Advice? Current undergraduate considering MA in Comp Ling

[AkkJJkkJJ]

Hello all, I didn't know where else to post so hopefully someone will be able to help me out. 

I'm leaning towards declaring a major in Philosophy with a minor in Symbolic, Cognitive, and Linguistic systems. After undergrad though I want to enter a Computational Linguistics MA. I've read from some programs websites that they do not require applicants to have previous experience in Linguistics or Computer Science. I've also read programs outside the U.S. take in applicants from a variety of majors. I will have taken some courses on CS and Linguistics before graduation.

There is a linguistics concentration in the English department, but the program seems for English heavy than linguistics.

Will it be a problem if I decide to do my undergrad study in Philosophy? Or will MA programs prefer applicants with Linguistic degrees?

I know some schools don't even have linguistics undergraduate programs, and I hear this is common outside the US.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Edited April 18, 2013 by cabezadevaca

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Hey, I'm looking into the field myself. I have an undergrad degree in linguistics. I was originally planning on applying to MA or PhD programs in theoretical linguistics but decided to stay an extra year at my undergrad university taking courses in math and computer science to apply to Comp Ling MA/Ss in Fall of 2014. That being said, from everything I've read you definitely DO need some kind of a background in computer science. The majority of students I've read about who are in Comp Ling programs have BSs in computer science and took a few, if any, linguistics classes. If you look at U of Washington's professional MS in Comp Ling webpage, you will see in detail recommendations for those interested in Comp Ling as well as required classes in order to start their program. They require Probability and Statistics (a single course, preferably one for computer science or engineering) as well as Data Structure and Algorithm Analysis (also a single course). The prereqs (if you don't have them) for Probability and Statistics at my university are Precal, Trig, Calc 1 and Calc 2. The prereqs for Data and Algorithms at my university are Discrete Math, Intro to Programming in C, and Foundations of Computer Science. They also recommend you take a logic class (usually offered in the philosophy department) and a few additional computer science classes. The only linguistics class they recommend before starting their program is a single introductory undergrad class. I've noticed some schools offer MAs, while others offer MSs. I don't really know if there's a difference. A few schools offering MSs are Washington, Georgetown and Syracuse. I talked to someone at Syracuse and they aren't offering funding. Washington's website says they offer a scholarship that pays one-third of tuition, but their tuition is pricy (I think it's $765 a credit). The good thing about Washington's program is it's only a year long (four consecutive quarters), while most other programs are two years. I don't think Georgetown offers funding, as they only offer funding to their PhDs, and even then it's not guaranteed. Uhh... that's all the info I have for now. I'll send you a PM since we both seem to be in the same boat.