Objectives:
The programme is designed to provide orientation in modern linguistic theories and techniques of analysis which students are expected to apply to their particular areas of research interest. It is expected that on successful completion of the programme the graduates should be able to:
- teach linguistics in post-secondary institutions.
- initiate and execute research in linguistics.
iii. analyse and evaluate the grammar of a given language.
- teach the grammar of English and indigenous languages in primary and post primary institutions.
- function as:
– language developers by providing the orthography of unwritten languages
– and writing the grammar of any language
– editors in publishing houses and in electronic and print media.
– language planning officers in government and non government establishments
– lexicographers
– professional speech-writers, speech pathologists.
– career diplomats
– Press secretaries, company secretaries, administrative officers
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: As specified in the University Postgraduate Regulations, candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours degree in linguistics or a subject with a strong linguistics component from a recognised university. Under special circumstances, candidates from other disciplines with a strong analytical component will be considered.
O’Level requirements: 5 credit passes in English and 4 other subjects
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: Students are required to demonstrate the ability to read and write one African language. Students are strongly advised to acquire knowledge of an additional European language.
Other Requirements: Students will be required to take undergraduate courses in any areas in which their background is deficient.
Graduation Requirements: Students are required to take and pass 15 units of courses per semester (30 units for the two semesters) excluding Seminar (3 units) and Thesis (12 units).
Compulsory Courses: The compulsory courses are core courses that provide theoretical training in basic areas of linguistics at a more advanced level. The core compulsory courses are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credit | Semester |
| LIN 631 | Current Issues in Phonetics | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 651 | Milestones in the History of Linguistics | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 661 | Advanced Morphology | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 683 | Advanced Research Method | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 622 | Advanced Syntax | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 632 | Studies In Phonology | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 642 | Theories of Semantics | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 686 | Seminar | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 688 | Thesis | 6 | 2nd |
Optional Courses: These are more specialized courses related to a student’s option. Students in consultation with their supervisors will select a suitable combination of courses from the courses available in a particular year, subject to fulfilling any prerequisite requirements.
| Code | Title | Credit | Semester |
| LIN 641 | Lexicography | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 671 | Advanced Sociolinguistics | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 673 | Studies in Dialectology | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 675 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 | 1st |
| LIN 624 | Alternative Theories of Grammar | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 644 | Topics in Psycholinguistics | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 646 | Advanced Issues in Pragmatics | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 672 | Advanced Issues in Multilingualism | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 682 | Critical Discourse Analysis | 3 | 2nd |
| LIN 684 | Topics in Applied Linguistics | 3 | 2nd |