Programs
The Department runs two bachelors, three master’s and two doctoral programs.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs
The two undergraduate programs run by the Department are specializations in Linguistics and in Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture.
BA in Linguistics
The BA program in Linguistics has the objective to train medium-level professionals who are able to describe, codify, standardize and elaborate languages for modern use, and who are capable of documenting and preserving endangered minority languages and cultures in Ethiopia. Furthermore, the program imparts basic competency for providing consultancy services to organizations that promote languages and cultures, and for creating general awareness about linguistic and cultural values in a multi-cultural society.
BA in Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture
There is a high demand for secondary school teachers in relation to Deaf students. The linguistics of Ethiopian Sign Language has not been studied at all. Taking into account these factors, the Department of Linguistics and Philology designed the first BA program in Ethiopian Sign Language and Deaf Culture in 2008. The program aims to train medium-level professionals who could engage in systematic teaching of the Ethiopian Sign Language and help in the understanding of issues related to sign language and Deaf culture.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the undergraduate programs is according to the requirements set by the Ministry of Education and the University.
Master’s Programs
The Department of Linguistics and Philology runs the following programs at the Master’s level:
- MA in Linguistics
- MA in Philology
- MSc in Computational Linguistics
MA in Linguistics
The MA program in Linguistics has the objective to raise the level of knowledge of students on the formal and substantive aspects of Linguistics as a science. The program equips students with basic research methods for identifying linguistic units, and eliciting and managing linguistic data (recording, transcription, description, classification, and interpretation of linguistic facts). The program imparts competency for applied research on the hitherto unknown languages of Ethiopia and enables students to develop expertise in relation to language policy issues and to training professionals in the field of linguistics at institutions of higher learning. Furthermore, the program initiates collaborative research on Ethiopian languages and cultures with local and foreign research institutions. The MA program in Linguistics has three specialization streams: General Linguistics, Language Documentation and Applied Linguistics.
Admission Requirements
Students who want to join the program should have a BA degree preferably in Linguistics or other related disciplines such as Ethiopian Languages and Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature, or should have taken language studies as a minor subject. Besides, the applicants should pass an entrance examination of the Department.
MA in Philology (Geez and Arabic Streams)
The MA program in Philology was launched as an effort to involve academicians in the study of the untapped long and rich manuscript tradition of Ethiopia. Students joining this program need to have basic knowledge of Ge’ez and/or Classical Arabic. Both streams prepare students to be equipped philologists who can translate, annotate, preserve and analyse manuscripts and inscriptions.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the MA program in Philology would be admitted on the basis of the following requirements:
- BA degree in one of such disciplines as History, Linguistics, Ethiopian Languages and Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature, Theology, etc.;
- Basic knowledge of Gə‘əz and/or Classical Arabic;
- Pass an entrance examination;
- Meet the admission requirements of the Ministry of Education (for government sponsored applicants).
MSc in Computational Linguistics
The MSc program in Computational Linguistics is a joint program run with the School of Informatics. The main objective of the program is to train experts in the field of computational linguistics in order to train the manpower the country needs to modernize and develop local languages.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the MSc program in Computational Linguistics are admitted based on the following requirements:
- BA degree in one of the following disciplines: Linguistics, Ethiopian and Foreign Languages and Literature, Computer Science, Information Science/Systems and Library and Information Science/Management and related fields.
- Business Information System, Management Information System, Computer Engineering and ICT/IT fields,
- Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics and Geology with minor in Computing Science;
- Science and technology fields plus a diploma or postgraduate diploma in Computing.
- Pass an entrance examination.
PhD Programs
The Department runs two PhD programs—PhD in Linguistics and PhD in Philology.
PhD Program in Linguistics
The PhD program in Linguistics has the following specialization tracks:
- Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics
- Documentary Linguistics
- Experimental Phonetics
- Applied Linguistics
Specialization track in Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics
The objective of the specialization track in Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics is to produce high-level professionals in the areas of Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics. Specifically, the program intends to produce linguists who can:
- Describe, codify and standardize Ethiopian languages for modern use;
- Examine the state of current research on Ethiopian languages in general and on the major aspects of the specialized area;
- Identify gaps and set research priorities on the Ethiopian languages and those of the Horn of Africa in general;
- Undertake independent high-level research on specific as well as general issues or make general and baseline descriptions of unknown or less known languages;
- Apply research findings to problems emanating from the teaching and learning processes, and from societal interactions, such as those arising from language policy issues and their implementation;
- Initiate and promote collaborative research on Ethiopian languages with local and foreign research institutions;
- Train professionals in the field of linguistics for institutions of higher learning;
- Provide consultancy services to public and/or private organizations;
- Organize workshops and/or short-term trainings for people involved in language and linguistic activities, such as material production in mother tongue education.
- Provide a critical appraisal of the state of the art in particular areas of Linguistics.
Specialization track in Documentary Linguistics
The main objective of the specialization track in Documentary Linguistics is to train professionals working on multimedia documentation of endangered and minority languages. Specifically, it is intended to produce professionals who can:
- contribute towards the documentation of the linguistic heritage of the country by focusing on highly endangered languages of Ethiopia;
- integrate ICT to support linguistic documentation;
- introduce a multidisciplinary approach to documentation;
- establish a well-structured training program in order to maximize the human resources needed for the task of preserving and safeguarding the country’s languages;
- enrich linguistic programs with more practical contents;
- Initiate and promote collaborative research on Ethiopian languages with local and foreign research institution;
- Train professionals in the field of linguistics for institutions of higher learning;
- Provide consultancy services to public and/or private organizations;
- Organize workshops and/or short-term trainings on the job for people involved in language and linguistic activities, such as material productions in mother tongue education;
- Provide a critical appraisal of the state of the art in particular areas of Linguistics.
Specialization track in Experimental Phonetics
The main objective of the specialization track in Experimental Phonetics is to train high-level experts in the field of experimental phonetics in order to satisfy the manpower need of emerging universities, research institutions at regional and federal levels, and AAU itself. The program has the following specific objectives:
- Train high level professionals in the area of experimental phonetics who can
- make a critical appraisal of the state of the art in their area of specialization,
- examine the state of current research on the phonetics of languages the Horn, and
- identify gaps and set research priorities on the languages of the Region
- Contribute towards the multimedia documentation of the wealth of Ethiopian languages and the region;
- Serve as a regional center of excellence in experimental phonetics;
- Promote research in experimental phonetics;
- Establish a well-structured training program in order to maximize the human resources needed for teaching and doing research on Ethiopian languages and the languages of the region;
- Enrich linguistic programs with more practical contents and encourage the integration of technology.
Specialization track in Applied Linguistics
The main objective of the specialization track in Applied Linguistics is to train high-level professionals in the field in order to satisfy the manpower need of the emerging universities, research institutions at regional and federal levels, and at of AAU itself. The program has the following specific objectives:
- Produce competent professionals in the area of lexicography;
- Produce competent professionals in the area of orthography;
- Produce professionals in the area of corpus planning.
Admission Requirements
An applicant is admitted into one of the four tracks of the PhD program in linguistics by satisfying the following requirements:
- MA or MPhil in Linguistics from a recognized university; or
- MA in a related field of study such as Ethiopian Languages and Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature, Folklore, etc. from a recognized university; (NB: Those admitted from related fields are required to audit micro-linguistic courses in the MA program.
- Pass an entrance examination; and
PhD Program in Philology
The chief objective of the PhD program in Philology is to train high-level philologists who are able to do research on the rich heritage of manuscripts and other written sources for the various governmental and non-governmental organizations of the country. Specifically, the program aims to:
- produce qualified staff who can help strengthen the MA program in Philology;
- produce qualified professionals who can do research on ancient documents in Gə‘əz, Arabic and other local languages of Ethiopia;
- produce publications on issues of philological relevance and exchange of scholarly information with other institutions of higher education.
Admission Requirements
An applicant could be admitted into the PhD program in Philology by satisfying the following requirements:
- MA in Philology;
- Pass an entrance examination.
Tuition Fee
As per the University rate.
Scholarship
The Department of Linguistics and Philology often has various scholarship schemes which are funded by research projects hosted by the Department. When such scholarship opportunities are available, they are announced online.
Current Student Enrollment (Undergraduate & Graduate)
PhD
|
Field of Study (Track) |
Year of Entry |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||
| 2004 (2011/12) | 2005 (2012/13) | 2006 (2013//14) | 2007 (2014/15 | 2008(2015/16) | 2009 (2016/17) | ||||||||||||||
| M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | ||
| Applied Linguistics | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | – | 2 | 14 |
| Descriptive & Th. Ling | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14 | – | 14 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 20 |
| Documentary Ling. | 9 | 1 | 10 | 9 | – | 9 | 6 | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25 |
| Experimental Phonetics | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| General Linguistics[1] | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | – | 5 | 18 | 5 | 23 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 37 |
| Philology | 3 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 5 | 9 | – | 9 | 7 | – | 7 | 8 | – | 8 | – | – | – | 32 |
| Total | 14 | 2 | 16 | 19 | 2 | 21 | 22 | – | 22 | 25 | 5 | 30 | 8 | – | 34 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 131 |
MA
|
Field of Study Track |
Year of Entry |
Total |
||||||||
| 2007 (2014/15 | 2008(2015/16) | 2009 (2016/17) | ||||||||
| M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | ||
| Linguistics | – | – | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | – | – | 3 |
| Philology | – | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | – | 5 | 13 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 5 | – | 5 | 16 | |
BA
|
Field of Study (Track) |
Year of Entry |
Total |
|||||||||||
| Pre-2007(Pre-2014/15) | 2007 (2014/15) | 2008(2015/16) | 2009 (2016/17) | ||||||||||
| M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | M | F | T | ||
| Linguistics | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 8 | – | 23 | 23 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 61 |
| Sign Language | 6 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 46 |
| Total | 6 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 23 | 26 | 49 | 107 |
