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Linguistics LING

Contact Info

Location

Social Sciences Building, Room 820

Faculty number

(403) 220-5469

Fax

(403) 282-3880

E-mail address

toth@ucalgary.ca

Web page URL

http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/Ling

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Master of Arts (MA)

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to Faculty requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

(a)Significant undergraduate training in linguistics, normally including at least one course in syntax and one course in phonology

(b)A statement of purpose specifying the applicant's research interests and reasons for wishing to pursue a Master of Arts degree at the University of Calgary

(c)A sample of previous work in linguistics or a related field (e.g., an Honours undergraduate thesis, or a course paper)

(d)For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 560 (written test), 220 (computer-based test), 83 (internet-based test) OR a minimum score of 550 (written test) or 213 (computer-based test), 80 (internet-based test) AND a minimum score of 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

Doctor of Philosophy

(a)A Master's degree in linguistics, or a Master's degree in a related field with significant training in linguistics at the graduate level, normally including at least one graduate course in syntax and one graduate course in phonology with a minimum grade point average of 3.40 on a four point scale

(b)A statement of purpose specifying the applicant's research interests and reasons for wishing to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Calgary

(c)A sample of previous work in linguistics or a related field (e.g., a seminar paper or Master of Arts thesis)

(d)For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 560 (written test), 220 (computer-based test) OR a minimum score of 550 (written test) or 213 (computer-based test) AND a minimum score of 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

3. Application Deadline

Students applying for university scholarships must submit their applications to the department by 1 February. All applications submitted by the university scholarship deadline will also receive full consideration for department scholarships and assistantships. We accept applications throughout the year. However, only applications received by 1 July will normally be considered for September admission, and financial support may be limited for applications received after 1 February. We strongly encourage individuals to apply as soon as possible.

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to the Faculty requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

(a)A departmental presentation relating to the student's thesis research. Continuation in program is dependent upon this presentation being judged acceptable by the faculty members of the Linguistics Department.

(b)A minimum of six half-course equivalents, including Linguistics 611, Linguistics 613 and Linguistics 697

(c)For qualifying students, i.e., students who do not have an undergraduate degree in linguistics or its equivalent, up to three additional half courses (usually syntax, phonology and either historical linguistics or morphology)

(d)A demonstrated knowledge of a language other than English. This requirement can be met in the following ways:

·having received credit for one full course equivalent in a language other than English at the undergraduate level

Note: This may include field methods courses and/or courses on the structure of the language offered in the Department of Linguistics.

·demonstrating a native or near native ability in a language other than English

·demonstrating a strong reading knowledge of a language other than English

Doctor of Philosophy

(a)Completion of four half-course equivalents in Linguistics beyond the MA, including Linguistics 711 and Linguistics 713. Course requirements are normally completed during the first two years.

Note: No more than two half-courses can be taken with the same instructor.

(b)A reading knowledge of a commonly used world language. Acceptable languages for the reading language requirement are those in which a significant body of writing pertaining to theoretical linguistics exists. Such languages include, but are not limited to French, German, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. This requirement can be met in the following ways:

·successful completion of at least one full-course equivalent at the senior level in the language

·satisfactory performance in an examination given within this Department

·evidence of past schooling in which this was the language of instruction

(c)A working knowledge of a second language. Acceptable languages for the working knowledge requirement include all non-Indo-European languages and all lesser studied Indo-European languages. This requirement can be met in the following ways:

·successful completion of a graduate level course on the structure of the language

·successful completion of at least one full-course equivalent at the senior level in the language

·a demonstrated ability to conduct field work with bilingual speakers of the language

·satisfactory performance in an examination given within this Department

·evidence of past schooling in which a less commonly used language was the language of instruction.

*It is the responsibility of the student to supply evidence that course work in a language at another school or university meets these requirements.

6. Additional Requirements

None

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

At both the Master's and the doctoral level, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator and the Department Head, a student may take a maximum of two undergraduate half-course equivalents for credit. Normally, only 500-level courses are approved as acceptable, and students must provide evidence that such courses represent a necessary contribution to their program.

8. Time Limit

Expected completion time is two years for a Master's degree and four years for a doctoral degree. Maximum completion time is four years for a Master's degree and six years for a doctoral degree.

9. Supervisory Assignments

Master of Arts

A student is assigned an interim advisor (in most cases the Departmental Graduate Coordinator) when first registering in the program. Students must choose a thesis supervisor by the end of the second term of study (usually April). Selection of a supervisor should be by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned, in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. It is normal practice for the student to approach an appropriate faculty member about thesis or program supervision, rather than vice versa. In cases where the student is unsure of how to select a supervisor, the help of the Graduate Coordinator, the Department Head, or another professor should be sought.

Doctor of Philosophy

Selection of a supervisor should be by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned, in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. Students are strongly advised to finalize their choice by the end of the second term of study, and must do so no later than the second annual registration. It is normal practice for the student to approach an appropriate faculty member about dissertation or program supervision, rather than vice versa. In cases where the student is unsure of how to select a supervisor, the help of the Graduate Coordinator, the Department Head, or another professor should be sought. The supervisory committee should be constituted in consultation with the student and will normally consist of the supervisor and two members recommended by the Department Head, and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. One of the two members of this committee may be external to the department. It is desirable to have at least one committee member with supervisory experience at the doctoral level. The supervisory committee must be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies no later than three months after the appointment of the supervisor.

10. Required Examinations

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral candidacy examinations have a written and an oral component. The written candidacy examinations consist of two original research papers in different areas of linguistics that must be submitted no later than twenty-four months after the first registration. Normally, one paper will be in the area of either syntax or phonology and a second in an area in which at least one faculty member in the department has expertise. An oral candidacy examination based on these papers and general knowledge of the relevant areas of research will take place no later than twenty-eight months after the first registration.

Final thesis oral examinations are closed.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

Master of Arts

Students in the Master's program must complete Linguistics 697.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students in the doctoral program must submit a written thesis proposal to their supervisory committee within thirty months of the first registration, but not before the student has passed his/her oral candidacy examination. The body of the proposal (excluding bibliographic references) must not exceed ten pages in length.

12. Special Registration Information

None

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar. Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by 1 February. Students whose applications are complete by 1 February will automatically be considered by the Department for Graduate Research Scholarships and Graduate Assistantship support. In addition, faculty members of this Department may have special project funds for research assistantships.

Information on Departmental assistantships is available in the Department's Graduate Handbook and on the Department's Graduate Programs web page www.fp.ucalgary.ca/Ling/programs/GradHomePage.html.

14. Other Information

Students should consult the Departmental Graduate Handbook for further information and regulations governing the graduate program. Copies are available from the Department of Linguistics, SS 820; or may be downloaded from the Department's graduate program web page www.fp.ucalgary.ca/Ling/programs/GradHomePage.html.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

Current faculty research interests can be found at www.fp.ucalgary.ca/Ling/programs/GradHomePage.html.