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General Linguistics Graduate Degree Requirements

PhD in Linguistics (General Linguistics Track)

Departmental requirements are as follows:
1. Required courses (35 credits):
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 542 or 579 ("Semantics I or II")

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.

3. Language knowledge requirement:
General linguistics graduate students must satisfy two natural language requirements for the PhD (see below for CompLing). Those may be satisfied in the following ways:
(a) 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.
(b) 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;
(c) Translation exam to demonstrate the ability to read linguistic literature in a foreign language; only one of the two language requirements for thePhD can be satisfied through the translation exam.

Please refer to this link for details.

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, at least one in grammatical theory. (Normally 10cr LING 600)

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.

PhD 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: 542, 579
1 sociolinguistics course from among: LING 532, 533
3 CompLing courses from among: 567, 570, 571, 572, 573

3. Language knowledge requirement:
Students in CompLing must fulfill only one language requirement, but may not use a translation exam to do so.

6. Generals papers:
Same as for the General Linguistics program except a masters thesis completed as part of the CLMS program may count as one of the two generals papers.

Students who complete the Computational Linguistics Master of Science Degree and who wish to be admitted to PhD study in Linguistics must satisfy the following:

• Completion of CLMS degree requirements
• Completion of Master’s thesis option
• Completion of three (3) courses required for Linguistics Ph.D. (CompLing track), subject to the following restrictions:
  • Courses must be taught by at least two (2) non-CL Linguistics faculty
  • Courses may not include 570-573
  • The required general linguistics courses for CompLing track PhD degree in linguistics (as above).

The CLMS to PhD transition is done in two steps:

Step 1: Entering the General Linguistics Graduate Program registered as a post-masters program student

• Students may apply for admission to the Linguistics Graduate Program after receiving their CLMS degree.
• Admission decision is made by the CL faculty.
• After admission, students pay regular UW tuition for courses.

Step 2: Entering the Linguistics PhD program

• Students may apply for admission to the PhD program after completing all requirements listed above.
• Admission decision is made by the full linguistics faculty.

* If all requirements are complete upon receipt of the CLMS degree, Steps 1 and 2 may be completed simultaneously.

MA in Linguistics (General Linguistics Track)

The M.A. is not required as a prerequisite to PhD study.

A. Non-thesis model:
Students who pass the General Exam will automatically receive an M.A. degree in General Linguistics; 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:
1. Required courses 35 credits:
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 542 or 579 ("Semantics I or II")

2. Language requirement:
Can be satisfied by: (a) 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.
(b) 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;
(c) 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.

3. 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 cr 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@u.washington.edu

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