Doctorate In Linguistics

Overview

The Ph.D. degree provides training in the primary areas of the field related to speech sounds, sentence structure, meaning, and psycholinguistics; advanced training in field linguistics and documentary linguistics, experimental linguistics, corpus linguistics, and second language acquisition; and experience in presenting original research in professional venues. Students will pursue and develop in-depth expertise in at least one area of specialization.

About The Program

The Department of Linguistics & TESOL seeks to deepen our understanding of language by examining how it is represented, used, and processed. Our department works toward this goal through research and teaching in theoretical linguistics, focusing on phonology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and psycholinguistics as well as the interfaces among these domains of inquiry. In order to explore questions in these areas, we use multiple methods—including field methods, corpus-based methods, and experimental research methods—to collect and analyze data from a wide range of the world's languages and from both native and non-native speakers of these languages. This approach to the scientific study of language is the primary focus of our Ph.D. in linguistics, MA in linguistics, and BA in linguistics.

Degree Plan

Students entering the Ph.D. program (including those entering as doctoral-bound) must enter having the equivalent of LING 5300/LING 3311, LING 3330, and LING 3340. In the first two semesters of the program, students are expected to enroll in the core required classes. The doctoral degree requires graduate coursework as follows: 21 hours of linguistic core courses, 6 hours of methods courses, 3 hours of professional development, 15 hours of electives, 3 hours of dissertation proposal preparation (LING 6391), and a minimum of 9 hours of dissertation (LING 6999). Students entering with an M.A. in linguistics from UTA may be able to waive up to 15 hours, at the discretion of the department, for equivalent courses completed at a B or higher in their master’s program.

Theoretical Core Courses --- 21

Complete all seven of the following courses

• LING 5320 --- Phonological Theory
• LING 5330 --- Formal Syntax
• LING 5322 --- Laboratory Phonology
• LING 5328 --- Psycholinguistics: Sentence Processing
• LING 5331 --- Advanced Formal Syntax
• LING 5345 --- Semantics
• LING 5347 --- Pragmatics

Methods Courses --- 6

Select two of the following four courses

• LING 5380 --- Field Methods
• LING 5381 --- Corpus Linguistics
• LING 6380 --- Field Methods Seminar
• LING 6381 --- Statistics For Linguists (or an approved course in research design or statistics offered by another department)

Professional Development Courses --- 4

(will include new 1-credit LING 6100)

• LING 6300 --- Professional Writing Seminar

Electives --- 15

Select five UTA graduate courses in consultation with your advisor

Dissertation Proposal Hours --- 3

• LING 6391 --- Research In Linguistics

Dissertation Writing Hours --- 9

• LING 6999 --- Dissertation

Total Hours --- 58

All Ph.D. students must demonstrate knowledge of core areas in linguistics bypassing the diagnostic examination requirement outlined on the departmental website.

Doctoral students must satisfy all the coursework requirements of the doctoral program prior to taking courses that do not fulfill the requirements. Any exception to this policy must be approved by a majority vote of the Graduate Studies Committee.

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Career Opportunities

• Tenure-line and non-Tenure-line professorships
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Language consultants, Language engineers
• Translators

Why Choose Us?

• Located in the DFW area, where there are speakers of many different languages
• Active research environment with many opportunities to win internal research awards and grants
• Many opportunities to be trained to teach college-level classes
• An opportunity to also complete a graduate TESOL certificate

Admission Factors

Admission decisions into a degree program in the Department of Linguistics & TESOL are made on the basis of two types of factors, quantitative and qualitative. Ph.D. applicants must include an academic writing sample.

1. Quantitative Factors

• Grade Point Average (GPA
  • For Ph.D. program applicants, GPA is based on all graduate work completed and recorded at the time the applicant submits an application for admission.
  • For BA-to-PhD applicants, GPA is on the undergraduate GPA as determined by the UT Arlington Graduate School.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores. All applicants are required to submit GRE scores. There are no exceptions. The Department of Linguistics & TESOL evaluates each applicant’s sub-scores separately: verbal, quantitative, and analytical.
• TOEFL Scores (international applications only) Applicants for whom English is not their native language must also present a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS equivalent score. There are no exceptions.

2. Qualitative Factors

• Letters of Recommendation. Each applicant must present three (3) letters of recommendation that unequivocally indicate that the applicant is prepared for and capable of successful graduate study in linguistics or TESOL at UT Arlington. The letters should further indicate that the applicant is capable of completing the appropriate degree program.
• Statement of intent for academic study in our department. Each applicant must write a statement that explains their plan of study and specialization in our department. The statement will be evaluated on the degree to which it is clear, reasonable, and consistent with the research and teaching agenda of the current faculty in Linguistics & TESOL at UT Arlington. Prospective applicants should consider the departmental website and faculty research and teaching areas as they evaluate whether they would be able to accomplish their plan of study in our department, especially if they are applying to the doctoral program. The statement should also convey a level of commitment and maturity commensurate with the applicant’s desired degree goals.
• Applicants to the Ph.D. in Linguistics programs should have passed the following three courses or reasonable equivalents as determined by the graduate advisor (UT Arlington equivalents are noted as in parentheses):
  • English composition (ENGL 1302)
  • College-level mathematics (MATH 1302)
  • A laboratory science (any 1000-level course in BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, or PHYS; LING 5322 may also be used to fulfill this requirement)
• Applicants to the Ph.D. and the BA-to-Ph.D in Linguistics programs should present all of the following: evidence of research activity during undergraduate studies; an undergraduate transcript showing coursework which demonstrates that the applicant has passed with a B or higher the following three courses or reasonable equivalents as determined by the graduate advisor (UT Arlington equivalents are noted as in parentheses):
  • Introduction to linguistics (LING 3311/LING 5300)
  • Phonetics and phonology (LING 3330)
  • Morphology and syntax (LING 3340)
• Previous Graduate Work. Ph.D. applicants must present at least 30 semester credit hours of previous graduate-level coursework in any field (not necessarily linguistics) and must meet the linguistics course equivalents (LING 3311/LING 5300, LING 3330, LING 3340).
• Ph.D. applicants who present fewer than 30 semester credit hours will be assessed based on whether they meet the criteria for unconditional admission for the accelerated Ph.D. in linguistics, and whether their coursework includes the linguistics course equivalents (LING 3311/LING 5300, LING 3330, LING 3340). Such candidates who meet the unconditional admission criterion and who also have passed the three linguistics course equivalents will be considered for the BA-to-PhD program (i.e., "doctoral-bound"). Ph.D. applicants who present fewer than 30 semester credit hours and do not meet the unconditional admission criterion AND also the criterion of passing the three linguistics course equivalents will automatically be considered as applicants to the M.A. Linguistics program.
• Writing Sample (required for Ph.D. applicants): Applicants must submit an academic writing sample (research paper) of 20 pages or less. The paper must be in an area of language or linguistic study, and demonstrate a strong prose style, a solid handle on argumentation, and the ability to do academic research in linguistics or a closely related field.