Master Comparative Linguistics

The Master program Comparative Linguistics is a minor program (30 ECTS).

Those completing the program are equipped with the specialist linguistic knowledge required to analyze language from a historical, typological and documentary, psycholinguistic, and neurolinguistic perspective. They have mastered a broad comparative approach to languages and language. They have advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analytical methods, experience with the interdisciplinary presentation of research and its findings, and are capable of designing and conducting comparative language research.

Course of Studies
The Department of Comparative Language Science of the University of Zurich offers a broad range of courses, which are tightly linked to current research conducted at the department. Core research topics that relate to the Master's program are: (1) the global diversity and distribution of linguistic phenomena; (2) explanations of such distributions based on biological, psychological, historical, and geographical aspects; (3) the ontogeny of language and language processing in various socio-cultural and linguistic contexts; (4) the phylogenetic origin of language through comparisons with similar phenomena across other taxa; (5) quantitative analyses and modeling of language change, language ontogeny, and language processing.
Students can complete the program as their major or minor. After the first courses, which introduce the central questions, insights, and methods of interdisciplinary research on language evolution, students then take courses from each of the three core fields: language ontogeny, historical dynamics of language, and origins of language. All areas allow students to apply their knowledge in research projects early on. Furthermore, the Master’s degree can be followed up by a PhD that is based on in-depth research.

Career Prospects
As with most other university degrees, studying Comparative Linguistics does not lead to a specific profession. One of the main areas of interest for graduates is research. However, there are many other career possibilities outside of academia, as the interdisciplinarity of the program makes it possible to work in various language-related areas, e.g. copy-editing, PR consulting/advertising, translation or teaching. Depending on personal interests and other skills acquired during their studies in both the minor and the major, students may realize the possibility of working in areas such as development work or natural language processing.

Language of Instruction: English