim/exit award (in the form of a Postgraduate Diploma) may be given to those who have completed at least 21 units and attained a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above (subject to the Senate's approval).

Core Courses					15 units
	LANG	7110	Research Methodology		3 units
	LANG	7401-2	Introduction to the Study of Language I & II		6 units
	LANG	7510	Language in Society		3 units
	LANG	7610	Discourse Analysis		3 units

Elective Courses*					6 units
	LANG	7390	Special Topic in Language Studies		3 units
	LANG	7530	Language Curriculum		3 units
	LANG	7540	Language for Specific Purposes		3 units
	LANG	7550	English as a World Language		3 units
	LANG	7570	Language & Education		3 units
	LANG	7580	Language Development		3 units
	LANG	7590	Advanced Topics in DiscourseStudies		3 units
	LANG	7600	Comparative Studies of English & Chinese Grammar		3 units
	LANG	7630	Pragmatics in Language Learning & Teaching		3 units
	LANG	7640	Grammar of Modern English		3 units
	LANG	7650	Advanced Seminar in Language & Gender		3 units
	LANG	7660	Linguistics & Liberal Thinking		3 units

Dissertation					6 units
	Either
	LANG	7260	Dissertation	)
	Or			)	6 units
	Two extra elective courses			)
					─────
					27 units

*	With the approval of the MALS programme team and of other departments concerned, students may take one course from other taught postgraduate programmes of the University in lieu of one elective.