Program Modification Form
I Summary of Proposed Changes
Linguistics Program
Department/program
Integrating two-track program of study for Linguistics MA to one-track
Summary
II Endorsements and Approvals
Please obtain the Program Chair/Director’s approval and Dean’s approval.
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Phone:
Program Chair/Director:
Tully Thibeau
243-2156
Tully Thibeau
Department Dean
Christopher Comer
Date
Other affected Programs:
(Use additional sheet if
needed)
III Type of Program Modification
(e.g. adding a writing course required of all majors.) Please X check the appropriate box.
Major
Minor
Option
Teaching major/minor
Other
Please
X
Two programs of study that lead to a Linguistics MA
describe
will be simplified to one focused program of study
IV Catalog Language
If you are proposing a change to an existing program or Please provide the proposed copy as you wish
major, please cut and paste the requirements as they
it to appear in the catalog. 
appear in the current catalog below.
www.umt.edu/catalog 
Graduate Program: The
Program offers an M.A. in
Linguistics. Students admitted to
the Program pursue two tracks:
general or applied. The program
also supports students pursuing
an MA degree with a Linguistics
specialization through the
Department of Anthropology.
Graduate Program: The
Program offers an M.A. in
Linguistics. Students
admitted to the Program
fulfill one 36 credit-hour
program of study to complete
the degree. The program also
supports students pursuing
an MA degree with a
Linguistics specialization
through the Department of
Anthropology.
Please explain/justify the new proposal or change. 
The current two-track program of study for a Linguistics MA is essentially a function of the areas
of concentration of the two faculty who founded the Linguistics Program as an academic unit
during the previous decanal review. The proposed program modification is responding internally
to that function as both a review and an assessment, and it proposes to fuse the two tracks
(applied and general) into a more focused, single-track program of study with a common core of
15 400-level UG credit hours and 9 credits from three 500-level graduate seminars, constituting
two-thirds of the degree (other 500-level credit from thesis credits, independent studies, and/or
special topics offerings). The new program of study is concentrated in that (i) graduates are
assured offerings that satisfy the 36 credit-hours within 4 semesters and (ii) the curricular focus
of the program for the MA is directed at Linguistics as defined more precisely and reflective of
the faculty who teach courses leading to the MA. Linguistics faculty agree that the single track
puts their teaching resources to more effective use while supporting their students and their own
scholarship. Moreover, it preserves Linguistics' service to undergraduate education by sustaining
options in other, unaffected programs of study that administrate a BA degree and an ESL minor
for degrees in ED.
What other programs are affected by your proposal?
Obtain signatures as requested above.
V Copies and Electronic Submission
Once approved, the original, a paper copy and an electronic file are submitted to the Faculty Senate
Office, UH 221 (camie.foos@mso.umt.edu).
VI Department Summary Required if several proposals are submitted. In a separate document
list program title and proposed change of all proposals.