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About the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ
Graduate Studies Calendar 2020-2021 Program Descriptions Linguistics LING
Linguistics - LING
Contact Information

The Linguistics Graduate Program is offered through the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures.

Location: Craigie Hall D, Room 310
Program number: 403.220.6136
Fax: 403.284.3810
Email address: linggrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA)

The norm is full-time study, but part-time study may also be arranged. Full-time study is defined as in the Graduate Calendar (see Student Status) and is not compatible with full-time employment. Status of students with part-time employment will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

a) Significant undergraduate training in linguistics, normally including at least one course in syntax and one course in phonology.

b) A statement of purpose specifying the applicant’s research interests and reasons for wishing to pursue a Master of Arts degree at the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ.

c) A sample of previous work in linguistics or a related field (e.g., an Honours undergraduate thesis, or a course paper).

d) Three reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) A master’s degree in linguistics, or a master’s degree in a related field with significant training in linguistics at the graduate level, normally including at least one graduate course in syntax and one graduate course in phonology, with a minimum grade point average of 3.40 on a four-point scale.

b) A statement of purpose specifying the applicant’s research interests and reasons for wishing to pursue a doctoral degree at the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ.

c) A sample of previous work in linguistics or a related field (e.g., a seminar paper or Master of Arts thesis).

d) Three reference letters.

3. Application Deadline

Application deadlines are available on the Future Students website:

Master of Arts:

Doctor of Philosophy:

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to the Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

a) Two formal departmental presentations relating to the student's thesis research. Continuation in program is dependent upon these presentations being judged acceptable by the faculty members of the Linguistics program.

b) A minimum of 18 units, including Linguistics 611, 613, and 697.

c) Linguistics 600.

d) Knowledge of a language other than English demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Graduate Studies Committee. The following groups will be judged on acceptance to the program to have met the MA language requirement:

  • Students whose mother tongue is not English and who were required to satisfy the English language proficiency requirements for admission to program.
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of past schooling in another language (e.g., schooling in an immersion program in French, German or a First Nations language).
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of having completed a foreign language secondary school credit such as Spanish Language Arts 30, or French Language Arts 31.
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of at least A1 (“Basic User”) level of proficiency in another language in the Common European Frame of Reference from a certified testing agency or a recognised academic institution (e.g., university or college) or a recognised language teaching organization.

Students whose mother tongue is English and who cannot provide evidence of prior exposure to another language on admission can meet the MA language requirement during their MA program in the following ways:

  • by providing evidence of having received credit for 3 units for a ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ language course, e.g., Chinese 205, French 209, German 202, Japanese 205, Russian 201.
  • by providing evidence of having received credit for one of the following courses: Indigenous Languages 205, Linguistics 551 or 605.

It is the responsibility of the student to provide relevant documentation that the MA language requirement has been met. It is strongly recommended that this program requirement be met within the first 16 months of program. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the student meets the deadline for completing this requirement.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) Completion of 18 units in Linguistics beyond the MA, including Linguistics 611 and 613. Course requirements are normally completed during the first two years.

Note: No more than 6 units can be taken with the same instructor.

b) Linguistics 600.

c) Knowledge of a language other than English demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Graduate Studies Committee. The following groups will be judged on acceptance to the program to have met the PhD language requirement:

  • Students whose mother tongue is not English and who were required to satisfy the English language proficiency requirements for admission to program.
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of past schooling in another language (e.g., schooling in an immersion program in French, German or a First Nations language).
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of having completed a foreign language secondary school credit such as Spanish Language Arts 30, or French Language Arts 31.
  • Students whose mother tongue is English and who provide evidence of at least A1 (“Basic User”) level of proficiency in another language in the Common European Frame of Reference from a certified testing agency or a recognised academic institution (e.g., university or college) or a recognised language teaching organization.

Students whose mother tongue is English and who cannot provide evidence of prior exposure to another language on admission can meet the doctoral language requirement during their PhD program in the following ways:

  • by providing evidence of having received credit for 3 units for a ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ language course, e.g. Chinese 205, French 209, German 202, or Japanese 205, or Russian 201.
  • by providing evidence of having received credit for one of the following courses: Indigenous Languages 205, Linguistics 551 or 605.

It is the responsibility of the student to provide relevant documentation that the doctoral language requirement has been met. This program requirement must be met by the time the thesis proposal is submitted. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the student meets the deadline for completing this requirement.

Copyediting

Copyediting of the examination version of the thesis is not permitted. Students may make use of a copyeditor or copyediting service for the final version only of the thesis. The name of the copyeditor or copyediting service must appear on the Acknowledgements page.

Acknowledgement is required whether the copyediting was done by a paid professional or by an acquaintance, friend or family member. Fees for copyediting must be assumed by the student.

6. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

At both the master’s and the doctoral level, with the approval of the Graduate Program Director and the Department Head, a student may take for credit a maximum of 6 units at the undergraduate level. Normally, only 500-level courses are approved as acceptable, and students must provide evidence that such courses represent a necessary contribution to their program.

7. Time Limit

Expected completion time is two years for a master’s degree and four years for a doctoral degree. Maximum completion time is four years for a master’s degree and six years for a doctoral degree.

8. Supervisory Assignments

Master of Arts

A student is assigned a supervisor on admission to the program based on the stated research interests of the student, the disciplinary expertise of faculty members and Departmental capacity. This faculty member commits to supervising the student’s thesis and to advising and mentoring the student. Since research interests can change while in program, students are free to select a different supervisor after admission to program but must finalize supervisory arrangements by the end of the second term of study (usually April). When a student wishes to change supervisor, that choice must be made by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

Doctor of Philosophy

A student is assigned a supervisor on admission to the program based on the stated research interests of the student, the disciplinary expertise of faculty members and Departmental capacity. This faculty member commits to supervising the student’s thesis and to advising and mentoring the student. Since research interests can change while in program, students are free to select a different supervisor after admission to program but will normally finalize supervisory arrangements by the end of the second term of study (usually April) and must finalize supervisory arrangements by the end of the second annual registration. When a student wishes to change supervisor, that choice must be made by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned, in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

Once the student has finalized the choice of a thesis supervisor, a supervisory committee is struck. It will normally consist of the supervisor and two other faculty members from the Department. One of the two members of this committee may be external to the department. It is desirable to have at least one committee member with supervisory experience at the doctoral level. The supervisory committee must be recommended by the Graduate Program Director and be approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies no later than three months after supervisory arrangements are finalized. This will normally be during the summer of the first year of study, but no later than the third month following the second annual registration. The responsibility for organizing the supervisory committee lies with the supervisor but it should be constituted in consultation with the student.

9. Required Examinations

Doctor of Philosophy Candidacy

Doctoral students must pass a Field of Study examination with oral and written components. Doctoral students are required to take the Field of Study Examination after completion of all course work, normally within 26 months of first registration. For complete details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements, see document.

Thesis Examination

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Thesis Examinations, the Department requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

10. Research Proposal Requirements

Master of Arts
Students in the master's program must complete Linguistics 697.

Doctor of Philosophy
Students in the doctoral program must complete a written thesis proposal, approved by the Supervisory Committee. Doctoral students must submit a draft thesis proposal to their Supervisory Committee within two months of passing the Field of Study examination. See for further information about the proposal requirements and approval process.

11. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is normally available to qualified students. Funding is provided to full-time students only. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar.

Information on teaching and research assistantships is available on the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures graduate programs web page: .