Linguistics is the study of language. Like other rapidly developing fields, linguistics resists simple classification into one of the traditional categories of academic disciplines. As one of the humanities, linguistics is concerned with the historical development of a particular language or language family. As a social science, linguistics may be related to anthropology in describing language as part of culture, or it may be related to psychology in describing phonetics, it may even be considered a natural science, related to the physical science of acoustics and the biological sciences of anatomy and physiology. As an applied science, linguistics has found many applications in fields as far apart as language pedagogy, speech therapy, and computer programming. Finally, linguistics may be considered a formal science in its own right, related to mathematics and logic.<br><br>The Master's degree program in English offers students the opportunity to pursue advanced work in the field of English by achieving a multifaceted understanding of literature and language. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to produce sophisticated analyses and interpretations of texts, master the techniques and conventions of writing, contribute to current scholarship through research and develop the professional skills and practices necessary to pursue careers in a variety of fields. The degree is useful to those already teaching in high schools or interested in community college teaching, seeking careers in writing and publishing, and intending to pursue further graduate work.