SoMu - International Master in Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism

Program structure

Students study their first semester in Kaunas, the second in Mainz, and the third, according to their own choice, either in Stockholm or Tartu; for the fourth semester they are free to choose any of the participating universities, with the idea that they choose the university with the best-suited supervision on their individual Master’s Thesis topic. Given that the main supervisor always has to work in one of the partner universities, the majority of students are expected to spend their fourth semester either in Kaunas or Mainz. Per request, a student may also choose to bring her/his forth semester in Stockholm or Tartu. The programme curriculum is being updated. Updates will be announced by January 2026

Courses

1^st semester: Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania

Module 1: Multilingual Europe I: Language-sociological perspectives
Course	ECTS
a) Mediatization of Language, Culture and Everyday Life	6
b) Multilingualism in Europe	6
Total	12

Module 2: Language and Communication Skills I
Course	ECTS
English Academic Writing	6
b) 1. For non-native Lithuanian-speakers: Lithuanian Language course; OR b) 2. For native Lithuanian-speakers: Language Course in a Nordic or Baltic language	6
Total	12

Module 3: Methods of Sociolinguistics
Course	ECTS
a) Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Sociolinguistics	6
Total	6

2^nd semester: Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Module 4: Multilingual Europe II: Language contact in Europe and Beyond
Course	ECTS
a) Language Contact	6
b) Regional and Minority Languages	4
Total	10

Module 5: Language and Communication Skills II
Course	ECTS
a) Language course (usually Baltic, e.g. Lithuanian or Latvian)	4
b) Research Reporting	6
Total	10

Module 6: Methods in Sociolinguistics II
Course	ECTS
a) Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in Sociolinguistics	4
b) Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Sociolinguistics	6
Total	10

3^rd semester: University of Tartu, Estonia (Focus field I: Estonian – a language between East, North and West)

Module 7a: Multilingual Baltic-Sea Europe III. a: Language Contacts
Course	ECTS
a) Estonian in Europe	6
Total	6

Module 8a: Language and Communication Skills III. a
Course	ECTS
a) Estonian or other relevant languages	12
Total	12

Module 9a: Historical and Cultural Background III. a
Course	ECTS
a) History of Estonia	6
b) Estonian Culture	6
Total	12

3^rd semester: Stockholm University, Sweden (Focus field II: Swedish and Baltic Languages)

Module 7b: Multilingual Europe III. b
Course	ECTS
a) Family Language Policy in the Baltic Sea Region	7,5
Total	7,5

Module 8b: Language and Communication Skills III.b
Course	ECTS
a) For all students: Language course in one of the Baltic languages b) Practical course on the use of AI in language learning (with a focus on Baltic languages	7,5
Total	15

Module 9b: Historical and Cultural Background III.b
Course	ECTS
a) Language Situation and Language Policy in the Baltic Countries	7,5
Total	7,5

4^th semester: Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania or Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Module 10: Master’s thesis
Course	ECTS
M.A. thesis and thesis defence	30
Total	30
	TOTAL: 120 ECTS