Ph.D. in Phonetics

The curriculum covers three areas: (A) obligations associated with assessment of work for the dissertation; (B) basic study obligations; and (C) academic research or pedagogical activities. Specific study obligations (assessment of study) for all three areas are in boldface type. If not stipulated otherwise, they are organized in the credit form.

A.ASSESSMENT OF WORK FOR THE DISSERTATION

Progress related to work on the dissertation is assessed in the individual study plan (ISP) through the following study obligations:

1. 1) PhD SeminarI, II, III, IV etc. (AXFODOS01–04, from Year 5 onwardsAXFODOS0n with repeated registration)
2. - The PhD student is required to participate in PhD Seminars for the duration of their studies.
3. - Due to the low number of students in the programme in Phonetics, the PhD Seminar is held once a month.
4. - The chief purpose of PhD Seminars is for the students to present their progress and report on their scientific activities. Moreover, it facilitates regular meetings of the students with one another and with their supervisors.
5. - Within the seminar a PhD student performs the following activities:
6. – presentation of the progress made on their dissertation project followed by a discussion and comments
7. – critical reflection of the academic activities (papers, posters, articles, etc.) of other PhD students
8. – training in presentations for international conferences, exchange of experiences from study trips, fellowships, and conferences
9. – training for dissertation defence
10. – exchange of experience from reading, study trips, fellowships, and conferences
11. - In the event of a fellowship, the student is excused from personal participation in seminars, but is still obliged to present.

- Required time of fulfilment: yearly for the entire duration of studies

2) Literature review for PhD Dissertation (AXFODIS03)

- The PhD student submits to their supervisor an annotated list of relevant academic literature relating to the dissertation topic. For the studied titles, a summary and evaluation must be provided.

- Required time of fulfilment: typically Year 1 of study.

3) Annotated Plan of PhD Dissertation (AXFODIS04)

- The student submits an annotated outline of the thesis with an indication of the expected scope/extent for all the chapters and sections.

- Required time of fulfilment: typically Year 2 of study.

4) Presentation at PhD Seminar (AXFODIS05)

- After the submission of the Annotated Plan (see above), the student has to present the introduction into the research topic of the dissertation.

- Required time of fulfilment: typically Year 2 of study once Obligation 3 is completed.

5) Chapter of PhD Dissertation (AXFODIS06-07, from Year 5 onwards AXFODIS06 with repeated registration)

- The PhD student submits to the supervisor a draft of a completed part of the dissertation (chapter).

- Required time of fulfilment: any time in Year 3 of study and in each additional year of studies

6) Presentation of PhD Dissertation (AXFODIS08)

- Presentation of the whole research project and the dissertation during the PhD Seminar.

- Required time of fulfilment: typically Year 3 or 4 when the dissertation is mostly completed in its raw form.

B. BASIC STUDY OBLIGATIONS

Obligations mandatory for all students of any PhD programme at the CU FA

7) Foreign language

1. - English (AXJAZ0001), German (AXJAZ0005), French (AXJAZ0002) (students opt for one of these languages).
2. - Required time of fulfilment: Years 1 to 2 of study

8) Theoretical and Methodological Seminar I–II (credits and examination)(AXFOTMS02–03)

1. - Theoretical and Methodological Seminar provides a complex insight in the research procedures and contemporaneous theoretical issues in speech sciences.
2. - Due to the low number of students in the programme in Phonetics, the PhD Seminar is held once in three or four weeks.
3. - Theoretical and Methodological Seminar may involve the following activities:
   1. o discussions of theoretical or methodological problems related to dissertation projects of individual students
   2. o reading and analysis of pertinent scientific texts
   3. o debates with experts from other laboratories and institutes
4. - Theoretical and Methodological Seminar I is credited.
5. - Theoretical and Methodological Seminar II is concluded with an oral examination that summarises the issues handled in the seminar.
6. - Required time of fulfilment: Years 1 and 2 of study.

Obligations assigned individually

9) Individual study obligations (AXFOSPE…..various codes according to the topic)

- According to the nature of the dissertation topic, the supervisor sets two additional obligations for the PhD student. Students take an examination and/or submit a written assignment with the potential to develop their expertise in the area of the dissertation project. The following topics are possible options:

· Production and Perceptual Mechanisms of Speech (AXFOSPE13)
· Speech Acoustics and Speech Technology (AXFOSPE14)
· First or Second Language Acquisition (AXFOSPE12)
· Phonological Theories (AXFOSPE15)

1. - Required time of fulfilment: Years 1 to 3 of study.

C.ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

10) Fellowship Abroad (AXFOOAK09)

- The year of fulfilment is not specified because fellowships depend on availability and cannot be fully predicted in advance. The standard total duration of a fellowship is one to three months. The obligation can be fulfilled even after taking the state PhD exam, and its fulfilment is a requirement to register for the dissertation defence.

- In serious cases (childcare, etc.), based on a request approved by the dean, a fellowship abroad can be replaced by one of the following academic activities: active participation in a conference, successful grant application, a professional translation, academic instruction, or an academic publication.

11) Active Conference Participation (AXFOOAK10)

- Students are required to present a paper at an international conference. The paper can be prepared by a team of which the student is a member.

- Required time of fulfilment: no later than Year 3 of study.

12) Peer-Reviewed Publication (AXFOOAK11)

- Publication of an original academic study in a peer-reviewed academic journal listed as a reputable periodical.

- Required time of fulfilment: no later than Year 4 of study.

Academic activities in addition to the above-stipulated obligations are encouraged, and if they relate to the dissertation topic, the student records them in the regular annual assessment.

Further study obligations

All PhD students must be in regular contact with their supervisor. They have to participate in research and grant projects running at the Institute of Phonetics, and contribute to the pre-processing of the speech material. Acquisition of international contacts in the pertinent scientific area is required. Teaching experience is highly recommended.

13) State PhD Examination (ASDZK0001)

Required time of fulfilment: Year 3 of study

Fulfilment of ALL study requirements from Section B of the plan is necessary before the application for the Final Examination.

During the State PhD Examination, the student presents and explains (supports with arguments) the methodological concepts of the dissertation project. The required format is the oral presentation in the conference style. No later than 15 days before the examination a written synopsis of the presentation must be submitted. The examination also comprises an academic debate, in which the student displays their argumentation and effective discussion skills.

The date of the State PhD Examination is set after the written synopsis is submitted. The examining board has three to five members. The supervisor can only be present, but not examining and not voting on the final outcome of the examination.

14) Defence of PhD Dissertation (viva voce, “obhajoba disertační práce”, AX0007305)

- All obligations specified in the ISP must be met when registering for the dissertation defence.

Standard period of study: 4 years

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPILING OF THE INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN (ISP)

The template of the ISP is created in the SIS by the Information Systems Office (“Oddělení informačních systémů”), assigning automatically to every PhD student the requirements applicable to all students in the PhD programme (i.e. those items in the general curriculum above that carry a code). Once this basic ISP is created, the student – having consulted the supervisor – must add the following in the SIS:

1. The foreign language, selected from the offer of languages associated in SIS with the specific plan.

2. The individual study obligations, i.e., (a) Specialised Seminar, and (b) one or two individual obligations specified above.These obligations may be entered either by selecting an existing subject or (where the subject does not yet exist in SIS) by entering the “subject description” (“popis předmětu”), which describes in words the obligation while associating it with a certain subject in SIS at a later time.

3. The year of fulfilment for all obligations for which a year range is offered above in the plan instead of a specific year of fulfilment.

Graduates have in-depth theoretical knowledge of the key areas related to the description of human speech and the sound patterns of Czech; in the area of the dissertation, they are very well acquainted with the current state-of-the-art, which includes the knowledge of both primary and secondary sources. They are able to reflect upon their branch of study against the background of general linguistic description of language. Graduates are able to pursue professional scientific work at an international level and make effective use of tools for phonetic analysis and statistical data processing, corresponding to their area of expertise. The doctoral program enables graduates to work as researchers and university teachers, or in the specific area related to their dissertation.