Computational Linguistics is a field that appeals to students with a zeal for both language and computer science and a passion for developing ideas at the intersection of these fields. Our program focuses on the scientific study of language from a computational perspective. This dynamic interdisciplinary program draws on linguistic theory (phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics), computer science (artificial intelligence, theory of computation, and programming methods), as well as philosophy, cognitive science, and psychology. 

What is happening in the Computational Linguistics field?
In a world where effective communication is at the forefront, the goal of a computational linguist in this lively and intellectually vital scientific discipline is to generate advances that shed new light on human linguistics abilities through computational modeling. This field creates opportunities for practical tools that can be of tremendous benefit to society, ranging from speech recognition software development, predictive text messaging, and intelligent Web searching, to digital library development and language and cultural archiving. Computational linguistics is a field with newly growing employment opportunities.

Program Information
Although previous experience in computer programming or linguistics may be helpful, it is NOT necessary for Brandeis’ two-year MA program in Computational Linguistics. The MA provides a solid foundation for professional work in the field of Computational Linguistics or pursuit of a PhD in Computational Linguistics and theoretical linguistics.