phd in applied linguistics in canada

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Western Education's PhD | Field of Applied Linguistics

The PhD program in the field of Applied Linguistics challenges you to engage with foundational theories and educational research focusing on language-related issues. As you develop expertise in a specific field of Applied Linguistics, you will contribute to existing bodies of knowledge and extend the reach of research to influence theory, policy, and educational practice.

Create your own research

Influence theory, policy and practice

Possibilities to go to conferences

Become a valued expert

What I like about my PhD program is the amazing support and guidance provided to me by experienced faculty and staff, coupled with knowledge I have learned. 

My PhD program has helped me have a comprehensive understanding of the topics I am passionate about and helped me become a leader in higher education.

- Sarah Halabi, Current Student

Beyond the program details

• Research based Master's degree in Education or equivalent from an accredited university
• Normally an "A" standing (80%) or equivalent in previous graduate work
• Evidence of previous scholarly research, such as a Master's Thesis, Masters Research Project, or Qualifying Research Paper acceptable to the Doctoral Admissions Committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
• Clear statement of plans for future study and research

Recommended:

• Professional qualifications and work in an educational setting (teaching experience or other)

Notes & Exceptions:

• Students with Master's degrees and an excellent academic record in a related field, who have experience in education and teaching in universities, colleges, or organizations other than public schools, and who may not have professional teaching credentials or qualifications, will also be considered for admission.
• Students may be required to make up for any deficiencies in their specific backgrounds by taking appropriate additional course work.

Tuition amounts are set each year by Senate and then published on the Office of the Registrar's  Fees Schedules  web page. Fees are assessed once each term (Fall, Winter, Summer).

Current students can access fee information by logging into the  Student Centre  (use your Western email log in and password). Students are notified each term once fee amounts have been posted in the Student Centre; it is each student's responsibility to log into the Student Centre and pay fees by the due date indicated. Failure to do so may result in a late payment fee or deregistration.

For questions about fees, including how to pay fees and the methods of payment that are accepted, students should go to the  Student Financial Services  pages of the Office of the Registrar's web site or contact Student Financial Services (Office of the Registrar) at 519-661-2100.

The Graduate Student Affordability Calculator was designed for you to get a better estimate of what it will cost to attend one of Western's graduate programs for one year. The calculator is not a promise of funding or a place to access scholarship support or financial aid; rather, it is intended to provide you with an accurate estimate of how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and many other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

PhD students receive a funding package that includes the cost of annual tuition plus an additional $17,000. A portion of the funding package involves an Assistantship Role requiring 10 hours of work per week for 28 weeks (September to April) in the Faculty of Education. Details of the assignments are determined in consultation with students after they have formally accepted the offer of admission from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Taking on an Assistantship Role provides students with crucial experience for their academic career after completion of the Ph.D.

The maximum time for funding is 4 (four) years or 12 (twelve) terms. Please note that those who win major financial awards (OGS, Tri-Council or other awards valued at $15,000 or more) will be responsible for their own tuition and ancillary fees.

Also, the following funding scholarships are available at the Faculty of Education (The process for each is described in the link below.):

• Students living with disabilities
• Indigenous students
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral (CGS-D)

See further details about funding opportunities available through the Faculty of Education.

Instructors of onsite courses use the Sakai OWL platform, although it is not required.  Access to a course in Sakai OWL is typically opened the first business day of each term. Please note that although your own access may be granted prior to the first business day, course content may not be posted until closer to the scheduled term start. Your Western University login and password is required to access the course (your Western email without the @uwo.ca and its accompanying password). Access to the learning management system is found here: Sakai OWL .

For online courses, students are required to have access to the following:

• High speed Internet access
• Access to a computer that enables connection to outside websites (flexible firewall restrictions)
• Multimedia playback capabilities (video/audio)
• Computer capable of running a recent version of Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox; and/or Cisco MOVI client for PC or Mac
• Audio headset and microphone for computer

Program information

Description.

The PhD program in the field of Applied Linguistics challenges you to engage with foundational theories and educational research focusing on language-related issues and offers you an opportunity to engage with top-tier researchers and academics.  As you develop expertise in a specific field of Applied Linguistics, you will contribute to existing bodies of knowledge and extend the reach of research to influence theory, policy, and educational practice.  

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit our  Faculty Research  page for more information on the exciting research being conducted at the Faculty of Education.  

Important note: When submitting an application to the PhD in Education Studies program, applicants must indicate their preferred Thesis Supervisor in their Statement of Intent. Applicants are advised to review the  Faculty Research  page and contact faculty in their area of interest to confirm that this potential exists.  

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive exam will be implemented in the PhD program to meet requirements for the depth and breadth outcomes from the Graduate Degree Level Expectations. The goal of the exam is for students to demonstrate a depth of information concerning their specific program of research and a breath of knowledge of their focus within the field (e.g., mathematics curriculum; ESL/EFL).

• Format: One written question that asks students to discuss their program of research and how it relates to their focus within the field.
• Length: 8,000-10,000 words.
• Draft question: While cognizant that Applied Linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field, you will demonstrate knowledge of key aspects of the development of your area of specialization in Applied Linguistics, including its evolution, seminal works and contemporary knowledge and issues in the area (e.g., educational linguistics related to second/foreign language teaching; discourse or genre approaches to EAP, etc.), describe your proposed program of research and how it relates to said area. Students are encouraged to discuss their papers with anyone, including supervisors, but not show them drafts.
• Timeframe: As soon as you have completed your coursework, you will start your Comprehensive Exam process and must be completed in one term. Comprehensive Exams are a Milestone and will not show up as a course in your Student Centre. Once you have passed your Comprehensive Exam, it will appear at the end of your transcript under the Milestones area.
• Administration: Students must submit the following to the Graduate Programs Office at least four weeks prior to the end of the term of registration: 1 electronic copy of comprehensive examination and Request for Administration of Qualifying Examination form.
• Reviewers: The student’s supervisor and one committee member or alternative that has knowledge of the field shall be completed. Each reader will independently determine whether the paper is satisfactory or not and notify the Graduate Programs Office within two weeks after the submission date. The Graduate Programs Office will then notify the Supervisor who will share the results with the student.
• Grading: Grading will be satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The paper must be judged satisfactory by both reviewers in order to be marked “Pass”. If a student’s paper does not pass, the student will be permitted to resubmit a revised version of the paper within two weeks of its return. The revised paper will be re-read by the same reader(s) who had marked it unsatisfactory. If the revised paper is not assigned a “Pass”, the student will be asked to withdraw from the program. If the paper is assigned a “Pass”, the student may proceed in the program to complete degree requirements.

Thesis Proposal and Presentation

Within six months following successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, a student must make an oral presentation to their Thesis Advisory Committee, then submit a written research proposal in which the research problem, theoretical framework and methodology are explained and satisfactorily defended. The presentation will be open to all members of graduate faculty and to all graduate students. To schedule a Proposal Presentation a student should work with their Supervisor to set a date and time then please inform the Graduate Programs Office for public announcement.

Thesis Examination/Defence

When the thesis has been completed and approved by the Supervisor and the Thesis Advisory Committee, the candidate may submit the thesis for examination. The candidate submits the Application for Thesis Examination (PDF) and the Doctoral Thesis Supervisor Approval (PDF) forms to the Graduate Programs Office. The forms have to be submitted a minimum of seven weeks prior to the defence date. The thesis is uploaded to Scholarship@Western, Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository, a minimum of six weeks prior to the defence date.

The examination includes a Public Lecture which provides both a valuable means of disseminating research findings within the academic community, and an opportunity for all graduate students of education to participate in and contribute to the scholarly discourse of the university. In accordance with the appropriate regulations, the public lecture will be advertised in the University's Western News and on the University's web site, and be open to all members of the community. The examination normally follows within 24 hours of the lecture.

Details of the examination process are located in Section 8 of Graduate Regulations .

Timing/Delivery

Below is the typical program of study for a full-time PhD student:

Full-time  - 12 terms (4 years)

Full-Time students can take a maximum of 3 course per term.

PhD students in the area of Applied Linguistics will be required to complete:

• 9715 - PhD Seminar  
• 1 Additional Research Methodology course - as approved by supervisor
• 9711 - Qualitative Research in Education
• 9705 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
• 9302 - Teaching and Learning Vocabulary
• 9308 - Teaching and Learning Grammar
• 9309 - Second Language Assessment
• 9301 - Social approaches to language learning and teaching
• 9307 - Language Teacher Education
• 9305 - Discourse analysis and language teaching
• 9300 - Understanding second language learning and teaching
• 9303 - Computer-assisted language learning
• 9306 - Syllabus and materials design
• 9625 - Critical Issues in Language & Literacy Education
• 9580 - Introduction to Curriculum  ( prerequisite for Advanced Topics )
• 9599 - Early Literacy Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Learning
• 9683 - Critical Pedagogy
• 9203 - Globalization and education
• 9425 - Language, Identity, Pedagogy
• 9730 - Advanced Topics in Curriculum  ( must have completed 9580 )
• Comprehensive Exam
• Thesis Proposal (oral presentation and written submission)
• Thesis examination/defense

Note:   In lieu of the recommended courses, up to two electives inside or outside the ARC can be taken with the approval of the student's supervisor. Students may also have the option to enroll in an Independent Reading and Research Course as an elective.

Potential Supervisor

Frank Boers 

Julie Byrd Clark 

Farahnaz Faez 

Shelley Taylor 

Stuart Webb 

Ruslan Suvorov

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Linguistics & applied linguistics.

In the one-year MA program you can move quickly toward your goals in a creative and welcoming environment. You can opt for a program in the linguistics field or in the applied linguistics field. The program focuses on the broad study of language and society, language variation and change and second language pedagogy.

The objectives of the PhD program are to educate candidates in linguistics and applied linguistics. The program approaches the study of language from a variety of perspectives, with a primary focus on language in its social context. Students may concentrate their research in any number of areas, ranging from core linguistics (phonetics/phonology and syntax), through sociolinguistics (discourse analysis, language contact and language variation and change), to applied linguistics (language policy and planning, issues of culture and identity, and language pedagogy). The different approaches of faculty interests provide students with the opportunity to conduct research that bridges fields within the program.

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Additional Admission Requirements

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Degrees Offered

Program component(s).

• Course work only
• OR Major research paper

Minimum Required GPA

Deadline - fall (all applicants), english proficiency requirement.

Duolingo scores are accepted for Summer 2021, Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 entry only.

• Qualifying examination(s)
• AND Dissertation proposal
• AND Dissertation

Deadline - Fall (Full-time Applicants Only)

Number of recommendation(s).

• 2 recommendation(s)

Other Requirements

• Statement of interest, 
• Course list
• Resumé or CV
• Sample of written work (max. 1,500 words)

Two additional documents are required of Applied Linguistics Field applicants only:

• Letter of employment
• Summary of teaching experience

Ways to connect with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Program Supports

Have a program-related question.

Contact the graduate program assistant: yorku.ca/gradstudies/program-contacts/

Have an admission related question? Contact the Graduate Admissions Team

By phone: 416-872-9675

By email:   [email protected]

Upcoming graduate webinars/in-person events for Future Students: futurestudents.yorku.ca/events/graduate

York University Office of Admissions Bennett Centre for Student Services 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 CANADA 

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Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)

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Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguists are interested in questions such as the following:

• What are the structural properties of languages, at the level of sounds, words, sentences, and meaning?
• To what extent are the languages of the world similar or different?
• How is language acquired, by children and in adulthood?
• How is it processed in the mind/brain?
• How do people produce and perceive speech?
• How do languages change over time?

Linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field which combines research methods from the humanities and the social, natural, and mathematical sciences.

Research in the Department covers a broad range of topics, with substantial coverage of syntax, semantics, morphology, phonetics, phonology, and pragmatics. We approach these topics from several different research traditions and backgrounds, with particular strengths in formal-theoretical linguistics, experimental and field linguistics, acquisition, and computational approaches to the study of communicative behaviour. These research areas intersect and overlap considerably, and faculty and students are often simultaneously involved in more than one area. This is part of the attention paid to interfaces between traditional subfields of linguistics and methodological traditions (e.g., laboratory phonology, gesture and speech and learning), one of the great strengths of the Department.

The Department also has a strong commitment to the study of Languages of the Americas, with particular focus on First Nations Languages of Canada, in the areas of documentation and theoretical research, something for which it is well known. Research is not restricted to Languages of the Americas, however; the department also has a long history of work on African languages and there is ongoing research on languages within the Indo-European, Japonic, Sino-Tibetan, and Uralic families as well as Korean.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Our linguists focus on data in all its forms – not just fieldwork, but also high-quality research in labs with cutting-edge resources and tools, such as those found and developed in the Communication Dynamics Lab, the Interdisciplinary Speech Research Lab , the Language and Learning Lab , the Speech In Context Lab , and the Phonological CorpusTools working group.

Students in the Department of Linguistics are given the opportunity to head out into the field and get their hands dirty. Many of the members of our department, from undergrads and grad students to post-docs and faculty members, work directly with language consultants to describe, analyze and revitalize the languages of the world.

Linguists in the department have active working relationships with scholars from many different disciplines and from across the UBC campus, across the country, and across the world.

Our students are actively engaged in research from the moment they enter the department, and they have an excellent track record of publishing and presenting their work at national and international conferences.

UBC Linguistics has an intellectually nourishing, well-respected, and diverse curriculum and research program.

Starr Sandoval

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is optional.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

The Department of Linguistics guarantees funding of $25,500 plus the cost of tuition per annum for the first two years of the MA program and the first five years of the Ph.D. program to all students accepted to our graduate programs. 

Please note that as a condition for receiving this funding you will be expected to apply for any scholarships you are eligible for, either UBC-internally or from your home country.

Funding packages are made up of scholarships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships depending on individual students, year of study, and the financial resources of the department. 

Average Funding

• 15 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 15 students was $11,724.
• 10 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 10 students was $14,683.
• 4 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 4 students was $6,612.
• 18 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 18 students was $14,833.
• 3 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 3 students was $20,333.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

31 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 3 graduates are seeking employment; for 1 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 27 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

UBC’s Department of Linguistics alumni have a longstanding history of individual achievements and collective success. Since the first Department of Linguistics courses were offered at the University in 1967, our alumni have made a mark for themselves internationally and in a vast diversity of careers.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Abdul-Mageed, Muhammad (Artificial intelligence (AI); Deep Learning; Natural Language Processing; Machine Learning; Computational Linguistics; Social Media Mining; Arabic)
• Babel, Molly (Linguistics; Phonetics; Recognition of Speech; Perception and Representation; Acoustics; Dialects; acoustics of speech production; phonetic variation; speech perception; spoken word recognition)
• Bochnak, Ryan
• Davis, Henry Thomas (First Nations languages)
• Dechaine, Rose-Marie (Native American languages; Algonquian language family, Cree, Blackfoot, Ojibwe; French / English bilingualism policy; formal linguistics; generative grammar (Chomsky); West African languages (Niger-Congo, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo); Nigerian languages; literacy vs. oralcy; language planning re: French, Indigenous languages, Speech/gesture coordination, syntactic interface relations)
• Gick, Bryan (phonetics, speech science, speech motor control, speech perception, multimodal perception, tactile perception, ultrasound imaging of speech, sounds of the world’s languages, Physical mechanisms of speech production, speech research)
• Hall, Kathleen (Linguistics; Phonology; Phonetics; Laboratory Phonology)
• Hammerly, Christopher (Syntax & Morphology; Psycholinguistics; Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe))
• Hansson, Gunnar (Linguistic structures (including grammar, phonology, lexicon and semantics); Cognitive sciences; theoretical phonology; morphology-phonology interface; phonological typology; historical linguistics (language change); locality relations; Icelandic)
• Hudson Kam, Carla (Language development, second language acquisition, critical periods for learning, input and language learning, language learning and language change, Psychology, First and second language acquisition, gesture and language learning, language contact and language change)
• Matthewson, Lisa (Linguistics; Semantics; Austronesian languages; Cross-linguistic variation and universals; Salish languages; Semantic fieldwork; Tsimshianic languages)
• Morzycki, Marcin (Linguistics; adverbial modification; degree modifiers; expressive meaning; grammar of modification; knowledge of meaning; measure phrases; modification of quantifiers; nonrestrictive modification; semantic restrictions on modifier order; Semantics, syntax, and their interface)
• Pulleyblank, Douglas (Linguistics; Phonology; Morphology; African languages; Yoruba)
• Rullmann, Hotze (Linguistics; Semantics)
• Soskuthy, Marton (language change; Computational modeling; Statistics; Phonetics; Cognitive systems)
• Tessier, Anne-Michelle (Linguistic structures (including grammar, phonology, lexicon and semantics); Constraint-based grammars; L2 production and perception in childhood; Language Acquisition; Lexical avoidance; Phonology; Prosodic processing with cochlear implants; Shitgibbons; U-shaped development)
• Zhu, Jian (Computational Linguistics, Natural Language Processing, Speech Sciences)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Speech postures are postures : towards a unified approach to postural control in gross and fine motor skills
• Towards Afrocentric natural language processing
• Functional categorization parameters : argumenthood with functional heads other than D in Carioca Brazilian Portuguese and Pirahã
• Perception, recognition, and encoding of Cantonese sound change variants
• Aspects of the morphophonology of Dagaare
• Second-position clitics, from morphosyntax to semantics : the ʔayʔaǰuθəm (Comox-Sliammon) perspective
• Embodiment and emergent phonology in the visual-manual modality : factors enabling sublexical componentiality

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Linguistics (MA)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics (MDSCL)

Further Information

Specialization.

Linguistics covers the core areas of phonetics, phonology, semantics, and syntax with the possibility of specializing in First Nations languages, African languages, first language acquisition, and experimental linguistics as well as specialized interaction with other disciplines such as art, computer science, music, philosophy, and psychology in the cognitive systems stream.

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Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Michelle Kamigaki-Baron

I read a paper a few years prior that was co-authored by my current supervisor Dr. Molly Babel which helped me imagine the research question of my current PhD project. Upon doing more research on UBC, it became clear that UBC was an ideal choice for me. The graduate students were doing a broad...

Ife Adebara

UBC was the only school I found that readily provided the type of interdisciplinary support that I needed. Most computational linguistic programs usually focus on either computer science or linguistics and I wanted both. I have been able to develop both linguistic and computing skills on this...

Roger Yu-Hsiang Lo

The linguistics department at UBC is well respected and highly regarded, with faculty members working in various subfields. Also, the diverse programs hosted at UBC allow me to take courses from different departments and to easily do interdisciplinary research. Metro Vancouver also features a...

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Graduate Programs in Linguistics & Applied Linguistics

Located in Canada’s largest city, the Graduate Program in Linguistics & Applied Linguistics at York University is well known for the excellence of its faculty, students and teaching. Faculty research and supervision interests cover a broad spectrum of areas in the two offered fields of Linguistics & Applied Linguistics.

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PhD Program

1.1 PhD requirements and timeline

1.2 Evaluation guidelines

1.2.1 the evaluation paper.

1.2.2 The Evaluation process

1.4 Academic advising and supervision

1.1 phd requirements and timeline [1].

The official up-to-date requirements of the PhD program are posted on McGill’s website under Programs, Courses and University Regulations (They can be found  at  https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2022-2023/faculties/arts/graduate/programs/d... ). 

The program has recently been revised and all students entering as of Fall 2022 will follow the requirements of the new program. Students who entered the program in the fall 2021 or earlier can still follow the old guidelines, which are still available  here . Note that the course load has not changed, the differences between the old and new program lie in which particular courses have to be taken. 

Overall, the Ph.D. program requires taking of 10 regular courses (30 credits) in addition to the graduate seminars (Ling 601 and Ling 602, 3 credits each), and the two courses associated with the Evaluation paper (Ling 706 and Ling 707, 0 credits), but students are welcome to take more courses if they want.

Required Courses (6 Credits)

* Graduate Seminar 1 & 2 offer an opportunity to present on on-going research on the Eval 1 project, and also involve units with relevant professional training.

**  LING 706 and LING 707 must be completed before proceeding to thesis research.

Complementary courses (30 credits)

9-12 credits from the following:

The program therefore requires everyone to to take at least three out of the four 3-level courses. One of these may be offered in the Winter.

18-21 credits to be chosen from among 500-level or above departmental course offerings in consultation with the supervisor(s) and the graduate program director. Courses in other departments may be approved by the graduate program director.

Note that the seminar-style classes can be retaken under a different course number for additional credit, since their content varies from year to year (Ling 735, Ling 765, Ling 775, respectively).

Language Acquisition Program (LAP) option

PhD students in the interdisciplinary PhD Language Acquisition Program option must meet the above requirements (and some additional ones). For information, see http://mcgill.ca/linguistics/graduate/lap and McGill’s website for Programs, Courses and University Regulations.

Evaluation Papers

Before proceedings to thesis research, each student has to complete the PhD Evaluation, which constitute the equivalent of the  comprehensive exam in this program. The PhD Evaluation consists of completing and defending two research papers — Evaluation 1 (LING 706) and Evaluation 2 (LING 707) — each focusing on a different sub-field, chosen from the following areas: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, acquisition, computational linguistics, dialectology, neurolinguistics, processing, sociolinguistics. For each Evaluation, candidates will prepare a paper, which presents original research, suitable for presentation at a conference and/or for publication (s ee section 1.2 Evaluation guidelines) . Successful completion of Evaluations 1 and 2 is a prerequisite to further supervised research for the doctoral dissertation. The requirement that each Evaluation paper focus on a different sub-field is motivated by the need to give students sufficient breadth in their education. If there are concerns about whether the topic of Evaluation paper 1 overlaps too much with the topic of Evaluation 2, the issue should be addressed with the student’s supervisor. In cases of doubt, the case may be discussed among the faculty at a Department Meeting.

Timeline and deadlines

In Year 1, students take at least three 3-credit linguistics courses in the Fall and the Winter term, for a minimum course load of 18 credits for Year 1. Course registration for Year 1 is decided before the Fall term and must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. Any deviations from the expected Year 1 course load and/or course selection, as well as any later changes in course registration for the Winter term, require approval by the Graduate Program Director. Course selection in subsequent years must likewise be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Deadlines for Evaluation Papers

The defense draft of the first evaluation paper has to be submitted on April 15 of the second year; the defense draft of the second evaluation paper has to be submitted on December 15 of the third year. However, a student can defer the deadline of the second evaluation paper to April 15 of the third year if they submit their first evaluation paper for publication to a journal before August 31 of the second year.

An Evaluation paper is intended to be a product of independent research and analysis. It deals with a topic of significant scholarly interest as determined by the standards in the subdiscipline. It develops an analysis of this topic that centers upon a plausible hypothesis and offers substantial evidence for this hypothesis. It defends the proposed analysis against other potential or already existing ones on conceptual and/or empirical grounds. Of course, while these skills also figure in the writing of term papers, the emphasis here is on the depth and breadth of scholarship and strength of argument and evidence. Thus, for example, an Evaluation paper will be deemed unacceptable if it consists of an analysis already proposed in the literature, even if it has arrived at this analysis independently, or if it does not demonstrate sufficient facility with the range of evidence normally employed in the treatment of some linguistic phenomenon, or if it deals solely with collection and organization of data. The paper should be suitable for publication, allowing for normal revisions.

Length and format 

The length of an Evaluation paper should be similar to that of a typical journal article in the relevant subdiscipline. Length is therefore expected to vary in accordance with the subject matter. A useful guideline is an upper limit of 10,000 words, excluding references and appendices. The font size must not be smaller than 12 point. The paper should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and include a list of the references cited in the text. An abstract should be included. 

Content of the paper

Knowledge of the literature: 

In general, the student must show knowledge of the relevant theory and data. In particular, he or she must demonstrate knowledge of past and present work, empirical and theoretical, pertaining to the topic of the paper. All theoretical claims made in the Evaluation paper must be accurate and up-to-date. 

Argumentation:  

The essence of empirical theoretical studies is to investigate the truth or falsity of hypotheses with respect to a range of data, formulated in terms of a pertinent theory. Hence, the paper must delineate the hypothesis, theoretical assumptions, and empirical facts. Each of these aspects of the paper must be clearly and accurately presented. More specifically, the theory underlying the assumptions and guiding the hypothesis should be current and accurate. The data should be well organized. It is also important to make the link between the theory and hypothesis, on the one hand, and the data, on the other. Specifically, it must be shown how the data support the hypothesis. 

Evidence:  

Linguistics is an empirical discipline. The student must therefore demonstrate an ability to marshal data relevant to his or her analysis, ensuring both the (reasonable) accuracy of these data (the appropriate means for doing so varying from paper to paper, and thus best determined in consultation with the student’s committee), and a close relationship between the data and associated theoretical statements. This does not exclude the possibility that the primary focus of a paper might be the elaboration of theory. All research involving human subjects also requires prior approval by McGill’s Research Ethics Board. See Appendix B Guidelines for ethical conduct of research in Linguistics.

Contribution of the student:

The paper must make an original contribution. This may be done in a variety of ways, including the presentation of new data and an appropriate analysis of these data, or a proposed modification of current theory with the evidence and arguments that justify the modification. The student must explicitly indicate what (s)he considers to be original and be prepared to defend the claim to originality at the defense.

Intelligibility of the paper:

Since the paper is part of an examination process, it must be intelligible to all members of the Evaluation committee. In addition, because the paper is expected to be of publishable quality, it must be written so that it is readily intelligible to potential peer reviewers.

Organization and style of presentation:

The paper must be neat, readable, and well-organized. Formatting requirements of articles in the relevant professional journals should be adopted. Students should follow a recognized style sheet in preparing their paper.

1.2.2 The Evaluation process 

There are three stages in the successful completion of an Evaluation paper: (a) selection and approval of a topic; (b) research and writing of the Evaluation paper; (c) the committee’s approval of the paper.

Selection and approval of topic

After the committee is formed (see below), the committee must meet with the student and establish a timeline for the submission of a topic. The topic must be developed in a timely manner. Evaluation research cannot proceed until the topic has been approved.  Committee members indicate their approval of the topic by signing a proposal submitted by the student. This proposal must be filed with the Graduate Program Director and becomes part of the student’s official record. 

Research and writing of the Evaluation paper

The Evaluation committee must provide active supervision. The student is therefore expected to consult with members of the committee during the research and writing of the paper. All members of the committee are expected to read and comment on drafts of the paper. Students must allow for a reasonable period of time to receive comments on a draft before the deadline for submitting the final version of the paper. The final version must be submitted to the committee by the established deadline (see section 1.1. ). 

Defence of the Evaluation paper No later than two weeks after the submission of the Evaluation paper, the committee must meet formally with the student to decide on the acceptability of the paper. The student will be expected to answer questions about the content of the paper (i.e. at a closed defense).  The committee may decide: 

(a) To pass the paper.

(b) To award the paper a conditional pass, specifying the revisions that have to be made. In this case, the supervisor is responsible for overseeing the revisions. Students will be given up to 4 weeks after the date of the defense to complete and submit these revisions.

(c) To fail the paper.

If the paper is failed, the student is judged to have failed the Evaluation. 

The chair of the Evaluation committee will write a letter to the student (with a copy to the Graduate Program Director and Student Affairs Coordinator), recording the outcome of the Evaluation process. The letter will evaluate the quality of the paper and the oral defense and will make suggestions for future research. This letter becomes part of the student’s official record. 

Public presentation

After an Evaluation paper has been passed by the Evaluation committee, the Graduate Program Director arranges for the presentation of the paper to the Department. After the presentation, a passing grade for the Evaluation will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

Consequences of missing a deadline

Failure to meet an Evaluation paper submission deadline may result in a failure for the Evaluation.  A student who misses an Evaluation paper submission deadline may petition the Department (in a letter to the Graduate Program Director) to be given additional time to complete the paper. If permission is granted, the Department will set a new deadline. Failure to petition before the deadline or denial of petition results in a failure for the Evaluation.

Consequences of failure  

A student who fails an Evaluation will be given another opportunity to complete it. The student has four months to submit a new or substantially revised Evaluation paper.  A student is permitted no more than one failure in the two Evaluation processes. 

1.3. The Doctoral Thesis

The writing and examination of the doctoral thesis is governed by the guidelines laid out by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Please see the guidelines for information on the requirements of a thesis, its preparation and details around the doctoral defence. 

Content of the Thesis

A quote from the program guidelines :

"A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain."

Selection of Committee and Dissertation Proposal

The thesis committee should be formed within two months after completion of Evaluation 2 (see section 1.1. for deadlines and section 1.4 for the composition of the committee). The thesis proposal is due 5 months after completion of Evaluation 2  (see section 1.1. for deadlines).  The committee and student should agree together on the format and length of the proposal and the proposal should be made in close consultation with the committee. Committee members indicate their approval by signing the proposal or by email. This proposal must be sent to the the Graduate Program Director including the committee in the email and uploaded to myProgress where it becomes part of the student’s official record. 

Stage 1: Designated academic adviser

On arrival, each PhD student is assigned to a designated academic adviser (first year adviser). Assignments will be determined weighing areas of expertise, workload and other factors such as sabbatical schedules. There is no commitment on the part of the student or the adviser for this relationship to continue into or beyond the PhD Evaluation stage.

The designated adviser is responsible for:

• Guiding the student through the fellowship applications process (where applicable). This includes reading students’ proposals with sufficient lead-time to make comments for revision before submission deadlines.
• Being accessible to the student for a reasonable amount of time to discuss issues related to academic progress (i.e, outside of those purely administrative areas which fall under the mantle of the Graduate Program Director).

The designated adviser should also remind PhD students in the second term of Year 1 about the need to find a topic for their first Evaluation.

Stage 2: Evaluation committees

An Evaluation committee shall consist of two or three members. Each committee must contain two specialists. (Where there is only one person working in a particular specialization, the second specialist should be someone with sufficient working knowledge of some aspect of the proposed research to be able to assist in the direction of the content.) One of the specialists may function as the designated supervisor, or two specialists may function as co-supervisors. The department encourages co-supervision. One of the committee members, normally the supervisor or one of the co-supervisors, shall function as the chair. In exceptional circumstances, there can be one committee member that is not currently tenure-stream faculty in the Department of Linguistics. Requests to add such a member will be discussed and approved by the department on a case-by-case basis.

The students must consult with the Graduate Program Director to constitute Evaluation committees by the established deadlines (see section 1.1. ). Prospective committee members must be consulted and must agree to serve. In order to determine the most appropriate committee membership, students are strongly encouraged to draft a brief preliminary proposal and to discuss it with potential supervisors/committee members.

Once the committee has been established, students must fill out the Evaluation Paper Committee Form (available under Forms at https://www.mcgill.ca/linguistics/graduate ). Changes to committees must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

The Evaluation committee must approve the research topic. The committee provides active supervision during the research and writing process. The student and committee members must therefore meet regularly. All members of the committee are expected to read and comment on drafts of the paper. The role of the specialists is to evaluate the integrity of the paper with respect to the content of the proposal and the accepted standards in the field. The committee must also ensure that the student can present the issues to a non-specialist linguistic audience and understand the broader implications of the work. However, it is not required that these latter goals be met in the written version. 

The student and the committee must meet occasionally to evaluate the student’s progress and to resolve any differences of opinion between the student and the committee, should they arise. It is the responsibility of the designated supervisor to ensure that any concerns of the committee are considered and addressed by the student in the final version

The committee must meet formally to decide on the acceptability of the written version of the paper. (See section 1.2 Evaluation guidelines.)

At each stage of deliberation, the decision of the committee is by consensus. If the committee is unable to reach a consensus, the Graduate Program Director or the Chair will be invited to intervene and make a decision in the best interests of the student and the Department.

There is no commitment on the part of the student or members of either committee for their relationship to continue beyond the Evaluation stage.

Stage 3:  Dissertation committee

A dissertation committee shall consist of at least three members, including at least two specialists. (In the case where there is only one person working in a particular specialization, the second specialist should be someone with sufficient working knowledge of some aspect of the proposed research to be able to assist in the direction of the content.) One of the specialists functions as the designated supervisor or two specialists function as co-supervisors. As with the evaluation papers, the department encourages co-supervision of theses. In exceptional circumstances, there can be one committee member that is not currently tenure-stream faculty in the Department of Linguistics. Requests to add such a member will be discussed and approved by the department on a case-by-case basis. One of the committee members, normally the supervisor or one of the co-supervisors, shall function as the chair.

The dissertation committee is constituted by the student in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Prospective committee members must be consulted by the student and must agree to serve.  In order to determine the most appropriate committee membership, students are strongly encouraged to draft a brief preliminary proposal and to discuss it with potential supervisors/committee members. Once the committee has been established, students must fill out the Doctoral Thesis Committee Form (available under Forms at https://www.mcgill.ca/linguistics/graduate ). The committee must meet with the student and establish a timeline for the submission of thesis proposal (see section 1.3  for more details about the thesis proposal).

The committee provides active supervision during the research and writing phases. The student must therefore consult regularly with all members. All members of the committee are expected to read and comment on drafts of the dissertation. The role of the specialists is to evaluate the integrity of the dissertation with respect to the content of the proposal and the accepted standards in the field.

The committee must meet occasionally to evaluate the student’s progress and to try to resolve any differences of opinion. It is the responsibility of the designated supervisor to ensure that any concerns of the committee are considered and addressed by the student.

Before the thesis is submitted for evaluation by the examiners and the oral defence committee, the thesis committee must meet with the student to approve the draft for submission. Within one month of receiving the final draft from the student, the thesis committee would normally meet to provide feedback, or provide comments in written form and be available to discuss with the student. If the committee does not approve the draft, within two weeks of the meeting it must specify in writing what changes are required before submission. 

(Students hoping to officially deposit the thesis before the end of August should be prepared to submit the final draft to their committee by the end of April, in order to allow enough time for the committee to meet and for any revisions to be made.) At each stage of deliberation, the decision of the committee is by consensus. If the committee is unable to reach a consensus, the Graduate Program Director or the Chair will be invited to intervene and make a decision in the best interests of the student and the Department.

Comments on students’ work

Supervisors and committee members must provide students with comments on their work in a timely manner. In the case of Evaluation or thesis proposals, students may ordinarily expect feedback within 1-2 weeks of submission. In the case of Evaluation papers or thesis chapters, comments should normally be provided within 2-3 weeks of submission.

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Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview.

This program has three streams - applied linguistics, literature and/or film studies, and transcultural studies.  Students in each stream enjoy personal attention and interaction with professors with far-reaching subject-area expertise who embrace a range of theoretical approaches. The applied linguistics stream focuses on language acquisition, language learning and teaching, and sociolinguistics. Students may choose to undertake experimental studies in any of these areas.  The focal languages for applied linguistics are French, Chinese, German and Spanish. The stream in literature and film studies offers students an opportunity to delve into the study of literary and cinematic productions in French, German and Spanish. Students will acquire theoretical and critical expertise in their chosen field of study. The stream in transcultural studies, the only one offered in Canada, examines the inner differentiation and complexity of cultures from the geographic areas where French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish are spoken. This program has an interdisciplinary emphasis and students acquire a high degree of cultural literacy. All of these streams will provide students with a broad set of advanced research and communication skills, specialized knowledge, and enhanced language proficiency.

Please note: this program is not intended for students interested in performing research primarily on texts written in English or on English as a Second Language. Applicants in these fields are encouraged to consider programs in Educational Research.

Completing this program

• Core courses: Students will take a required course on Additional Language Pedagogy, and a research methods course on Applied Linguistics or Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams and submit a dissertation proposal.
• Third language: Students must demonstrate reading comprehension in a language other than English and the target language of the PhD program.
• Research activities: Students participate in university-wide research activities, including presentations and workshops.
• Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original dissertation.

Specializations

• Applied linguistics
• Transcultural studies

Please visit the  Languages, Literatures and Cultures departmental webpage  for more information on specializations.

Graduates will be prepared for a profession in the post-secondary sector, cultural organizations, education, finance, government services, immigration, public relations, publishing, tourism and travel, advertising, or communications and media.

A PhD in languages, literatures and cultures is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Six courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time; six years maximum

A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree. Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.

Ozouf Sénamin Amedegnato

Marie-Andrée Bergeron

Nayibe Bermudez Barrios

Francesca Cadel

Mark Conliffe

Cheryl Dueck

Angela George

Elizabeth Montes Garcés

Jean-François Richer

Admission requirements

A minimum of 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units).

Minimum education

A Master of Arts degree in one of the Languages, Literatures and Cultures areas of specialization, or equivalent, from a recognized institution.

Work samples

A sample of critical writing: MA thesis or research paper or other writing, which the applicant considers representative of his or her best work. Either the sample research paper or the research proposal must be submitted in the target language of study.

• Research proposal of 2-3 pages
• Statement of Intent: A 250-word (minimum) statement of research interest including the research topic and the reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this unit.

Reference letters

Test scores.

Demonstrate a high level of oral and written competence in the target language (CEFR level C1 or equivalent). The target languages of the program are French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iB T including TOEFL iBT Home Edition)  minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 180.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 59 or higher
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  minimum of B+ in each course.
• Duolingo English Test  obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

For admission on September 1

January 15 application deadline for applications and supporting materials

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, languages, linguistics, literatures and cultures.

Craigie Hall, Room C 310 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Course-based MA

Thesis-based MA

Communication and Media Studies

Thesis-based PhD

Educational Research

Thesis- based EdD

Thesis- based MA

Course-based MEd - Int

Course-based MEd - Spec

Thesis-based MSc

Linguistics

Thesis-based MMus

Course-based MSc

Political Science

Religious studies, curious about the university of calgary.

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

School of Graduate Studies

Linguistics, program overview.

The Department of Linguistics offers Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in three fields:

• Language Variation (sociolinguistics, dialectology, language variation and change)
• Psycholinguistics (comprehension and production, language acquisition)
• Theoretical Linguistics (generative grammar: phonology, morphology, syntax)

Originating in 1967,  the department is part of an energetic academic community that includes numerous linguistic colleagues throughout the University of Toronto and in neighbouring universities.

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Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies

• Regulations (M.A.)
• Regulations (Ph.D.)
• Admission (M.A.)
• Admission (Ph.D.)

School of Linguistics and Language Studies (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) 236 Paterson Hall 613-520-2802 carleton.ca/slals

This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• M.A. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies
• M.A. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies
• M.A. Applied Linguistics with Collaborative Specialization in Digital Humanities
• Ph.D. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies

Program Requirements

M.a. applied linguistics and discourse studies (5.0 credits).

Students will establish their programs in consultation with the School's supervisor of graduate studies. Each candidate will select one of the following program paths:

The choice of thesis, research essay, or credit program path will be made by the student, with the advice of the Supervisor. Relevant factors will include the student's academic goals, professional goals, and background knowledge.

ALDS 5001 is normally to be taken in the first fall term after admission to the program.

Permission may be granted for enrollment in 1.0 credit offered in another department.

Graduate students may take courses at the senior undergraduate (4th year) level up to a maximum of 1.0 credit. Permission of the School's graduate supervisor is required. Students may take a combination of senior undergraduate courses and 'piggybacked' courses (fourth-year courses also offered, with different requirements, at the graduate level) up to a maximum of 1.5 credits.

It is expected that students will progress steadily towards the completion of requirements for the degree. In particular, it is normally expected that:

• a full-time student will complete 3.0 credits of course work within two terms of study, and an acceptable thesis proposal early in the third term of study; or 4.0 credits of course work within three terms, and an acceptable research essay proposal early in the fourth term; and all degree requirements within six terms of study.
• a part-time student will complete 3.0 credits of course work within three years of initial registration, and an acceptable thesis proposal early in the fourth year; or 4.0 credits of course work within four years, and an acceptable research essay proposal early in the fifth year; and all degree requirements within six years of initial registration.
• a student who registers in a combination of full-time and part-time study will, in consultation with an adviser, develop a schedule for completion of course requirements and a thesis or research essay proposal, consistent with times to completion stated above and with the overall time limits specified in the General Regulations section in this Calendar.

M.A. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies (5.0 credits)

M.A. Applied Linguistics with Collaborative Specialization in Digital Humanities (5.0 credits)

Ph.D. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies (4.5 credits)

Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies (ALDS) Courses

Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at  central.carleton.ca .

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

A standing of B- or better must be obtained in each credit counted towards the master's degree.

Regularly Scheduled Break

For immigration purposes, the summer term (May to August) for the M.A. Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies including all specializations/concentrations is considered a regularly scheduled break approved by the University. Students should resume full-time studies in September.

Note :  a Regularly Scheduled Break as described for immigration purposes does not supersede the requirement for continuous registration in Thesis, Research Essay, or Independent Research Project as described in Section 8.2 of the Graduate General Regulations.

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar, and in addition the following:

• Candidates must maintain a grade point average of 10.0 or better throughout this program.

Residence Requirement

Ph.D. candidates must normally be registered full-time in a minimum of six terms to satisfy the residence requirement. If a candidate is registered part-time, the minimum residence requirement is eight terms.

Guidelines for Completion of Ph.D.

Full-time Ph.D. students are normally expected to complete their requirements in four calendar years. All part-time students must complete their requirements within a period of nine years, as set out in the General Regulations in the Graduate Calendar.

The normal minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is a B.A. Honours degree in a discipline involving the analysis of language or the study of language use or learning; or a 3 year B.A. in a relevant discipline together with a B.Ed. or C.T.E.S.L.

Students must have achieved a minimum of B+ in related courses and B overall in their academic work.

Relevant professional experience may also enhance a candidate's application.

For other admission regulations not specific to the School of Linguistics and Language Studies, refer to the General Regulations section of the Graduate Calendar, in particular the subsection on Admission Requirements and Eligibility.

Accelerated Pathway 

The accelerated pathway in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study for students in their final year of a Carleton B.A. Honours degree, or equivalent, may qualify for this option.

Students in their third-year of study in the B.A. Honours degree in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies  should consult with both the Undergraduate Advisor and  the Graduate Advisor to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to confirm their selection of courses  for their final year of undergraduate studies.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

•  Two ALDS courses at the 5000 level (excluding ALDS 5001 and ALDS 5002 ).
• Minimal overall CGPA of B+

Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit of up to 1.0 credit which can reduce their time to completion. 

The normal requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program is a Master's Degree in Applied Language Studies, Applied Linguistics, Teaching English as a Second Language, Composition and Rhetoric, or an acceptable equivalent field, with at least an A- average (10 G.P.A.).

Applicants whose academic preparation has deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the Ph.D. program with the requirement that they take additional courses.

In addition to transcripts and letters of reference, applications will include a statement of interest outlining the applicant's proposed area of doctoral research and a representative sample of the applicant's academic writing.

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PhD Linguistics

The PhD in Linguistics program is reserved for those interested in advanced training in fieldwork and research while developing expertise in an area of their choice.

Program Overview

Our department covers a broad range of research topics, with substantial coverage of syntax, semantics, morphology, phonetics, and pragmatics. We approach these topics from several different research traditions and backgrounds, with particular strengths in formal-theoretical linguistics, experimental and field linguistics, acquisition, and computational approaches to the study of communicative behaviour.

Program Requirements

Students in the PhD Linguistics program must complete a minimum of 30 credits of coursework under the following requirements:

• LING 508: Phonetic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 510: Phonological Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 520: Syntactic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 525: Semantic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• Please note that first-year breadth courses are waived if equivalent courses have been taken elsewhere.
• LING 503: Topics in Language Acquisition (3 credits)
• LING 505A: Issues in Morphological Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 511 : Topics in Phonology (3 credits)
• LING 513: Topics in Phonetics (3 credits)
• LING 521: Topics in Syntax (3 credits)
• LING 527: Topics in Semantics (3 credits)
• Please note that more than one section of LING 530 can be counted towards this requirement, with each three-credit section counting as one course.
• LING 532: Field Methods in Linguistics II
• LING 531: Field Methods in LInguistics I (3 credits)
• The remaining six credits can be completed with either LING 532, LING 518, and/or an appropriate methods-related course within in Linguistics or in a different department
• Thesis Requirement (6 credits) : LING 549C: Master’s Thesis
• Remaining 9 credits: The remaining nine credits must be at the 500 or 600 level and chosen with explicit approval from the supervisory committee; courses may be from Linguistics or another appropriate department.

First-year graduate students who do not have sufficient background for the first-year graduate courses are expected to take the appropriate undergraduate courses prior to registration in the graduate course.

Here are three sample course sequences that students usually take:

Sequence 1: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510, LING 520; Depth: LING 503

Term 2: Breadth: LING 508, LING 525; Depth: LING 511

Term 3: Depth: LING 513; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth: LING 530; Depth/Methods: LING 532

Sequence 2: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510, LING 520; Depth: LING 530

Term 2: Breadth: LING 525; Depth: LING 505A, LING 521

Term 3: Depth LING 527; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth/Methods LING 532

Sequence 3: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510; Depth: LING 503; Methods: 3 credits in statistics

Term 3: Depth LING 513; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth LING 530; LING 530

Language requirement

In order to graduate, students must have a sound knowledge of one language other than English. They must fulfill this language requirement by the time of their thesis prospectus submission.

The language to fulfill this requirement is expected to be chosen on the basis of its relevance for the student’s research program, in consultation and by approval of the student’s supervisory committee. Relevance can be determined by a variety of factors such as the following:

• The language is the object of the student’s research, or is closely related to the language of research; for example, where a student’s research focuses on Yoruba, knowledge of Yoruba could fulfill the requirement, or where the student’s research is on St’at’imcets, knowledge of Halkomelem could fulfill the requirement.
• There is a significant and relevant linguistic literature in the language; for example, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian could fulfill the requirement.
• The language serves as a medium for conducting linguistic research relevant to the student’s program of research; for example, Hausa could fulfill the language requirement for a student conducting research on a language of northern Nigeria.

Students may fulfill the language requirements in various ways:

• Certain departments at UBC periodically schedule reading knowledge examinations. This exam evaluates a student’s language competence based on the translation of a text (approximately 1000 words) relating to the student’s field of study. A minimum second class standing (B- or better) must be obtained on this exam in order to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement. For further information on such examinations, contact the appropriate departments.
• If you speak a language natively, your native proficiency can be accepted by the supervisory committee.
• If you have completed a program of post-secondary language study (a minimum of 12 credits or equivalent). A minimum second class standing (B- or better) must be obtained for these credits in order to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement.
• For other languages, it may be necessary to establish an ad hoc mechanism for conducting an evaluation of the student’s knowledge. In such cases, the student should make a written request to their supervisory committee, including a proposal for how such an examination can take place, and including a proposal for a qualified examiner. Students considering this option should be aware that the requirements (including the required level of competence in the language and how to demonstrate it) may vary extensively from case to case, depending on the norms of the language community involved.

Qualifying papers

Each PhD student is required to submit two Qualifying Papers, in areas to be established in consultation with and subject to approval by the supervisory committee. Balancing a student’s research interests with attention to research breadth should be a major goal in choosing topics. Each Qualifying Paper is an independently written research paper, developed under the guidance of a faculty member or members, presented orally to the Department, and passed before a faculty committee.

The paper must make a substantive original contribution to current work in the area and exhibit clarity in form of presentation. The desired scale is that of a paper in a conference proceedings, with content considered to be at the level of a one-term second year graduate seminar paper.

As part of the Qualifying Paper process, and before beginning work on the paper, a student must have a short proposal for each paper approved by the supervisory committee. The proposal must establish the specific area and problem(s) to be addressed and cite a few key references from the literature which will be surveyed. The committee will normally respond to the proposal within 2 weeks of its submission. The Qualifying Paper proposal should follow the formatting guidelines of an abstract for the Annual Conference of the Canadian Linguistic Association, with the following addition: without exceeding the one-page length limit, the proposal should include a short budget (if there will be costs associated with completing the Qualifying Paper), budget justification and funding source (faculty member’s grant, outside grant, private funds, etc.). Also note that the content for a proposal will normally be more speculative than a conference abstract. Once approved, the Qualifying Paper proposal should be electronically filed with the Grad Admin and circulated electronically to the Department.

The final paper will be submitted to UBC Working Papers in Linguistics and must follow the UBCWPL style guidelines for length and formatting.

Continuous enrolment

Until their MA thesis prospectus has been approved, all MA students are expected to maintain a regular, active, physical presence in the Department. This can include participation in lab/project/reading groups, attending colloquia, research seminars or other ad hoc departmental events, meetings with their supervisor, committee members or other researchers in relevant areas. Certain circumstances may necessitate a student’s absence during some of this period (e.g. for field work); such absences should be discussed with the supervisory committee.

At all stages of the program, a student and their supervisor should be in regular contact and communication. At the thesis/dissertation stage, such contact should happen at least once a month (again, barring extenuating circumstances), either through in-person meetings, videoconferencing, or communication/reporting over email.

Supervision

A Research Supervisor is appointed for a student before the beginning of their first year in the program. The Graduate Advisor and the Research Supervisor, in consultation with the incoming student, will establish a three-member Temporary Supervisory Committee no later than the end of the first week of the first term.

Prior to registration for the second year, the Temporary Supervisory Committee shall be dissolved and a new Supervisory Committee shall be established. A MA Supervisory Committee consists minimally of the Research Supervisor and two additional members. Normally the members of the supervisory committee are from the Department of Linguistics; if the students committee includes members from outside the Department of Linguistics, a majority must be departmental members. Establishing a Research Supervisor is the joint responsibility of the student and the Graduate Advisor.

Both new and continuing MA students will have a meeting with their Supervisory Committee during the last week of August or in early September. At this meeting students can discuss their course work and other aspects of their program. Incoming students are requested to bring with them copies of the calendars of course offerings from the institutions they previously attended (other than UBC). At the end of April or the beginning of May, all students will meet with their Supervisory Committee to discuss the year’s progress and to plan further work. Any changes in a graduate student’s program must be approved by the Supervisory Committee.

The Graduate Advisor, in advising students, makes every effort to ensure that they have satisfied all the requirements for the degree — language requirements, course work, etc. However, it is ultimately every student’s responsibility to ensure that at the time he/she applies for the degree he/she has met all the requirements. Separate records of a student’s program and progress are kept by the Faculty of Graduate Studies; these records are obtained from information provided by the Graduate Advisor and are used to determine a student’s ultimate eligibility for graduation.

Annual evaluation

The Faculty will meet in April or May each year to discuss the progress of each student in the PhD program. The student’s supervisor will inform them of the results of the evaluation. If a student is not making satisfactory progress, they will either be required to withdraw from the program immediately or will be placed on probation and told what conditions must be fulfilled to obtain a satisfactory standing. If a student on probation has not fulfilled these conditions by the end of the following semester, they will then normally be required to withdraw from the program.

Dissertation

The dissertation marks the culmination of the PhD program. A dissertation should be an original and independent research project which makes some contribution to knowledge in the special area elected by the student.The dissertation marks the culmination of the PhD program. A dissertation should be an original and independent research project which makes some contribution to knowledge in the special area elected by the student.

By the end of a student’s third year, the student must submit to the Graduate Advisor a dissertation prospectus, along with the appropriate approval form signed by the members of the dissertation committee, and circulate the prospectus electronically to the Department. The content of a dissertation prospectus should be along the lines of an NSERC Discovery Grant or a SSHRC Insight Grant; it should have the following components:

• Summary (1 page maximum)
• Detailed description (6 pages maximum)
• Bibliography
• Budget (if there will be costs associated with completing the dissertation research)
• Budget justification (as appropriate)

Dissertations should be prepared in accordance with the thesis formatting regulations required by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Dissertations which do not meet the standards specified may be rejected. Documentation should follow the style guide of the Canadian Journal of Linguistics, Language, or the American Psychological Association.

The completed dissertation will be read by a specialist from outside the University, arranged by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at least three months before the candidate expects to take the final oral examination. The student’s research supervisor and the Graduate Advisor will forward a list of names of specialists who might serve as External Examiner using the Doctoral Dissertation Form. When the dissertation has been approved for submission to the External Examiner, the candidate will take the final oral defence. This is a formal, public examination, chaired by an appointee of the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and attended by the members of the examining committee and other interested persons.

Students nearing the final stages of thesis writing should familiarize themselves with the timeline to the oral dissertation defense . During the weeks prior to the oral examination, students are strongly encouraged to give a practice oral presentation, ideally during a departmental research seminar slot. Practice orals should follow the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies format, allowing 30 minutes for a presentation, and a longer period for questions. While examining committee members are not prohibited from attending, practice orals should not be viewed as an opportunity to prepare students for specific questions that students will be asked by committee members at the official defence.

The candidate submits an electronic copy of the final dissertation to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The electronic copy will be deposited in the cIRcle on-line repository, and linked from the department website. The final oral exam may be held at any time of the year (except from mid-December to mid-January) provided that the examining committee can be assembled.

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PhD Program in Cognitive Science of Language

Join our world-class Languages & Linguistics Department to continue your study of language structure, language processing and the neural basis of language in the Cognitive Science of Language PhD Program.

Our courses are so hands-on and application based that you end up developing a unique and valuable skillset, which ends up leading into a variety of career paths that would otherwise have been difficult to grow accustomed to.

Meliha Horzum '20

Honours Cognitive Science of Language

About the Program

Based in the Department of Linguistics and Languages, the PhD program in Cognitive Science of Language is interdisciplinary and includes faculty from Humanities, Science, and Health Sciences. The program has a strong research orientation with expertise in cognitive science, corpus linguistics, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and theoretical linguistics. The program introduces students to the issues in those fields that form the nexus of linguistics, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience, and trains students in the research methods employed to study them.

Admission Requirements

A MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language or an equivalent Master’s degree is required for entrance into the PhD program. Some applicants may require additional courses in core areas (e.g. linguistics or cognitive science) in order to be eligible for admission. Each application will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Language Requirement

In order to ensure language diversity and breadth, the Department has a second-language requirement for the PhD degree, in addition to the general Graduate School requirement of English proficiency. Candidates should have, as a minimum, intermediate knowledge of a language other than English, defined as having passed the equivalent of two (2) full year courses. Candidates admitted without this requirement will be expected to pass the equivalent of two (2) full year courses or to pass a Qualifying Exam. The Department will evaluate each student’s language preparation at the Admission stage.

Application Process

The official electronic transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution directly to our department’s email: [email protected]

The online application portal for our graduate program in Cognitive Science of Language unlocks November 1st each year for September admission only. 

THOSE WHO SUBMIT  THEIR  COMPLETED APPLICATIONS (BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL) BY THE JANUARY 31ST DEADLINE WILL HAVE FIRST CONSIDERATION.

• Complete the online application -> McMaster University Application  
• Statement of Interest (identify the faculty member you wish to work with)
• Writing Sample (any type of academic writing i.e. term paper, thesis chapter)
• Two academic references (McMaster University uses an Electronic Referencing System. By entering the email address of your referee through the online application, the system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf)
• English Language Proficiency (if English is not your native language)
• Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work completed to date (transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to our Department, please include English translation if applicable)
• Official copy of your TOEFL or IELTS scores or any other evidence of English proficiency (TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band; for the Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 88 (internet based) or 213 on the (computer based) or 550 (paper based)  IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section)
• **NOTE** Applicants from outside of Canada should begin the application process as early as possible to allow time to obtain all necessary documents.

Program Timelines

Students entering with a MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete three half courses plus one pass/fail module. If the following courses were not completed in the MSc program, they must be included in the PhD program of study:

• COGSCIL 730 / Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology
• COGSCIL 731 / Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series must be completed in Year 1 of the PhD program
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total three half courses

Students entering with a Master’s degree but not an MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete seven half courses plus one pass/fail lecture series module as listed below. The Lecture series must be completed in year one of the program.  

Required courses:

• COGSCIL 721 / Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 722 / Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series  
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total seven half courses

The Comprehensive Examination is intended to ensure that the student develops competence in a subfield of Cognitive Science of Language beyond the focus of the thesis. In consultation with the supervisory committee, the student will identify a topic for the Comprehensive that is distinct from the thesis topic.

In most cases, the Director of the Comprehensive will not be the thesis supervisor. The student and the Comprehensive Director agree in writing on the nature of the deliverable for the Comprehensive and on interim and final deadlines. At a minimum, the Comprehensive consists of a written paper and oral examination of the topic of the paper. The paper may consist of a literature review, proposal for a research project, report of a research project or report of a teaching project. The scope of the project should be such that it can reasonably be completed within one semester. The paper will usually be 20-30 pages long.

The Comprehensive Director identifies at least one other faculty member; together, the Director and these other faculty members constitute the Comprehensive Exam Committee. (Comprehensive Directors are encouraged to recruit Comprehensive Examiners from beyond the Department of Linguistics & Languages.) The Comprehensive Director advises the student on the preparation of the paper. The Comprehensive Exam Committee determines whether the paper is ready for an oral defense, and conducts the oral examination. The oral examination consists of a brief presentation by the student regarding the content of the paper followed by questions from the Committee. The Comprehensive Exam must be successfully completed within 20 months of entering the PhD program.

All students are expected to attend the talks in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series, where scholars from around the world in the fields of Linguistics, Psychology, and Cognitive Neuroscience discuss their research.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

The McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) is the most common form of scholarship support available to graduate students in our program. The MGS ensures that students receive a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship support. Adjustments to the MGS will depend on other available scholarships.

The Faculty of Humanities Adjustments guidelines policy is available for review.

REVIEW THE POLICY

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Research your passion in Linguistics & Languages with supervision from our world-class faculty.

SEE OUR CURRENT AND FORMER PhD STUDENTS

Supplemental information.

Graduate Courses in Linguistics and Languages

Course outlines 2023-2024

• Cogscil 6LB3 – Advanced Phonetics and Phonology
• Cogscil 6XX3 – Topics in Linguistic Theory
• Cogscil 712 – Reading Course (Linguistics)
• Cogscil 713 – Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 722 – Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726A – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series

Winter 2024

• Cogscil 6G03- Language, Sex and Gender
• Cogscil 6NN3 – Cognitive Neurolinguistics Lab
• Cogscil 713 –  Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 721 – Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726B– The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 731 – Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• Cogscil 734 – Issues in Syntax

Course outlines 2022-2023

• Cogscil 6D03 – Computers and Linguistic Analysis
• Cogscil 730 – Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology

Winter 2023

• Cogscil 6AS3 – Topics in Advanced Semantics
• Cogscil 6EL3 – Experimental Lab in Cognitive Science of Language
• Cogscil 6LC3 – Advanced Morphology and Syntax
• Cogscil 726B – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 749 – Lab Visual Language

Domestic MSc students usually receive a funding package consisting of a teaching assistantship and scholarship. The total value of the funding package ranges from $16,000 to $19,000 per year.

Currently all domestic PhD students receive a funding package of $23,500 per year, usually including a teaching assistantship of 260 hours plus a scholarship.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

External Graduate Scholarships

All eligible students are also strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school. 

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

All applicants and current students will be considered for funding support from McMaster, including TAships.

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PAST MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Department life.

The Department of Linguistics & Languages welcomes scholars from around the world to participate in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series. The lecture series is a forum where all are welcome to attend talks by established researchers on recent innovations and current trends in Language and Cognition.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Research-focused and student-centered. Humanities researchers promote interdisciplinary approaches to local and global leadership. Learn more about our researchers by searching by name or keyword.

Linguistics (Applied) and Discourse Studies

Human society is grounded in language. Our broad-based MA program, housed in the School of Linguistics and Languages Studies (SLaLS), emphasizes the central role that language plays in educational, workplace, community and other social contexts. Our students can draw on one or both of the fields of Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies to suit their own study and research goals. This comprehensive graduate program is unique in North America as these two fields are typically housed in different departments or faculties at other universities. We also offer courses, including a practicum, that lead to Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Ontario certification.

Collaborative Specializations in African Studies and Digital Humanities are also available.

Capital Advantage

Ottawa, the nation’s capital and a bilingual, multicultural centre of government, education, health care, and the headquarters for many non-profit organizations, is an ideal site for advanced applied linguistics and discourse studies. Our connections to these organizations provide our MA students with teaching and research opportunities during their program and with career options once they graduate.

Fields of Specialization

• Applied Linguistics
• Discourse Studies

Research Highlights

• Second and foreign language teaching and learning; curriculum and methodology; language testing and assessment
• Languages for academic and specific purposes, formulaic language and phraseology
• Different types of discourse analysis
• First and second language writing in academic, professional, and community contexts; biliteracy
• Language and identity; language policy and preservation; cross-cultural communication

Program Information

• Degree: Master of Arts

Length: 1 – 2 years

Entry Terms: Fall

Fall Application Deadline: February 1

More Deadline Information »

Contact: Graduate Supervisor –  Professor Jaffer Sheyholislami

Pathway Options: Coursework, Research Essay, Thesis

View Program Website

Apply Online Now

Carleton's Grad Programs in Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies

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Best PhD Degrees in Linguistics at Universities in Canada

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• ma in applied linguistics

MA in Applied Linguistics

As a student in our MA in Applied Linguistics, you will receive graduate training in formal linguistics as well as in theories and research in the areas of second language acquisition (SLA) and the practice of second language teaching methodology. You will be able to pursue your own research goals through course work and either a thesis or a major research paper. We offer both thesis-based and non-thesis based MA in Applied Linguistics programs, to meet the varied needs of our students.

Requirements

• Please refer to the Academic Calendar to check the MA in Applied Linguistics program requirements.

These  timelines serve as a guide to completing your MA, designed to be a two-year program.

Thesis option:

• Year 1, September - April: Complete bulk of coursework (5 courses total = 7.5 units)
• Year 1, Summer: Develop/defend thesis proposal; prepare/submit  ethics application  (if required)
• Year 2, September - April: Finish up coursework; defend thesis proposal; get ethics approval (if required); write thesis
• Year 2, Summer: Defend thesis (7.5 units)

Project option:

• Year 1, September - April: Begin coursework (7 courses total = 11.5 units)
• Year 1, Summer: Begin to develop major research paper
• Year 2, September - April: Finish coursework; work on major research paper
• Year 2, Summer: complete major research paper (4.5 units)

Staying on track

Every September, you should meet with your supervisor to review and update your program form, and then submit it to our graduate secretary  ( Graduate Secretary ) by Sept. 30. This will let you keep track of your progress as you work through your program of study. Those forms are fillable when downloaded.

• Program form: MA in Applied Linguistics, Thesis option
• Program form: MA in Applied Linguistics, Non-thesis option

You can also always access your CAPP (Curriculum and Program Planning) report through  Student Services , under Student Services. Here you will be able to see where you stand with respect to meeting your degree requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies has a  handy checklist  for completion of a master's degree.

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• 4.2 PhD in Applied Linguistics and Technology (ALT)
• 1.1 Graduate Program Resources
• 1.2 Academic Information
• 1.3 Program Advisors, Major Professors, & POS Committees
• 1.4 Degree Progress, Planning, and Time Limits
• 1.5 Minors and Co-majors
• 1.6 Course Policies
• 1.7 Registration
• 1.8 Graduate Assistantships
• 1.9 Graduate Student Travel and Support
• 1.10 Graduation
• 1.11 Graduate Faculty Members
• 2.1 About the MA programs
• 2.2 MA in English Degree Requirements
• 2.3 MA in Rhetoric, Composition, & Professional Communication Degree Requirements
• 2.4 MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics Degree Requirements
• 2.5 Minoring and Co-majoring in the MA Programs
• 2.6 The Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form (MA)
• 2.7 Guidelines for Thesis and Creative Component (MA)
• 3.1 About the MFA program
• 3.2 M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Environment Degree Requirements
• 3.3 The Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form (MFA)
• 3.4 Minoring and Co-majoring in the MFA Program
• 3.5 Guidelines for Thesis (MFA)
• 4.1 About the Doctoral programs
• 4.3 PhD in Rhetoric and Professional Communication (RPC)
• 4.4 Minoring and Co-majoring in the PhD Programs
• 4.5 The Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form (PhD)
• 4.6 Preliminary examination requirements and ABD Status
• 4.7 Guidelines for the Dissertation (Ph.D.)
• 5.1 About the Concurrent Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs
• 5.2 Concurrent BA in Linguistics/MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics Degree Requirements and Curriculum Plans
• 5.3 Concurrent BS in Technical Communication/MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication Degree Requirements and Curriculum Plans
• 5.4 The Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form (Concurrent MA)
• 5.5 Guidelines for Thesis and Creative Component (Concurrent MA)
• 6.1 About the Certificate Programs
• 6.2 Certificate in TESL/TEFL Program Requirements

4.2.1 ALT Degree Requirements (Effective Spring 2023)

• Expected to complete the doctoral degree within five years
• Complete 72 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the BA or BS (see About the Doctoral Degrees).

• Pass both a portfolio assessment and (following the completion of coursework) the preliminary examinations
• Write and defend a dissertation that makes a contribution to the discipline

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for new students: a Master’s degree from an accredited institution.

Prerequisite coursework: students must document previous coursework that meets prerequisites by submitting a  Prerequisite Equivalency Petition  signed by their assigned program advisor or major professor. Students who have not completed the prerequisites upon entry into the program must complete them as soon as possible after admission.

• a course in descriptive English grammar that may be taken after admission to the program  or passing the online ENGL 2200 grammar test-out
• an introductory course in linguistics or applied linguistics which may be taken after admission to the program

Back to the top

4.2.2 ALT Curricular Policies and Guidelines

Annual reviews.

Annual reviews are a means of communicating expectations, providing feedback to students, and helping students progress towards degree completion. Each graduate student will complete required documentation and submit it for review to the PhD ALT Annual Review Committee early in April each year. The ALT AR Committee will conduct a review and make all reviews available to the Applied Linguistics graduate faculty prior to a meeting to discuss reviews and suggest modifications. Within one week of this faculty meeting and before the end of the spring semester the ALT AR Committee provides a report and a performance review rating to the student, the student’s assigned program advisor or major professor, and the DOGE according to the benchmarks on the benchmark summary chart. Appropriate action will take place as described in the “ALT PhD Student Annual Review Process” document downloadable from the English Department graduate program Forms website  or the  Graduate College website .

Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form

Pos committee.

The ALT PhD Program of Study (POS) committee consists of at least five members of the ISU Graduate Faculty  with a minimum of three faculty members (including the major professor) from within your major. Below are specific requirements for the composition of the committee (See committee make-up for co-majors if applicable.):

• It must include three members, including the major professor, from within your major area.
• It must include a fourth member which can be from within the major, inside the Department of English, or outside the Department of English.
• It must include a fifth member from outside the Department of English.

A faculty member from a major area other than the student’s major may co-chair the committee. Information about English department graduate faculty, their major areas, and their areas of research and teaching can be found in the Graduate Faculty Members  section of this manual.

The Program of Study and Committee Form is required to be completed by no later than the announced deadline in your fifth semester (or the equivalent). See  Program of Study Committee and the POSC Form (PhD)  for more information.

POS Categories

These courses represent core content areas in applied linguistics.

Technology and Language

These courses develop skills in the use of technologies for language teaching, assessment and analysis.

Research Methods

Research Methodology courses teach students methods to draw from in designing their own applied linguistics and technology research.

Seminars in Applied Linguistics

Applied linguistics seminars are offered to meet students’ research needs in their area of interest. Seminars currently planned cover topics in lexis, corpus linguistics, computational linguistics, and systemic functional linguistics. Seminars on pedagogy include advanced pedagogy topics such as research on the teaching of pronunciation, automated feedback generation in the teaching of writing, linking second language acquisition with technology and language learning, and research methods for evaluation of technology for language teaching. Seminars on language assessment include developing language tests, validation research in language testing, and advanced quantitative methods in language testing.  You must take this course three times (9 credits) to fulfill this requirement .

Electives in Applied Linguistics and Technology constitute a coherent group of courses that you have selected and that have been approved by the faculty. Other courses that can be applied to electives are ENGL 5000 (Teaching Multimodal Composition) or SPCM 5130 (Teaching Fundamentals of Public Speaking), ENGL/LING 5140 (Sociolinguistics), and applied linguistics seminars beyond the three courses (9 credits) that are required. Electives may also be selected from other disciplines including anthropology, computer science, education, English, psychology, rhetoric, statistics, and world languages.

You are encouraged to consult with your assigned program advisor about ideas for designing your individual program. You may transfer in elective credits only if they provide a strong complement to the other courses in your program of study.

Transfer credits

Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits at Iowa State University. Students may transfer up to 36 credits, but the actual number of transfer credits approved will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Requests for transfer credit consideration must be made by completing a  Transfer Credit Petition form  accompanied by required paperwork. Refer to the section on  transfer credits  for more information.

Foreign Language Requirement

Given the international and intercultural nature of applied linguistics, holders of doctorates in the field should have personal experience learning a second language and be able to conduct some research or teaching activities in a language other than English. Students may, however, vary with respect to the focus they want to give to oral or written skills. To indicate how you will meet this requirement, you must submit a  Language Requirement Form  to be approved by the Director of Graduate Education. After this form has been approved, it will appear on your official academic record that this requirement has been met.

Native speakers of English

If you are a native speaker of English, you can satisfy the language requirement by

• passing an oral examination in a foreign language, conducted under the supervision of your POS committee, that ensures you demonstrate language ability at the Advanced Level of the  American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages  proficiency scale, OR
• passing a reading/translation test, translating published work in applied linguistics from a foreign language into English, OR
• completing three years (or the equivalent) of college-level study in a single foreign language with grades of B or higher.

Nonnative speakers of English

If you are a nonnative speaker of English from a country where English is not the medium of instruction, you do not need to satisfy one of the above criteria. The TOEFL score submitted for admission and the ability to do doctoral-level work in English is considered evidence of your ability to use a second language for your scholarly activities.

However, to satisfy the major’s language requirement, all nonnative speakers of English must pass the  English Placement Test (EPT)  as a graduate student or qualify for one of the EPT exemptions (see exemption information on their website). If you fail the EPT, you will be required to take and pass English classes in order to satisfy the requirement.

All graduate students in the Applied Linguistics and Technology PhD programs whose first language is not English are required to pass the OECT as part of their program requirements. To pass the OECT, students must receive a Level 1 pass and be fully certified or may be exempted from taking one or both of the OECT components. Check the OECT website  for further information.

4.2.3 ALT Portfolio Assessment: Qualifying Examination

As a doctoral candidate in Applied Linguistics and Technology, you will submit a portfolio for diagnostic assessment of your scholarly writing that will be evaluated to assess your eligibility to continue in the program. This assessment will also provide you with diagnostic information about the areas of your academic writing that you need to work on going forward.

All doctoral candidates in Applied Linguistics and Technology will submit a portfolio for assessment  no later than the announced deadline in the spring semester prior to their sixth semester in the program  (not including summer terms). For most students entering the program in fall semester this effectively means the spring semester of their second academic year in the program. However, students enrolled in the program on a part-time basis (registered for fewer than 9 credits per semester and not appointed on a graduate assistantship), must submit a portfolio for assessment no later than the announced deadline in the spring semester immediately following the completion of 18 POS credits used toward meeting degree requirements. Failure to submit by the deadline will constitute lack of  satisfactory progress  toward the degree.

Students are not eligible to take the portfolio assessment unless all courses taken at ISU during their first academic year in the program have received a grade. Any Incomplete grades earned during Year 1 must be resolved prior to the portfolio due date. If Incomplete grades from Year 1 remain on the student’s record at that time, he/she will be ineligible to submit the portfolio assessment. Failure to submit the portfolio assessment due to an unresolved Incomplete grade in Year 1 will constitute lack of satisfactory progress toward the degree.

The following spring semester timeline for the portfolio assessment submission has been established for students who have entered the program in the fall semester. The specific deadlines will be posted on the graduate program  Deadlines  website:

1st Monday of the semester  –  Portfolios due by 12:00 Noon 6th Monday of the semester  – Decisions communicated to students 12th Monday of the semester  –  Portfolios due by 12:00 Noon  from students who resubmit 16th Monday of the semester  – Decisions communicated to students

An ALT Examinations Committee, consists of at least three elected Applied Linguistics graduate faculty members will be convened each spring semester to evaluate ALT portfolio assessments. Later in the spring semester, the ALT Examinations Committee will hold an open meeting, which all students who have not yet submitted their portfolios for assessment are encouraged to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to explain the procedure of the portfolio assessment and to answer students’ questions. Students who have further questions about the procedures are encouraged to contact the ALT Examinations Committee chair.

If for any reason you wish to request a change in the procedure for the portfolio assessment (for example: extending the deadline), you must make a written request to the DOGE  before the 12th Tuesday of the fall semester prior to which your exam is due  (or, in extremely rare cases of new and unforeseeable circumstances beyond your control, as soon as you become aware of such circumstances). The DOGE will consult the ALT Examinations Committee to determine if and how your request will be granted. The chair of the ALT Examinations Committee will be advised of the DOGE’s decision. Normally, extensions and/or changes to the procedures are not granted so students should plan to take the portfolio assessment as scheduled.

The portfolio should represent your best scholarly work. In order to pass, it needs to display your readiness to undertake research and writing in applied linguistics. Your writing, therefore, needs to demonstrate your ability to define problems/issues, to make and support scholarly claims, to cite and synthesize research literature, to report results from empirical research, and to sustain a coherent scholarly argument. All elements of the portfolio must be of excellent quality, must conform to the professional writing conventions of the Applied Linguistics field, and must adhere to the style of the  American Psychological Association (APA) .

Preparation

The Applied Linguistics faculty expects that you will prepare your portfolio by revising your course papers in part by considering the comments of your instructor and soliciting suggestions from readers before submission. You may ask the instructor for clarification of that instructor’s feedback on a class paper as originally submitted but may not ask Applied Linguistics faculty for feedback on drafts of portfolio assessment papers.

Submission requirements

To complete your portfolio, you will choose and revise representative samples of your strongest single-authored work according to the following requirements

• The entire portfolio should be based on work that you did entirely, or substantially, after your entry into the PhD program in Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University (i.e., work completed in a master’s program prior to entry into the PhD program may not  be included).
• A  reflection paper . This should explain how the contents of the portfolio reflect your intellectual development in the program so far. It should introduce the other two papers that you have included as part of the portfolio and explain how these projects reflect your interests as a PhD student at ISU. Your portfolio should also be used to highlight possible paths for dissertation research that could emerge from the work that you have done as part of the portfolio as well as other areas of work that you plan to pursue. (1,000-1,500 words)
• An  empirical research article . This qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods study should be on a topic related to your research interests (which may or may not be the subject of your future dissertation work). This paper should demonstrate your ability to synthesize and evaluate published research in the form of a comprehensive critical literature review and to identify key research questions and issues based on analyses of this previous work. It should also demonstrate your ability to report a well-developed study with well-defined research questions, a thorough explanation of the research methodology selected and used in the study, a clear presentation of the findings, the subsequent implications of those findings, and the limitations of the study. This paper is intended to demonstrate your ability to conduct research and appropriately report that work to the academic community. (9,000-10,000 words)
• A  critical review  of a recent (within 3 years of publication) book, test, or software. This paper should demonstrate your ability to critically evaluate the book, test, or software in the context of larger relevant issues in the field. (1,500-1,600 words)
• The same student-selected 5-digit identification number for all 3 papers;
• Word count (defined as every word in the document including the list of references, appendices, and tables)
• One of the following three titles clearly identifying which paper it represents: A) “Reflection Paper” B) “Empirical Research Article” C) “Critical Review”
• The file name for each document must follow the following format:      ALT.Port.Spring20XXa.YYYYY.PaperTitle (X’s are replaced by year; Y’s are replaced by the student-selected 5-digit identification number; “PaperTitle” is replaced by one of the following—Reflection, EmpRes, or CriticalRev).
• Upload each of the separate electronic Microsoft Word or PDF portfolio documents: Submit to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: STUDENT SUBMISSION folder in Cybox (students will have upload only access so they cannot access other submissions).
• Download from the  Forms  website under “Program Specific Forms and Documents” the  PhD Portfolio Assessment Student ID Memo , fill it out with the requested information, and save it with a file name following the required file name format:      ALT.Port.Spring20XXa.ID.YYYYY (X’s are replaced by year; Y’s are replaced by the student-selected 5-digit identification number.)
• Upload the completed  STUDENT ID MEMO  document as a separate Microsoft Word or PDF document to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: STUDENT ID  folder in Cybox (students will have upload only access so you cannot access other submissions).
• The Graduate Program Office will place the student portfolio submissions in the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: Exams Committee Review  folder in Cybox for the committee to access and evaluate submissions.
• The ALT Examinations Committee chair will request access be given to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: STUDENT ID  folder in Cybox by contacting the Graduate Program Office only after evaluations and decisions are completed in order to communicate results to students correctly according to the student-selected 5-digit identification numbers.

The ALT Examinations Committee members will access the student portfolio documents in Cybox. Portfolios will be evaluated on a four-level scale to produce results indicating the level of academic writing displayed in the papers which will be used to judge the candidate’s promise for completing the remaining work for the degree.

The three papers should, taken together, demonstrate a student’s ability to

• define a problem or issue
• make and support claims and sub-claims
• cite and synthesize sources
• sustain a coherent scholarly argument
• carry out and report on a well-developed research study
• evaluate research in applied linguistics

Because the portfolio demonstrates a broader range of competencies than any individual course assignment and because it focuses on a student’s ability to address a wider disciplinary audience than an individual instructor, even papers receiving superior evaluation as they were originally written for courses typically do not meet the expectations of a portfolio paper, and normally require significant revision to demonstrate the characteristics listed above.

The ALT Examinations Committee will assign each paper one of the following ratings:

The ALT Examinations Committee chair will request access to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: STUDENT ID folder in Cybox by contacting the Graduate Program Office only after evaluations and decisions are completed. Results will be communicated to students according to the five-digit student selected identification number.

The following will be completed:

• A letter communicating the results as well as a written rationale for the decision will be provided to you.
• At least two members of the ALT Examinations Committee will meet with you in a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible after you receive written notification of the results to discuss the written comments and to provide additional feedback on your scholarly writing.
• A copy of the results letter and written rationale will be uploaded by the ALT Examinations Committee to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: Exams Committee Review  Cybox folder following the file name format:      ALT.Port.Spring.20XXa.Results.LnameFname

Second portfolio submission

In the case of a portfolio that receives a rating of “No Pass,” the ALT Examinations Committee will provide feedback indicating the reasons for “No Pass” rating based on the comments provided on the paper. The committee will suggest strategies for improving the papers prior to resubmission of the portfolio, which, at the ALT Examinations Committee’s direction, may include different papers and analyses. This second portfolio must be submitted by the announced deadline later in  the same semester ,  following the same procedures and requirements for submission as for the first portfolio submission (see “Submission requirements” above), but must also include an additional document detailing how the reviewer comments were addressed. These documents must follow the file format:      ALT.Port.Spring20XXb.YYYYY.PaperTitle (X’s are replaced by year; Y’s are replaced by the student-selected 5-digit identification number; “PaperTitle” is replaced by one of the following—CommentResp, Reflection, EmpRes, or CriticalRev).

The same evaluation, feedback, and results procedures will be used as those for the first submission except as follows:

• The DOGE will also participate in the evaluation and discussion of the second portfolio, but only the members of the ALT Examinations Committee will vote on the success or failure of the second portfolio.
• A copy of the results letter and written rationale will be uploaded by the ALT Examinations Committee to the  ALT Portfolio Assessment: Exams Committee Review  Cybox folder following the file name format:      ALT.Port.Spring20XXb.Results.LnameFname (X’s are replaced by year; “LnameFname” is replaced by the student’s name)

You are permitted to submit portfolio papers only twice, and a passing portfolio is necessary for you to continue in the PhD program. If you do not pass the portfolio assessment or are ineligible to submit the portfolio due to an unresolved Incomplete grade from Year 1, you can serve out your teaching contract for the remainder of the current semester.

Grievances regarding the portfolio assessment

If you believe that you have legitimate reasons to appeal the decision of the ALT Examinations Committee, you may follow the grievance procedure outlined in the Graduate College Handbook (see  Grievances Related to Scholarly and Professional Competence ). Back to the top

4.2.4 ALT Prospectus

Before starting on the dissertation, submit a prospectus to your major professor for approval. A prospectus should describe the nature of your project and its importance, summarize the key research that provides the background for your study, and present the general research questions and methods you plan to use. The prospectus is typically fewer than 2,000 words including references, but there is no prescribed length for this paper. You may use your prospectus as a basis for discussions with committee members and as a way of developing a pilot study appropriate for your project. Back to the top

4.2.5 ALT Preliminary Examination

Doctoral candidates in Applied Linguistics and Technology must take the preliminary examination, which is composed of two parts—a written dissertation proposal (which includes a section on piloting) and the preliminary oral exam. The purpose of the preliminary examination is to prepare you to work on the dissertation project, with the guidance of your POS committee. The preliminary examination may be taken during your final semester of coursework or just after you finish coursework and are ready to concentrate on the dissertation.

You will submit a dissertation proposal (which includes a section on piloting of your dissertation methods/materials) to the POS committee, who will then evaluate your proposal. The POS committee may ask you to revise or further develop parts of the proposal. Once the POS committee agrees you are ready, you will then schedule the oral preliminary exam. The preliminary oral examination can be scheduled no sooner than 2 weeks after the POS committee’s decision. The oral preliminary exam is an oral defense of the dissertation proposal, and an opportunity for the POS committee to help you develop your dissertation study.

The entire preliminary exam process (including the proposal/piloting and oral prelim) takes a  minimum  of 4 weeks to complete; however, most students will need more than 4 weeks to complete the process. All parts of the preliminary exam requiring active participation from the committee members must be carried out while a Fall or Spring semester is in session, as faculty are not available over semester breaks, on University Holidays, or during the summer to read the proposal/piloting or attend the oral preliminary exam.

If for any reason you wish to request a change in the procedure for the preliminary examination, you must write a memo to the Director of Graduate Education  before the second Tuesday of the semester in which the exam is to be taken  specifying the request and providing a rationale for it. The DOGE will decide whether or not the request will be granted.

Upon successfully completing the dissertation proposal and oral preliminary examination, you will be ready to pursue work on the dissertation (see additional requirements for “ ABD Status ”).

Time limits and other restrictions

The Graduate College requires that a student’s POSC Form is approved for the first time (does not apply to modifications) by the Graduate College (not simply submitted and routing) by November 1, April 1, or July 1 of the   semester before  taking the written preliminary examination. Also, you are required to have the preliminary oral examination at least six months prior to your dissertation defense (final oral examination). Several other requirements must be met as well (see  Preliminary examination requirements  for more information).

4.2.5a ALT Dissertation proposal and piloting

The  Dissertation Proposal  should reflect standard format for applied linguistics research proposals, followed by a section that reports on a piloting of select components of the dissertation study. The components to be piloted should be selected in consultation with the major professor and POS committee. The proposal should include the following:

• Cover Page: Cover page with your name, contact information, and the names of your POS committee members.
• Introduction: a 3- to 5-page overview of your research, including the research goals and methods to be employed.
• Literature Review: a 10- to 12-page review of the theoretical underpinning of your research, previous work in the area, and unique methodologies. For all citations, use the  American Psychological Association (APA)  style.
• Rationale: a one-paragraph to one-page rationale which includes research questions and the potential significance of the results.
• Research Design: a 5- to 10-page narrative of the project, including a description of the object of study, whether human, text, or software, the materials that will be used in the study – tests, measures, texts, equipment, software, etc. – and the procedure to be used in collecting data.
• Data Analysis: a 2- to 3-page description of how you will analyze the data in order to answer each research question.
• Piloting: a 3- to 10-page description of your piloting of your proposed methods/materials; you should discuss with your major professor and/or POS committee which components of the study should be piloted, as well as what aspects of piloting should be reported.
• Schedule: Proposed schedule of work including a realistic assessment of how long it will take for completion of each of the major parts of the research and writing.
• References: List of all references cited in the text using APA style.

You should work closely with your POS committee to ensure that the dissertation proposal and the piloting of the dissertation methods/materials are of acceptable quality to form the basis of the oral preliminary examination. After submitting your proposal/piloting, your committee will have two weeks to evaluate the proposal. Based on this evaluation, they may ask you to further develop specific parts of the proposal before moving on to the oral preliminary exam. When these requirements have been met to the satisfaction of your POS Committee, your major professor will send an email so indicating to you and to the Graduate Program Administration Assistant ( [email protected] ) before you are able to schedule the oral preliminary exam.

4.2.5b ALT Preliminary oral examination

The preliminary oral examination, as the second part of the preliminary examination, is an oral defense which helps you prepare for dissertation work in a specific research area of your choosing. You must pass the preliminary oral exam at least six months prior to your dissertation defense ( final oral examination ) per Graduate College policy.

Getting your POS committee together for the preliminary oral examination

Consult with your POS committee members about convenient meeting times. The earlier you can do this, the better, since it can be difficult to arrange a time when all faculty members are available (especially in the summer). All committee members must attend the preliminary oral exam. Preliminary oral exams may be held in person, virtually, or a combination, per Graduate College policy.

Graduate College approval must be granted  before  the exam for permanent replacements (submit a POSC Form modification in your AccessPlus account in plenty of time for routing and final approval by the Graduate College  before  the exam). For POS committee substitutions in the case of last minute emergencies, find a substitute that fills the same role on the POS committee as the absent member, contact the Graduate College right away, and submit a  Request for Committee Substitution at the Preliminary or Final Oral Exam form . See the  Graduate College Handbook  for complete details and requirements.

Reserving a meeting room / Setting up a virtual exam

For in-person/hybrid oral exams, reserving a meeting room is your responsibility and is not automatically done with the submission of the  Online Preliminary or Final Oral Exam Request  (see below). Your major professor can access the conference room schedules or you can contact the Graduate Program Administrative Assistant for assistance.

For virtual/hybrid oral exams, you should coordinate with your major professor to set up the virtual meeting space (typically using WebEx) and share the link with your committee members. It is recommended that the major professor host the virtual meeting.

Online Preliminary Oral Examination Request

After the meeting time is established, complete an  Online Preliminary or Final Oral Exam Request . You must submit this request in the online system  at least TWO weeks before your examination . Your major professor immediately receives an email with a link to go into the system and approve your request before it is reviewed by the Graduate College for final approval. All POS committee members receive an email for their information regarding your exam request date, time, and place. Because the request will specify the date and time of the preliminary oral examination, it should be submitted  only after your committee indicates that our proposal and piloting document are ready for the oral defense and you have  met all other  Preliminary Examination Requirements . You and your POS committee may not hold the exam unless the Preliminary Oral Examination has been approved by the Graduate College.

Conducting the preliminary oral examination

According to Graduate College policy, all POS committee members must be convened for the entire exam (see above for procedures to arrange a substitute member if this is not possible). You should discuss the format of the preliminary oral exam with your major professor. The oral exam typically involves a presentation-based component, a period of questions/discussion with the committee members, a confidential deliberation between committee members (without the student present), and a concluding section in which the committee’s evaluation is shared with the student.

Online Report of Preliminary Oral Examination form

The Graduate College sends an email to your major professor approximately 1 week before the exam; this email contains a link to this online form used to report exam results. The Online Report of Preliminary Oral Examination must be completed within 24 hours of the exam. All POS committee members, the student, and support staff in the graduate program receive a confirmation email that includes the exam results. The student and all POS committee members have 72 hours after the confirmation email is sent to dispute the reported results. Once the 72-hour dispute period has passed, the results are final and will be recorded on the student’s record and the student will be notified via email.

If a student receives a Conditional Pass, the conditions must be included in the Online Report of Preliminary Oral Examination form. All POS committee members and the student agree to the conditions provided by the major professor unless they dispute the conditions within 72 hours of the confirmation email being sent. A Conditional Pass must be removed by the Major Professor submitting a  Preliminary Oral Examination Conditions Met form  before the  Online Final Oral Examination Request form  can be submitted. These conditions must also be met before you will be considered ABD.

According to Graduate College policy, you must pass the  preliminary oral examination  at least six months prior to your dissertation defense ( final oral examination ). However, in practice, most students require more than six months between the oral preliminary exam and the final oral exam, particularly in cases of a conditional pass on the preliminary oral exam. Upon successfully completing the preliminary oral examination, you will be ready to pursue work on the dissertation (see additional requirements for “ ABD Status ”).

Grievances regarding the preliminary examinations

If you believe that you have legitimate reasons to appeal the decision of the POS committee, you may follow the grievance procedure outlined in the  Graduate College Handbook (see “Grievances Related to Scholarly and Professional Competence”) . Back to the top

4.2.6 ALT Dissertation Guidelines

Students need to refer to the  General Dissertation Guidelines  section as soon as they begin to establish their POS Committee and share their research interests. Back to the top

4.2.7 ALT Final Oral Defense of Dissertation (Final Oral Examination)

(effective spring 2023).

See the section on  Graduation  for more details and information regarding the Final Oral Defense of the Dissertation (Final Oral Examination) and finishing up as well as resources with links to very helpful information.

Final Oral Examinations for students in the ALT program will include two components: a public talk with time for questions and answers with the audience (1 hour) and a private meeting of the POS committee with the student (1 hour). The exam should be scheduled for two consecutive hours, based on the availability of the student and the POS committee.  Committees members must attend both components, which can be held in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.

Once the Final Oral Examination is scheduled (in accordance with  Section 1.10.2 ) and at least one week prior to the date of the examination, the student or major professor, will email an announcement of the public talk to all members of the English department (using the  [email protected]  listserv). If the Final Oral Examination will be held virtually or in hybrid format, instructions for attending the public talk remotely should be included in the announcement. Upon receiving the email announcement, the department may post it publicly (e.g., on the department website or on social media)., but such public posting will no include the videoconference link. The student may share the link with other individuals at their discretion.

During the public talk component of the Final Oral Examination, the student will present their dissertation project in a research talk (approximately 40 minutes), followed by questions from the audience (approximately 15 minutes). At the conclusion of the public talk component, the POS committee will meet privately with the student for committee questions, discussion, and evaluation. The remainder of the process will follow the procedures described in  Section 1.10.2  on the Final Oral Examination.

4.2.8 ALT Student Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes students in this program are expected to meet include:

• Demonstrate knowledge of and confidence with the use of computer applications relevant to teaching, learning, research, and assessment in applied linguistics.
• Design, implement, and evaluate algorithms for automating linguistic analysis tasks based on knowledge of natural language and speech processing programming.
• Formulate important research questions for guiding investigations that contribute to theory and practice in one or more areas of applied linguistics.
• Apply principles of research methodology to design data collection and analysis procedures to address research questions in at least one area of applied linguistics.
• Interpret and evaluate findings in view of their contribution to theory, research, and practice in the relevant area.
• Communicate ideas, discoveries, and findings to others in a professional and creative manner.
• Collaborate with other professionals to create and investigate new knowledge, practices, and products.
• Demonstrate independence and professionalism in teaching and research.

Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

The department offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Linguistics. This program prepares students to pursue advanced graduate study or to teach in colleges, adult education programs, businesses, private schools, or institutions in the U.S. or abroad.

The program's two concentrations are Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Language, Society, and Social Justice. Students in the program may also earn a certificate in TESOL and/or use appropriate courses in the program as requirements toward obtaining the Commonwealth of Virginia Endorsement for English as a Second Language.

• M.A. in Applied Linguistics Academic Program Page
• Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Language, Society, and Social Justice
• Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Undergraduate
• MA in English
• MA in Applied Linguistics
• MFA in Creative Writing
• Ph.D. in English
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5000 Batten Arts & Letters Norfolk, VA 23529

Enhance your college career by gaining relevant experience with the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. Discover our experiential learning opportunities.

Picture yourself in the classroom, speak with professors in your major, and meet current students.

From sports games to concerts and lectures, join the ODU community at a variety of campus events.