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 Director of Graduate Studies 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 Director of Graduate Studies about satisfying this requirement.

2. One of the following options:

a. Completion of LING6400 Quantitative Methods in Linguistics

b. Completion of LING6410 Experimental Methods in Linguistics

c. Completion of LING6880 or LING8880 Field Methods in Linguistics

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

e. 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: 7/15/25