Georgetown University MA in Language and Communication

The Master of Arts in Language and Communication (MLC) prepares you to seek careers in linguistics in business, government, nonprofit organizations and academia, depending on your goals and interests. Our alumni work in large tech companies (Salesforce, Google, Amazon), business & consulting (Ogilvy, Nielsen, Comcast), international government (UN, World Bank), non-profit organizations (FrameWorks Institute, NPR), medical/healthcare communication research (Verilogue, inVibe), and higher education (Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford).

The rigorous program of study is rooted in applied sociolinguistics, which covers the intersection of language, culture and society. Courses focus on developing your skills in methods of discourse analysis (including narrative analysis, conversation analysis and cross-cultural communication), qualitative and quantitative research methods (Field Methods, Language Testing, Language Variation, Sociophonetics, Forensic Linguistics) and methods of analyzing language and gender identity, institutional discourse, and language in the workplace. The program is flexible enough for you to develop additional areas of expertise in applied, socio, and computational linguistics that are valued by employers.

The broad range of potential applications of the MLC includes fields such as strategic communication, applied research, national security, user experience research and design (UX/UI), voice user interface (VUI), human resources, mediation & arbitration, social cause communication, NPO/NGO leadership & advocacy, technical & scientific writing, forensic linguistics, intercultural communication, diversity training, counseling, advertising, marketing, branding, public relations, and media/public opinion research.

No linguistics background is necessary to apply. Our program attracts students with BA/BS degrees in the social sciences and humanities as well as early- and mid-career professionals seeking career advancement or transition. The MLC offers a Proseminar course specifically geared towards professional development and training in job-seeking genres of resumes, cover letters, job interviews, informational interviews, professional portfolio development and online and in-person networking. The MLC also offers opportunities for networking with alumni and other professional career linguists through our Career Talk Series and annual Career Mixer.

Contact MLC Director Alexandra Johnston (alexandra.johnston@georgetown.edu) to learn more and discover how you can tailor the MLC to suit your interests and career goals.