About Linguistics Program
New Curriculum starting in
Academic Year 2010!

  • New pre-requisite courses!
  • New ENTRANCE level foreign language requirement!
  • New core courses!
  • New elective system that allows the student to build a program based on their individual interests and plans for future work!
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
  • January 15, 2011 for students needing pre-requisite courses (January 29 if in Thailand and not needing a visa).
  • April 30, 2011 for students not needing pre-requisite courses.
(see Admissions)


Master of Arts in Linguistics

The Linguistics Department was founded in 1989. Payap University is well-situated to support linguistic study due to its location in northern Thailand, which is home to many different language groups and the natural center of a linguistic area which stretches far beyond the national borders of Thailand. A greatly revised curriculum offering a greater depth in foundational field linguistics and an opportunity for students to pursue topics of personal interest within the field will open in 2010.

All courses in the program are taught in English, and most of the teaching staff are native speakers of English. Linguistics department students come from Asia, Europe, N. America and the Pacific Rim. International students are welcome to apply.

Philosophy

Although there is considerable linguistic scholarship in Southeast Asia, relatively little is known about many languages of the region. Moreover, the translation of materials between languages is increasingly important, due to the growth of trade and communications in the region. As Thailand continues its national development and assumes a role of regional leadership, it is important that there be trained people who can investigate the languages of the region, skillfully translate materials, and give guidance to the many communities who aspire to document, preserve and cultivate their cultural heritage. With an eye to meeting this need, the Linguistics Department of Payap University offers a strong research focused degree right in the middle of the region where many of these languages are found.

Mission

The mission of the Payap University Linguistics Department is to train students to be skilled linguists and to promote the research and documentation of languages, focusing on the languages of Mainland Southeast Asia, which will be of value to the local and international communities.

Objectives

The Linguistics Department offers an M.A. in Linguistics Degree. Graduates of the M.A. program are equipped to:
  1. To prepare graduates who have the knowledge, ability and skill to apply linguistic theory to research, language description and language documentation.
  2. To prepare graduates who have a general knowledge, ability and skill in methods of language study, and language analysis.
  3. To prepare graduates who have knowledge, ability and skill in translating, and who can examine and assess translated documents and adapt them for correct communication.
  4. To prepare graduates who have knowledge, ability and skill to assist heritage language communities to wisely cultivate and develop their own languages within the national language context.

Student Handbook

View/download the Linguistics Department's student handbook.

Location / Contacts

The Linguistics Department is housed in the Graduate Studies Center (Pentecost building) of the University's Mae Khao campus.

Linguistics Department
Payap University
A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000
Thailand

Tel.: +66-53-851-478, ext. 7210
Fax: +66-53-243-164
E-mail: pyulingdept@gmail.com