Graduate Studies: The PhD Program
Summary of Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics
COURSEWORK
Prior to taking the comprehensive examinations, students in the PhD program typically complete a minimum of three semesters of coursework. Early in the program, students choose courses in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, and later in consultation with the Guidance Committee. Students who do not already have equivalents from previous study must complete the following courses (3 credits each):
- LIN 431 Introduction to Morphology
- LIN 437 Semantics and Pragmatics
- LIN 441 Historical Linguistics
- LIN 824 Phonological Theory I
- LIN 825 Phonological Theory II
- LIN 834 Syntactic Theory I
- LIN 835 Syntactic Theory II
PhD coursework must include at least two additional 800-level courses, exclusive of LIN 890 Independent Study, at least one of which must be designated LIN. Additional courses may be required by a student's Guidance Committee
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LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Students must
(a) satisfy the language requirement for admission to the MA degree, and
(b) present evidence of structural knowledge of a language outside the Germanic, Romance, and Slavic families by
i. completing at least the first semester of a first-year course in such a language (students may enroll in 2 credits of LIN 890 (Independent Studies) for this purpose); or
ii. completing LIN 881 The Structure of a Non-European Language; or
iii. presenting a record of study or evidence of knowledge of such a language at least equivalent to that specified in i or ii above.
A single language may be used to satisfy both (a) and (b). Students must fulfill this requirement before beginning the comprehensive exam.
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COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The Comprehensive Examination consists of two research papers of publishable quality in two different areas of linguistics and an oral examination for each paper. At least one of the papers must be in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, or semantics.
Prior to the writing of each comprehensive exam paper, the student must prepare a proposal, in consultation with the Guidance Committee Chair, and must defend the proposal in a meeting of the Guidance Committee.
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DISSERTATION
Upon approval of the proposal by the Guidance Committee, the student will prepare a dissertation. The dissertation is based on original research that makes a significant contribution to knowledge in some area of theoretical and/or applied linguistics. Each student must register for a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research (LIN 999). Previous linguistics dissertations of the department are available for students' consideration. Students must present a bound copy of the completed dissertation to the department.
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ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Students enrolled in the doctoral program must maintain a 3.5 grade-point average and must not receive a grade below 3.0 in more than two courses. They must receive a grade of 3.0 or higher in the six courses listed above under "Coursework".
*For further information about graduate education and degree programs, including University graduation requirements, see Graduate School information at http://www.reg.msu.edu/Read/UCC/Updated/04graded.pdf
