Coursework:

Core courses

• Students entering the Linguistics Program normally take LING 600 (Survey of Linguistics) in the Fall, and LING 710 (Introduction to Phonology) in the Spring of their first year. Students who already have a background in Linguistics are encouraged to also take LING 720 (Introduction to Syntax) in their first (Fall) semester. Alternatively, LING 720 may be taken in the third (Fall) semester. These three courses are M.A. and Ph.D. required core courses.
• The other four Ph.D. required core courses are LING 712 (Phonological Theory), LING 721 (Syntactic Theory), LING 730 (Historical Linguistics), and LING 739 (History and Methodology of Linguistics). These courses are normally offered in a two year rotation, with one being scheduled each semester. If a student begins taking courses from this rotation in their second semester (which is expected), s/he will be able to complete all the core courses by the end of the fifth regular semester (2.5 years).

Special field courses

• The primary field consists of (a minimum of) four courses in a special field of Linguistics, such as SLA/ESL, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, or synchronic linguistics. It is advisable for a student to begin taking courses in this field as soon as practicable, since this field will most likely be the foundation for the student's dissertation research.
• The secondary field consists of (a minimum of) four courses in a field of Linguistics or in a related field. Thus, a student having a primary field in sociolinguistics might choose a secondary field within the discipline (such as SLA/ESL), or a secondary field in a related discipline (such as linguistic anthropology). A secondary field might be chosen for a number of reasons: (1) because it directly complements the primary field and will be important to the student's dissertation research, (2) because it will broaden the student's background in Linguistics and make him/her a more versatile teacher, and/or (3) it will enhance the student's employment prospects by making him/her a more attractive candidate for a linguistics position in a targeted department (such as Anthropology).

Elective courses

• The purpose of this requirement is to insure that each student has a respectable background in the field of Linguistics as a whole. This is especially important for those students who enter the Linguistics Ph.D. program with no prior degree in Linguistics.

Exams and progress toward dissertation:

Admission to candidacy and the qualifying exam

Full-time students must take the Qualifying Exam by their third, regular semester in Ph.D. Program if they are new to the Program. If (full-time) student has an M.A. from our Program, then they can take it in their first year of admission to the Ph.D. program, if they qualify for candidacy status. This exam is normally given once each year in January.
All students interested in being considered for candidacy in the Ph.D. program should complete the Application for Doctoral Candidacy Status form obtainable from the Web or the Program secretary. This form is normally submitted to the Program secretary by November 1 of the student's third, regular semester. The Program's faculty will review applications, and report back to applicants by December 1. Students whose applications are successful will be expected to take the examination at the beginning of the following semester. Students whose applications are not successful may still take the qualifying exam, but they will need to reapply for candidacy status before they can be considered for Candidacy. Reapplications would need to successfully address weaknesses that are pointed out in the initial application review before the Program will recommend their admission to candidacy.

After successful completion of Ph.D. qualifying exam

• Students should determine as soon as possible, if not already done, their primary and secondary fields of specialization in the program.
• Students should decide in which area they would like to write a dissertation and do a preliminary research/literature review to narrow down a general topic within that area.
• Students should choose a dissertation director that can help them successfully complete a dissertation in the selected area. The dissertation director becomes the student's advisor for the remainder of their program.
• In consultation with the advisor/director, student determines the remainder of the dissertation committee. A doctoral committee consists of a dissertation director/chair (drawn from Linguistics Program core faculty), two internal readers/members (drawn from Linguistics Program core or consulting faculty), and one outside reader/member (drawn from Linguistics Program consulting faculty or from faculty outside the program altogether).  Students are strongly encouraged to approach potential committee members prepared to discuss the probable topic of the dissertation and schedule for its completion before requesting their participation.
• Students should continue doing background reading and preparation for dissertation.

Toward end of Ph.D. coursework (Timeline may vary by director)

• Student prepares a formal dissertation proposal. A suggested outline of the proposal is given below under Format of the Ph.D. dissertation proposal.  The specific requirements of the dissertation proposal are determined by the dissertation director, so students must consult with their director as often as necessary to understand what is expected.
• Student submits full draft of proposal to dissertation director and revises as suggested.
• Director must approve proposal draft before student distributes it to other committee members.

After successful completion of coursework in the Ph.D. Program

• Student and director decide upon time frame within which the entire Comprehensive Exam is to be completed. The exam may be spread over several days or over a semester, depending on the actual format being used and availability of the parties involved. The director advises committee members of the planned format for their approval.
• Student reports to the Linguistics Program office the dates set for these exams.
• Student prepares a bibliography for each of the three written exams and circulates them to the committee members for comments.  The committee may suggest additions and/or subtractions to this list of readings in each area. Bibliographies must be circulated at least six weeks before the date on which the student intends to take the particular exam. Students must receive final approval of their bibliographies from the advisor/director four weeks prior to that date.
• Student is encouraged to discuss possible content of the exams and expectations with each of their committee members.
• Student must submit their dissertation proposal (approved by the director) to committee members at least two weeks prior to the oral exam, the final part of the Comprehensive Exam. (Note: Timeline may vary by director. Check with your director.)