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Ph.D. in Linguistics (General Linguistics Track)
Note that the required courses and language requirement differ between the curriculum instituted Sept. 2018 and the prior curriculum. All other requirements are the same.
1A. Required courses (30 credits): Curriculum instituted Sept. 2018
One graduate-level course in each of the following sub-disciplines:
- Syntax: LING 507 “Syntactic Theory I”
- Sociolinguistics: LING 532 “Sociolinguistics I”
- Language Processing and Development: LING 541 or 542 (“Language Processing and development I or II”)
- Phonology LING 552 (“Phonology II”)
- Phonetics LING 550 (“Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics”)
- Semantics LING 479 or 579 ("Semantic Theory I or II")
1B. Required courses (35 credits): Prior to Sept. 2018
- LING 507 ("Syntax I")
- LING 508 ("Syntax II")
- LING 532 ("Sociolinguistics I")
- LING 551 ("Phonology I")
- LING 552 ("Phonology II")
- LING 550 or 553 ("Phonetics I or II")
- LING 578 or 579 ("Semantics I or II")
If a student has taken an equivalent course elsewhere, the requirement to take this course can be waived. The waiver needs to approved by the faculty in the relevant area and the GPC. Such waivers do not change the total number of credits required by the Graduate School for graduation.
2. Credits of study:
Additional courses for a minimum of 90 credits (27 of which are LING 800) to be determined by specialization and consultation with the advisory committee.
3A. Language knowledge requirement: Curriculum instituted Sept. 2018
General Linguistics Track students must satisfy one natural language requirement for the PhD. The choice of the language needs to be approved by the student’s advisory committee. The language requirement may be satisfied in one of the following three ways:
- One year of study at the university or community college level. Students who are language instructors in other UW departments can use their language teaching experience to satisfy one language requirement.
- A major research project that involves significant primary data collection that includes substantial structural analysis and results in a major paper such as a generals paper.
3B. Language knowledge requirement: Prior to Sept. 2018
General Linguistics Track students must satisfy two natural language requirements for the PhD. Those may be satisfied in the following ways:
- One year of study at the university or community college level. Students who are language instructors in other UW departments can use their language teaching experience to satisfy one language requirement.
- A major research project that involves significant primary data collection that includes substantial structural analysis and results in a major paper such as a generals paper.
- Translation exam to demonstrate the ability to read linguistic literature in a foreign language; only one of the two language requirements for the PhD can be satisfied through the translation exam.
4. Colloquium conference talks:
Two papers delivered at a colloquium or conference.
5. Constitution of PhD committee:
By the end of the second year of study.
6. Generals Papers:
Two generals papers in different areas (normally 10cr LING 600). What counts as a different area is determined and needs to be approved by the student's committee.
7. General Examination:
An oral examination, in which the candidate is questioned on the two papers. The oral examination may not be scheduled until the committee has read the two papers and approved them as passing.
8. Dissertation Prospectus:
Within 6 months of the oral examination, the student will present a formal dissertation proposal to the subset of PhD committee members who constitute the reading committee, along with a proposed calendar for completion of the dissertation.
9. Final Exam:
A Final Exam on the dissertation attended by the candidate’s Supervisory Committee and open to others interested.
10. Dissertation:
A dissertation suitable for publication.
11. ABD (all but dissertation) requirement:
All degree requirements except for the dissertation and the two colloquia must be completed before the General Exam.
Ph.D. in Linguistics (Computational Linguistics Track)
The requirements for students on the computational linguistics track will meet all the same requirements as students in other specializations except:
1. Required courses:
- 2 syntax courses from among: LING 566, 507, 508
- 2 phonetics/phonology courses from among: LING 550, 551, 552, 553
- 1 semantics course from among: 578, 579
- 1 sociolinguistics course from among: LING 532, 533
- 3 Computational Linguistics courses from among: 567, 570, 571, 572, 573
3. Language knowledge requirement:
Students in Computational Linguistics must fulfill only one language requirement, but may not use a translation exam to do so. The language must be typologically substantially distinct from the student's native language; for example, a native English-speaking student would need to select a non-Indo-European language. Please refer to Language Requirements for details.
6. Generals papers:
Same as for the General Linguistics program except a Master’s thesis completed as part of the CLMS program may count as one of the two generals papers.
How to make the CLMS to PhD transition
M.A. in Linguistics
The M.A. is not required as a prerequisite to Ph.D. study. Students enrolled in the PhD program may get an MA degree when they pass the general exam and file a request for an MA degree with the graduate school. Students who have taken all the required courses for the PhD CompLing track may analogously file a request for an MS degree with the Graduate School, under either model A or B below. Students who would like to get an MS degree have to get their advisor's approval before filing an official request with the Graduate School.
A. Non-thesis model:
The Generals papers and Exam constitute the capstone project necessary for a master’s degree (or the student may complete the thesis model below).
B. Thesis model:
- Required courses: Same as the required courses in PhD General Linguistics Track.
- Language requirement: Same as the language requirement in PhD General Linguistics Track.
- Thesis: A thesis, written under the supervision of a Linguistics faculty member, and accepted by a second faculty reader. Normally the work is completed in 10 credits of LING 700.
Remarks on Graduate School Requirements
Students are advised to become familiar with Graduate School requirements, as well as those described on this website. If there are any questions, the student should contact the Graduate School, the Graduate Program Coordinator or the chair of the Supervisory Committee. Once admitted to the program, students should make it a regular practice to see the Graduate Program Coordinator about their progress at least once a year.
All graduate students must be either registered or officially on leave. Failure to register or go on leave is interpreted as resignation from the Graduate School.
Information on the Graduate School is available at http://www.grad.washington.edu.
If you have any further questions or comments please contact us at phoneme@uw.edu