- Nominations (including self-nominations) for the LSA Executive Committee are due by March 22. Please send nominations, supporting statements, and inquiries to Richard P. Meier, Chair of the Nominating Committee.
- Proposals for Organized Sessions for the LSA's 2011 Annual Meeting are being accepted through April 23, 2010. Read more ...
- The LSA has launched a free membership program for new PhDs. Learn more.
Graduate Study in Linguistics:
Choosing a Program That's Right for You
When deciding which graduate program to attend, it is valuable to consider both the overall quality of each program, on the one hand, and how good a fit it is for you, on the other. The suggestions below will help guide you in evaluating both types of criteria. Answers to many of the questions listed here - or contact information for people who can answer them- can be found on department websites.
Points to Consider
- Degree Offerings and Requirements
- What degrees does the program offer? M.A., Ph.D., or both?
- What are the degree requirements for the program? What are the required courses, and what elective options are there?
- Admission
- What are the formal requirements for admission?
- How selective is the program? How many students apply each year, and how many are admitted?
- How much linguistic background is expected of students entering the program?
- What training do students entering the program typically have?
- Areas of Interest
- Are there faculty there who would be able to advise you in your work?
- Do faculty and students in the department specialize in your area of interest?
- Does the department offer graduate courses in your area of interest?
- Do other departments on campus offer related courses?
- Funding
- What percentage of graduate students receive (full) funding?
- Is funding guaranteed? For how many years? Does it include summers?
- What does funding cover (e.g. tuition and stipend)? Is health insurance included?
- What form does funding take (e.g. fellowships, teaching or research assistantships, or both)?
- Do students in the program have a record of being awarded external fellowships (e.g. NSF Graduate Research Fellowships or Javits Fellowships)?
- Research
- What research opportunities does the department offer?
- What type of research projects are students involved in (both independently, and jointly with faculty)?
- How receptive are faculty members to working with students on research?
- Teaching
- Who in the department teaches the graduate courses?
- How many graduate courses are offered each year?
- What is the student-to-faculty ratio (in graduate courses and in the department)?
- Are undergraduates enrolled in the same courses as graduate students?
- If graduate students are funded by teaching, which kind of teaching opportunities will be available to you? What training will you receive?
- Student Resources and Representation
- What resources and facilities does the department or university offer for graduate students (e.g. labs, computers, office space)?
- Who advises graduate students?
- What kind of representation do students have (e.g. representative to the faculty, graduate student club/association in the department, etc.)?
- Graduation and Attrition
- How long does it take most students to complete the program?
- What is the graduation rate?
- Job Placement
- What is the job placement rate for students coming out of the program?
- What kind of jobs do graduates of the program accept?
People to Contact
Current students
Ask current students about their experiences in the program and whether the program would be a
good fit for you given your background and interests. You might also ask them about the other
programs they considered when applying to graduate school. Many programs list student interests
and contact information on their website; you might also ask faculty members for recommendations
of students to contact.
Current faculty members
Ask current faculty members who work in the subfield in which you are interested, in that department
or in related departments on campus, about the structure and requirements of the program,
interdisciplinary connections, and students in the program you should contact.
Chair and/or graduate advisor of the department
Ask the chair and/or graduate advisor about the requirements for applying to and proceeding
through the program.
Specialists in the field
Ask specialists in your area of interest about the program where they got their training,
which programs specialize in their subfield, and which programs they recommend.
