Graduate

Guidelines for the Preliminary PhD Examination

Rationale

The preliminary evaluation is designed to assess the breadth of the student's knowledge of the discipline, the student's achievement during the first year of graduate study, and the potential to apply research methods independently. The preliminary evaluation is a requirement of the graduate school.

Timing

The evaluation is conducted at approximately the end of the first year of full-time graduate study. The evaluation is used to identify those students who may be expected to complete a doctoral program successfully and also to reveal areas of weakness in the student's preparation. Evaluation results must be reported promptly to the dean's office, but no later than the last day of the term in which the evaluation occurs. In the Department of Linguistics, the preliminary exam is usually administered early in the third term of the PhD program.

Form of the evaluation

The preliminary PhD evaluation consists of two components:

A. Three problem sets:

  1. Phonology
  2. Syntax
  3. Morphology

Students work on the three problem sets for one week (Monday to Monday, including one weekend. There is one week for all three sets). Students are strongly discouraged from consulting outside sources. The intent of this section of the examination is to assess the student's ability to do linguistic analysis. As with any University examination, if sources are not acknowledged, the exam will be considered to involve plagiarism. This will result in a failing grade and may entail disciplinary review by the associate dean for graduate studies.

B. Two essay examinations:

The second part of the examination consists of two essays, to be written over the course of 11 days (Friday through Monday, including two weekends). Normally, there is one week between handing in the problem sets and receiving the essay examination questions.

  1. The first essay is to be on one aspect of linguistic theory: either syntax, phonology, or morphology. A choice of questions is provided. At least one question will be available for each of the core areas.
  2. The second essay is to be chosen from the student's area of proposed specialization at the PhD level: an aspect of American Indian languages, applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, or Hispanic linguistics.

    Note: The director of graduate studies (DGS) has copies of past examinations on file. Students are encouraged to consult the DGS and obtain copies of these exams to help them prepare.

Possible Outcomes

The following outcomes are possible:

  1. A student may pass both the problem-solving component and the essay component and may continue in the program.
  2. A student may fail (A) the problem-solving component but pass (B) the essay component, or vice versa.

    It is also possible to fail a subpart of either A or B. Each subpart may be retaken just once. For example, if a student fails the phonology portion, he or she retakes just that part. If a student fails phonology and syntax, the student takes both parts a second time. Similarly, if a student fails an essay, it may be rewritten just one time. If any subpart is failed a second time, the student will not be permitted to continue in the PhD program. He or she may elect to complete the MA degree.

  3. A student may fail the entire exam. Only under very exceptional circumstances will the student be permitted to retake the exam if the whole exam results in a failing grade.