1. Objectives of the program
The discipline of general linguistics covers empirically based theories about human language, linguistic communication and the human language faculty. Modern linguistics studies language both from a synchronic and a diachronic point of view, as an independent object of study and as a constitutive part of the total study of man, covering both the content and the expression sides of language. The discipline can be viewed as a connecting link between the study of specific languages, sociology and natural science. Within the compass of general linguistics not only basic research is included but also applied research with e.g. a pedagogical, social, medical or technical focus.
The Ph.D program is constructed so as to give graduates linguistic theory and methodology as well as to enable them to make practical use of these in their own research, resulting in a Ph.D or Licentiate degree.
2. Eligibility. Requirements and recommendations
2.1. Entrance requirements and qualifications
To be admitted to the Ph.D program in linguistics Swedish university applicants must, in addition to satisfying the general requirements, have completed basic courses up to a value of 120 credit points, 60 points of which must be either in general linguistics or phonetics.
Graduates who have an equivalent background acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad, can also qualify for entrance. For Swedish student this holds, for example, for persons with a Master's degree in computational linguistics and - with some supplementary study - to holders of a degree in Speech pathology (logopedi). Students who do not have sufficient background in linguistics can acquire this through independent studies or through participation in supplementary courses given at the department.
2.2. Recommended prerequisities for participation in the program
The ability to read scientific literature in Scandinavian and other languages, especially English, is an important prerequisite for successful studies. A good oral written language proficiency in English and Swedish greatly facilitates an active participation in the learning process
Depending on the student's direction, of interests) some extra studies outside the frame of general linguistics may also prove necessary
3. Content and design of the program
The Ph.D. linguistics research program extends over a 4-year period of full-time studies (totalling 160 points)) leading up to the degree of Ph.D Doctor of Philosophy. The program consists of courses (70 points) and a scientific study, to be reported in a doctoral thesis (90 points).
A Fil. Lic. degree (Philosophical Licentiate) corresponds to a 2-year full-time (80-points) period. This degree comprises courses (40 points) plus a scientific study, reported through the writing of a licentiate thesis (40 points).
Foreign students have the option of graduating with a Master's degree. This degree comprises courses (40 points) and a scientific study reported in a 20-point MA thesis.
At the outset of the program the student and his/her adviser or tutor establish and agree on an individual plan of studies. This plan can be modified later if the need arises. It is usually advisable to take courses during the earlier part of the program. This does not mean however that all courses have to be completed before the topic of one' s thesis has been decided and the preliminary work on it started.
Over the whole duration of the program students are expected to take an active part in the seminars and guest lectures which are being held at the department.
3.1 Special interests
The Ph.D. linguistics research program besides general linguistics offers the possibility for graduates to specialize in:
Phonetics
Computational linguistics
Communication handicaps
Languages for which no graduate research has yet been set up (e.g. the Malay or Thai languages).
Specializations may call for partly tailor-made programs.
The choice of speciality can also be reflected in the title of the degree awarded.
3. 2. The Courses
Ph.D, courses cover a total range of 70 credit points, divided into two blocks:
* Compulsory courses (30 points)
* Optiona1 courses (40 points)
3.2.1 Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses cover 30-points, They fall into two parts.
Linguistic Methods (15 points)
Linguistic Theory (15 points)
Linguistic Methods includes the compulsory Basic Method course (5 points) plus two further 5-point method courses selected from the following list:
* Experimental Methods
* Linguistic Field Work
* Language description interviews
* Methods of formalization
* Statistics
* Source criticism and philological method
Linguistic Theory includes the following three 5-point courses:
* History of Linguistics
* Classics of Linguistics
* Current topics in linguistic theory
The syllabus for the Licentiate and the Master's degree must incorporate the compulsory 30-point courses
3.2.2 Optional courses
The optional courses cover 40 points (10 points for the Licentiate and Master's degrees) and are selected so that when this is required the students can acquire a proficiency corresponding to that which is available in the undergraduate program (not a requirement for students who have already gone through the undergraduate linguistics programs). Students are especially advised (if this has not previously been done) to take the following undergraduate courses, where 5 points at the undergraduate level counts for 2,5 points in the Ph,D. program.
* Historical Linguistics
* Non-Verbal Communication
* Psycholinguistics
* Sociolinguistics
* Neurolinguistics or Language and Speech Pathology
* The Ontogenesis of Language
* Pragmatics
* Phonological Theory
* Computational Linguistics
'When the conditions stated above have been met the remaining courses may be chosen freely by students in consultation with their adviser or tutor. The most important criterion is that the courses selected are relevant to the graduate's research program. Another important criterion is that essential theoretical areas are not neglected.
3.2.3 Reading requirements
A 5-point course in the Ph.D. program normally corresponds to 1500 pages of course literature. In other cases the amount of required reading is decided separately for each course.
3 3. Dissertation
The research graduate will have to write a scientific dissertation. For the Doctoral Thesis, this should be designed either as a coherent self-contained scientific work (monograph) or consist of a synopsis together with independently published scientific articles written by the student alone or jointly with someone else (a collection). Every thesis should be the result of independent research work and must be of significance for the area investigated.
For the Licentiate the student will also have to write a scientific thesis. This thesis should be designed as a coherent self-contained scientific work in the form of a monograph It should be of a high enough quality to be judged worthy of publishing as a whole or in abstract form in a scientific journal or equivalent publication series.
For the Master's degree the student will have to write an MA thesis. The requirements are essentially the same as for the Licentiate except that it should represent about half as much work.
4 Teaching
Students receive instruction by way of teacher-led lectures seminars and tutoring Active participation in seminars is compulsory. This applies both to thesis seminars (where candidates report on the progress of their research) as well as to departmental general seminars.
Symposia, summer schools and conferences of various kinds also offer a valuable complement to scheduled teaching. In many cases students can benefit greatly from also participating in instruction at other university departments
5 Tutoring
Research graduates are entitled to tutoring during the whole time which, is deemed necessary for them to carry out a prescribed program (of l60 points for the Ph.D examination! 80 points for the Licentiate). They are assigned a main tutor and an assistant tutor. Tutorials can take the form of a private exchange of views between students and tutors, or be open, in working seminars, where new sections of a dissertation, or rough drafts as well as other specific problems are taken up for discussion within a small group of researchers and research students.
6 Evaluation and Grading
Grades in the Ph.D program are given by the responsible examiners. For each course forming part of the research program the teachers responsible for the course decide on a method of knowledge assessment, in consultation, with the other teachers on the course, the responsible examiner and the students themselves. Standard requirements include active participation, course papers, oral or written tests. If a graduate reads a course on his/her own the examination will consist in writing an essay in addition to taking an oral or written test to account for the literature.
Students who may have been prevented from attending lectures :are entitled by special arrangement, to be examined by the teachers responsible for the course. Students who have successfully completed parts of the research program at another university in Sweden have a right to get this counted as valid. Students who have completed equivalent courses in other countries are also entitled to get them validated.
The Doctoral thesis is graded in accordance with university regulations. The thesis for the Licentiate (and for the Master's degree) is graded by the examiner in consultation, with other research tutors of the department including the essay writer's tutor.
Tests and examinations undergone in the doctoral program should be graded with one of the two values: satisfactory (passed) or unsatisfactory (failed). This applies both to the courses and to the dissertation, (thesis).