LINGUISTICS

Requirements

The Structure of the Program

• Coursework—To acquire a basic grounding in the core areas of the field, students must complete the following courses, normally in their first two years of residence:
  Linguistics 112a (Introduction to Syntactic Theory) and 112 b (Intermediate Syntax)
  Linguistics 115a (Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology) and 115b (Intermediate Phonology)
  Linguistics 116a (Introduction to Semantics)
  Linguistics 117r (Linguistic Field Methods)
  Linguistics 224 (Historical and Comparative Linguistics)
  In addition, second- and third-year students are required to enroll in Linguistics 241r (Practicum in Linguistics).
• There is also a language requirement, which is described separately below. Course requirements are flexibly enforced. Students with a substantial background in one or more areas of linguistics may substitute more advanced courses for those listed above, with the approval of the director of graduate studies (DGS). Only rarely are course requirements waived completely.

Language Requirement

The department’s language requirement has two components:

1) Reading knowledge of two languages of scholarship other than English. Native speakers of qualifying languages may count their native language for this purpose. Non-native speakers may satisfy the requirement by completing a second-year language course at the university level, or by passing a one-hour departmental reading exam (dictionary permitted).

2) Knowledge of the structure of a non-Indo-European language. This requirement may be met by taking a “structure” course (e.g., Linguistics 171 (Structure of Chinese)), a course in linguistic typology, or a second term of Linguistics 117r (Linguistic Field Methods). Practical reading and/or speaking knowledge cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Grades and Incompletes

A B+ average must be maintained in each year of graduate study. Grades below B-cannot be counted toward departmental requirements: two grades below B- in required courses may result in termination of candidacy. Ordinarily, a grade of Incomplete can only be converted into a letter grade if the work is made up before the end of the following term. No grade of Incomplete can be used to satisfy a departmental requirement.

All requirements, including the research papers, should ideally be completed by the end of the third year, but in no case later than the end of the fourth year. The dissertation prospects (see below) is also due by the end of the fourth year. Failure to meet program requirements in a timely fashion may result in termination of candidacy.

Major and Minor Field Requirements

Students choose a major and a minor field during their first year. The major field is typically a large sub-area of linguistics, such as phonology, syntax, semantics, or historical linguistics. The minor field may either be another major subarea or a more specific one (e.g., Germanic syntax, psycholinguistics, Greek historical grammar). Competence in the major field is demonstrated by a) advanced coursework, as determined in consultation with the major advisor; b) submission of an original research paper of publishable quality (see below); and c), optionally, in certain fields, a special written examination. Competence in the minor field is demonstrated by satisfactory performance in three courses above the introductory level, or in two courses with the submission of a research paper.

Research Paper Requirement

In lieu of a formal admission to candidacy examination (“general exam”), students are required to submit and orally defend two publishable research papers, preferably by the end of the third year. One of the two papers should be in the area of the declared major field, and the other should be in a different area of linguistics, which may but need not be, the same as the minor field. If the second paper is in the area of the minor field, it may count in place of a third course in the minor field (see above).

Master of Arts (AM)

Graduate students who have completed two years of residence and who have fulfilled all the course requirements and language requirements for the PhD may, upon petition, receive an AM degree.

Advising

First-year students are advised by the DGS until they choose a major field (see above), at which time they also choose a major advisor from the regular departmental faculty. Thereafter, progress toward completion of the PhD requirements continues to be monitored by the DGS, but the primary responsibility for overseeing study in the major field shifts to the major advisor. Students may change their major advisor at any time. By the end of the second year they should also select a co-advisor, who serves as a second advisor and faculty mentor.

The Dissertation

Dissertation Prospectus
A dissertation prospectus must be submitted to the department by the end of the fourth year. The prospectus should contain a summary (in approximately ten pages) of the goals and methodology of the dissertation research, a bibliography of relevant literature, and a schedule for progress toward completion.

Dissertation Committee

As part of the prospectus submission procedure, students nominate a three-person committee to serve as readers of the completed dissertation. Final membership of the
dissertation committee is subject to departmental approval. The head of the committee, if not already the major advisor, assumes this role as soon as the prospectus is approved. Students are urged to maintain regular communication with all three members of the dissertation committee during the dissertation-writing process.

Dissertation Defense

Acceptance of a PhD dissertation requires a successful public defense, which should take place one to three months before the Registrar’s due date for final sub-mission of the dissertation. Sufficient time must be allowed to permit any required corrections or revisions, as well as to have the dissertation bound.

Please see the description of secondary fields in Historical Linguistics and Linguistic Theory at the end of Chapter VI.