MA General Linguistics:
Course overview for Winter 2023
(updated 26 September)
The following is a list of the courses offered this semester by the Department of General Linguistics, plus a number of elective and language courses from other departments.
- courses for Block A: Core modules
- courses for Block B: Electives modules
- courses for Block C: Language courses
This list is organized by module: In this degree programme, you are not given a strict list of courses to complete, but are instead tasked with fulfilling the requirements of a number of modules. Each module consists of one or more courses, but not specific courses. Rather, each module deals with broad area of study in linguistics. For example, module M1 is about the theoretical foundations of linguistics, for which you could take a course on syntax, or a course on morphology, or one on another suitable topic. Which courses are offered for which module changes each semester, and you are free to choose which courses on this list (and hence modules) to participate in each semester.
The Master General Linguistics has an expected duration of four semesters and a total pensum of 120 ECTS. This pensum is split across four blocks of modules: the core module block (40 ECTS), the electives block (30 ECTS), the language courses block (20 ECTS), and lastly, the master's thesis module (30 ECTS). The specific requirements of each block is described further in the sections below. Since it is recommended that you dedicate most of your fourth and final semester to writing your master's thesis, this results in a workload of approximately 30 ECTS in each of your first three semesters (for a total of 90 ECTS). How precisely you distribute this workload is up to you, though you should probably not try to do all of the courses listed here all at once. Which modules you complete in which semester is largely a matter of choice, so long as you manage to meet all requirements of the degree programme by the end of your studies. The overall structure of the degree programme and all its modules is described in the module handbook(423.9 KB, 18 Seiten) (in German).
This list is updated at the start of each semester. It is highly recommended that you keep track (ideally in writing) of which courses for which modules you complete each semester, and try to plan ahead for future semesters as best you can. In order to participate in a course, you will first need to register for it in the FlexNow! system (see the notes at the bottom of this page). You are also asked to join the Virtual Campus (VC) group for each course, as this will be used as the primary means of communication between you and your lecturer, as well as for the distribution of course materials, assignments, literature, etc. The VC groups for the courses organized by the Department of General Linguistics are linked in the list below; for those for courses from other departments you will either receive a link and password via e-mail from the lecturer some time after registering in FlexNow!, or you can find them by looking through the VC yourself. Clicking on the title of a course will take you to its corresponding page in the university information system (UnivIS), where you can find information about its content as well as time and place.
If you have questions about course selection, please contact the study guidance counselor (studienberatung.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) for the programme. If you encounter issues with registration for courses, please get in touch with the administrative office (admin.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) as soon as possible.
Block A: Core modules (M1–M5)
These five modules form the core of the degree programme. Each deals with a different area of linguistic theory and research, and all five have to be completed to finish your studies. As mentioned above, however, there is no predetermined curriculum: Which courses are offered for which module changes every semester, and you may approach the modules in any order you like (though it is recommended to do module M5 last, as it is intended as a preparatory aid for your master's thesis). This allows you to tailor your studies to your own interests; if a course offered for a particular module does not appeal to you, you can wait until next semester for another option. However, you will have to successfully complete all five core modules before you may commence writing your master's thesis (module M10). As you will see below, a single module may offer multiple choices for courses, of which you only get to pick one. Conversely, the same course is sometimes suitable for a number of different modules, giving you more flexibility. Each course you take can only be made to count towards a single module, however. In addition to the core modules, you will also need to complete a number of elective modules and language acquisition modules (see below). You will also need to register for each course you take (see further below).
As noted above, this list is organized by module (in large print), with course options and additional details (type of course, ECTS volume, lecturers) given underneath (in small print). Clicking on the title of a course will take you to a page with further information, including on when and where the course takes place, and what it is about.
M1: Systemlinguistik (8 ECTS)
[Theoretical Foundations of Linguistics]
— Topics in Syntactic Typology (seminar, 8 ECTS; Haig)
M2: Sprachvariation und -wandel (8 ECTS)
[Language Variation and Change]
— no courses offered this semester
M3: Sprachliche Diversität (8 ECTS)
[Language Diversity]
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 8 ECTS; Bogomolova)
M4: Sprachwissenschaftliche Methoden (8 ECTS)
[Linguistic Research Methods]
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 8 ECTS; Bogomolova)
or
— Methods in Quantitative Analysis for Linguistic Research(seminar, 8 ECTS; Haig)
M5: Forschungsmodul (8 ECTS)
[Research Module]
— Research Colloquium (colloquium, 8 ECTS; Haig)
Block B: Elective modules (M6–M9 and others)
Unlike the core module block, the elective module block has no predetermined structure. Instead, it allows you to choose any complete modules from the list below in any combination, with the sole restriction that there may not be any duplicate modules. This means you need to pay close attention to which modules you have completed already in previous semesters, as you cannot complete them a second time. The elective module block has a total size of 30 ECTS, which you can fill with any number of modules of any size. Note that you do not need to reach exactly 30 ECTS, but rather at least 30 ECTS, meaning it is entirely acceptable if by the end of your studies you end up with, for example, 32 or 34 ECTS in this block.
In the list below, modules M6–M9 are copies (in terms of content) of the core modules listed above, intended for use in the electives block. The other modules in the list are taken from other degree programmes at the university, chiefly the Master English and American Studies(550.5 KB, 41 Seiten) and the Master Cultural Studies of the Middle East(663.7 KB). Some of these may have additional requirements, such as an English placement test for courses from the former (see notes further below). For modules from other degree programmes, it is important to always keep in mind that only complete modules, rather than individual courses, can be used. While all modules offered as part of the General Linguistics programme require only a single course, those from other programmes may require two or more courses. This is indicated in the list below by courses being separated with an 'and'. Generally, these two-part modules consist of a lecture and a seminar. It is recommended to always either complete modules by choosing among courses exactly as described on this page, or else carefully plan for an alternative. Half-completed modules cannot count towards your course of studies.
While it is in theory possible to choose modules (and courses) besides the ones listed here, we nevertheless strongly recommend you chiefly pick from the list below. If you have a strong desire to take a course not listed here, please get in touch with the study guidance counselor (studienberatung.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) before the start of the semester so we can help you find a suitable module for it. If you neglect to clear your choice of alternative courses with us ahead of time, we may not be able to help you navigate the system.
M6: Systemlinguistik (8 ECTS)
[Theoretical Foundations of Linguistics]
— Topics in Syntactic Typology (seminar, 8 ECTS; Haig)
M7: Sprachvariation und -wandel (8 ECTS)
[Language Variation and Change]
— no courses offered this semester
M8: Sprachliche Diversität (8 ECTS)
[Language Diversity]
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 8 ECTS; Bogomolova)
M9: Sprachwissenschaftliche Methoden (8 ECTS)
[Linguistic Research Methods]
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 8 ECTS; Bogomolova)
or
— Methods in Quantitative Analysis for Linguistic Research(seminar, 8 ECTS; Haig)
PLing1: The Languages and Linguistics of the Middle East (5 ECTS)
(via MA Cultural Studies of the Middle East)
— Topics in Syntactic Typology (seminar, 5 ECTS; Haig)
PLing3: Language Documentation and Analysis (5 ECTS)
(via MA Cultural Studies of the Middle East)
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 5 ECTS; Bogomolova)
PLing4: Fieldwork (5 ECTS)
(via MA Cultural Studies of the Middle East)
— Language Documentation II: Twi Native Speakers (seminar, 5 ECTS; Bogomolova)
PLing5: Methods in Quantitative Analysis (5 ECTS)
(via MA Cultural Studies of the Middle East)
— Methods in Quantitative Analysis for Linguistic Research(seminar, 8 ECTS; Haig)
MA IR09: Sprachpraktisches Modul Varietäten (5 ECTS)
(via MA Iranian Studies)
— Kurdish 1 (language course, 5 ECTS; Mustafa)
Master Module English Linguistics (10 ECTS)
(via MA English and American Studies)
(1a) The Roots of English (lecture, 2 ECTS; Knappe)
or
(1b) British and American English in Contrast (lecture, 2 ECTS; Schlüter)
and
(2a) Corpus Linguistics and Lexicography (seminar, 8 ECTS; Schlüter; )
or
(2b) Text Linguistics (seminar, 8 ECTS; Werner)
and
(3) Methods and Theories in Linguistics (mandatory when attending 2a or 2b; Schlüter/Vetter)
Profile Module English Linguistics I (10 ECTS)
(via MA English and American Studies)
(1a) The Roots of English (lecture, 2 ECTS; Knappe)
or
(1b) British and American English in Contrast (lecture, 2 ECTS; Schlüter)
and
(2a) Corpus Linguistics and Lexicography (seminar, 8 ECTS; Schlüter; )
or
(2b) Text Linguistics (seminar, 8 ECTS; Werner)
and
(3) Methods and Theories in Linguistics (mandatory when attending 2a or 2b; Schlüter/Vetter)
Profile Module English Linguistics III (8 ECTS)
(via MA English and American Studies)
(1a) Corpus Linguistics and Lexicography (seminar, 8 ECTS; Schlüter; )
or
(1b) Text Linguistics (seminar, 8 ECTS; Werner)
and
(2) Methods and Theories in Linguistics (mandatory when attending 1a or 1b; Schlüter/Vetter)
Block C: Language courses
Language courses (Sprachpraxis in German) are, as the name suggests, courses for learning new languages or improving proficiencies in languages you already know. Many language courses are offered by the various departments for their respective degree programmes, but the majority are organized by a central body of the university called the Language centre (Sprachenzentrum in German). This distinction is important, as it often influences the structure of the modules these language courses belong to, and where to look for information on them. Over the course of your studies, you need to complete as total of 20 ECTS worth of complete modules containing language courses. Each language course is associated with a module, and a single module may require one or more language courses to complete. Half-completed modules do not count towards your ECTS total. As with the electives block, you do not need to complete exactly 20 ECTS worth of courses, but rather at least 20 ECTS.
The number of language courses on offer at the university is far to great for us to list them all here, so the following shows only the courses organized by the Department of General Linguistics directly. You can find a comprehensive overview of available courses in the university information system (UnivIS), particularly in the section of the Language centre. The courses/modules listed in module handbook of the Language centre(2.1 MB) (in German) in particular are the most strongly recommended, as they are generally the least complicated in terms of module requirements. Please run your selection of language courses (and their intended modules) by the administrative office (admin.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) or the study guidance counselor (studienberatung.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) before the start of the semester, so we can help your studies progress smoothly.
You may freely choose any combination of languages at any level (in accordance with your proficiency). This means you can start learning a new language and stick with it for the entirety of your studies, or combine multiple courses from different languages. Note that some courses may require students to take a placement test in order to participate; relevant information is usually found on the pages of the Language centre or of the department that offers the course. Also keep in mind that many beginner-level courses use German as a language of instruction; higher-level courses tend to be taught largely in the language of study instead. There are also a number of additional restrictions on which courses you can take. Courses on English may not be used, and courses on German are only acceptable if you are not a domestic student or native speaker of German. Furthermore, certain courses (especially for Romance languages) are offered exclusively for students of the associated degree programmes; they are not open to outsiders like us. The Language centre instead offers comparable courses for a general audience; these are labelled für Hörer aller Fakultäten 'for participants from all institutes'.
Standalone Module (5 ECTS)
— Kurdish 1 (language course, 5 ECTS; Mustafa)
Additional notes
Registration in FlexNow!
You will need to register in the FlexNow! systemfor each course you wish to participate in at the start of the semester, then register again at the end of the semester for participation in each course's exam. When doing this, it is important that you select the correct module for each course when registering for it, as per this list (called Modulanbindung in German). See the FlexNow! User Manual and FAQ for instructions on how to do this. Deadlines for registration can be found on the pages of the university examination office (Prüfungsamt). If you encounter issues with registration, please get in touch with our administrative office (admin.aspra(at)uni-bamberg.de) as soon as possible.
English proficiency tests
Courses for the elective modules block that are offered by the Department of English Linguistics require participating students to have taken a placement test. Since we are not involved in organizing these tests, we direct you to the relevant pages of the English Linguistics department for instructions and updates. The placement tests usually take place the week before the semester starts.