The Department of Linguistics offers the M.A. degree in Linguistics under Plan I (24 semester hours of coursework plus 6 hours of thesis) or Plan II (32 hours of coursework without a thesis) according to the general regulations set forth in the UNM Catalog, with the additional requirement that a minimum of 12 hours of 500-level courses is required under either plan.<br><br>As soon as you are admitted to the M.A. program, you should start thinking about whether writing a thesis (Plan I) or completing additional coursework (Plan II) would be most suited to your interests and long-range career goals. There are benefits to both approaches. The intensive research and writing involved in preparing a thesis can be valuable preparation for further studies at the Ph.D. level or for employment in a specific area related to linguistics. On the other hand, the M.A. program may be seen as the opportunity to pursue broad experience in linguistics. The coursework option ensures a strong foundation in linguistics with an appropriate depth and breadth of knowledge to pursue further studies or professional employment.