M.S. in Kinesiology - Sport Administration concentration
The M.S. in Kinesiology with a Sport Administration concentration at Montclair State Un...
M.S. in Computational Linguistic
Montclair, New Jersey
INTAKE: Jan & Sept
Program Overview
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Computational Linguistics at Montclair State University is a unique program, being the only one of its kind in New Jersey. Jointly offered by the Departments of Linguistics and Computer Science, this interdisciplinary program is designed to provide students with a solid foundational understanding of both the academic discipline of linguistics and the principles of computer science and artificial intelligence. The program aims to train students in the theory and practice of computational linguistics, preparing them for a robust job market in areas concerned with human language technology. It is a 32-credit program that can be pursued full-time or part-time, with coursework available on campus.
STEM Designated: The M.S. in Computational Linguistics at Montclair State University is officially a STEM-designated degree program. This designation is highly advantageous for international students, as it allows for an extended Optional Practical Training (OPT) period in the United States after graduation, providing more opportunities for real-world work experience in their field. The STEM classification also reflects the program's rigorous scientific and technical content, appealing to a broad range of students interested in the intersection of language and technology.
Curriculum (M.S. in Computational Linguistics): The curriculum of the M.S. in Computational Linguistics is comprehensive, ensuring graduates are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. It integrates principles of language (syntax, semantics, pragmatics, phonetics, and phonology) with core computer science fundamentals, machine learning techniques, and statistical data analysis. Required courses include Computational Linguistics, Special Topics in Natural Language Processing, Text Analysis Tools, Data Structures with Python, and Machine Learning. Students also have a range of electives, allowing for specialization in areas such as Quantitative Linguistics, Corpus Linguistics, and Data Mining. For students without prior backgrounds in either linguistics or computer science, prerequisite courses may be required, ensuring all students build a strong foundation. The program culminates in a research project or master's thesis.
Research Focus: The M.S. in Computational Linguistics program fosters a strong research environment, with faculty actively engaged in cutting-edge areas of the field. Research interests within the departments include resource-light morphology, deception detection, computational approaches to figurative language, misinformation and Internet censorship, text mining, machine learning, and big data analytics. Students in the program have opportunities to conduct research in modern labs, sometimes supported by federal research grants. This focus on research ensures the curriculum remains at the forefront of the discipline and provides students with valuable experience in contributing to advancements in areas like machine translation, speech recognition, and information retrieval.
Industry Engagement: Montclair State University's strategic location, just 12 miles from New York City, offers significant advantages for industry engagement within the Computational Linguistics program. Students benefit from proximity to numerous high-tech companies and research labs in both New Jersey and New York that are actively seeking skills in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computational Linguistics. The university actively promotes career pathways, highlighting internships and full-time employment opportunities with top employers such as Google, Amazon, Grammarly, and Duolingo. The program's design, which emphasizes practical skills and hands-on experience, directly aligns with industry demands, preparing graduates for immediate impact in the workforce.
Global Perspective: The M.S. in Computational Linguistics inherently integrates a global perspective due to the universal nature of language and the global applications of computational linguistics. The study of diverse languages and linguistic structures is central to the field, preparing students to work with language data from various cultural contexts. The curriculum's focus on machine translation, speech recognition, and natural language understanding has direct global implications, as these technologies bridge communication gaps across different languages and regions. Furthermore, Montclair State University's broader commitment to internationalization, including its diverse student body and focus on intercultural competencies, enhances graduates' ability to thrive in a globalized tech industry where understanding language variations and cultural nuances is paramount.
Location
Montclair, New Jersey
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 19916
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 83 or higher.
- PTE: Overall score of 53 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 105.
Montclair State University offers a range of scholarship opportunities specifically designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals while easing the financial burden of studying in the United States.
Presidential Scholarships: The university’s prestigious Presidential Scholarships are awarded to top-performing international students demonstrating exceptional academic records and leadership skills. These scholarships provide substantial financial support and are highly competitive.
Graduate Scholarships and Assistantships: Graduate international students have access to departmental scholarships and graduate assistantships. Assistantships may include tuition waivers and stipends in exchange for research or teaching responsibilities, offering both financial aid and valuable professional experience.
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Computational Linguistics at Montclair State University is a unique and STEM-designated program, being the only one of its kind in New Jersey. Jointly offered by the Departments of Linguistics and Computer Science, this interdisciplinary program is designed to provide students with a robust foundation in both the academic discipline of linguistics and the principles of computer science and artificial intelligence.
Computational Linguist: This is a direct and highly sought-after role. Computational linguists develop and improve systems that process and understand human language. They work on projects related to natural language processing (NLP), machine translation, speech recognition, sentiment analysis, and text generation for tech companies, research labs, and government agencies.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer/Scientist: These professionals design, build, and deploy NLP models and applications. Their work involves tasks like developing chatbots and virtual assistants, improving search engine relevance, analyzing large text datasets, and creating systems for information extraction and summarization.
Machine Learning Engineer (with NLP specialization): Graduates can focus on machine learning algorithms specifically for language-related tasks. They train models to understand, interpret, and generate human language, contributing to advancements in AI systems like recommender engines and predictive text.
Data Scientist/Analyst (with Text Data Focus): Leveraging their expertise in linguistics and data analysis, these professionals extract insights from unstructured text data, such as social media posts, customer reviews, and scientific literature. They use computational methods to identify trends, patterns, and sentiment.
Voice User Interface (VUI) Designer/Conversation Designer: With the rise of smart speakers and virtual assistants, VUI designers create intuitive and effective conversational experiences. They leverage their linguistic understanding to design how users interact with voice-enabled devices and applications.
Language Engineer: Similar to computational linguists, language engineers are often involved in building and optimizing language-specific components for software and AI products. This can include developing lexicons, grammars, and linguistic rules for various applications.
Software Development Engineer (with Linguistics background): Graduates with strong programming skills can work as software engineers, applying their understanding of language to develop applications that involve complex text processing, data retrieval, or human-computer interaction.
Technical Writer/Content Strategist (for AI/NLP products): Their ability to understand complex technical concepts and communicate them clearly makes graduates well-suited for roles that involve explaining AI or NLP technologies to a wider audience, developing user manuals, or crafting content strategies for language-based products.
Research Scientist/Academic Researcher: Many graduates pursue further research in academia or industrial research labs, pushing the boundaries of computational linguistics and contributing to new discoveries in areas like speech processing, cognitive modeling, and AI language capabilities.
Localization Specialist/Engineer: For companies operating globally, localization specialists adapt software, websites, and content for specific languages and cultures. Graduates can ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural appropriateness in machine translation systems and other language technologies used for international markets.
