Advising

MA Students

MA Advising

MA students are generally advised by the Graduate Advisor, and must meet each semester before the enrollment period begins. Students on the thesis plan may also meet with their thesis advisor. After advising, the advising hold is lifted in the online registration system.Ìý

Each student should make their own copy of theÌý, update it every semester, and share it with their advisor for the advising session.

The Graduate Advisor can address all questions related to:Ìý

  • Course selection: offerings in Linguistics Ìý/ Ìý
  • Course substitution(s)Ìý
    If a student believes any prior coursework satisfies an MA requirement, they can formally request a requirement waiver together with the prior course syllabus. The student must earn an equal number of elective LING course credits for any required MA course that is waived.
  • Transfer credit
    Requests for transfer of up to 9 credits require department approval and are regulated by the Graduate School. Please see the Graduate School transfer credit instructions and form. Approved transfer credits will appear on the CU graduateÌýtranscript and will count toward the requirements for the MA degree.
  • Fulfilling the language prerequisite
    Knowledge of a language other than one’s native language is a prerequisite to admission to the MA. English fulfills this requirement for international students who were educated in a different language. This requirement can otherwise be fulfilled by:
    • passing at least one college-level language courseÌýat the third year level or above with a minimum grade of B;
    • passing two years of college-level language courses in two different languages with a minimum grade of B;
    • passing an evaluation of language skills when proficiency is not the result of formal study.

PhD AdvisingÌý

PhD students must meet with the Graduate Advisor and/or their dissertation advisor each semester before the enrollment period begins. After advising, the advising hold will be lifted in the online registration system.Ìý

Each student should make their own copy of theÌý,Ìýupdate it each semester, and share it with the advisor for the advising session. Requirements for the PhD degree include 30 credits of coursework and a minimum of 30 dissertation credit hours.Ìý

By the end of the second semester of doctoral study, students must choose a faculty advisor and two additional tenured or tenure-track Linguistics faculty members to compose theirÌýadvisory committee. This committee has the responsibility and power to approve virtually all degree requirements beyond the required core courses, including reading and evaluating the prelim and synthesis papers. The advisory committee also typically forms the core of the five-member thesis committee, which must include one CU faculty member from outside Linguistics. .

Students should meet and consult with their faculty advisor regularly. Advisors monitor their students' progress through the degree milestones, provide feedback and assessment, and may discuss remedial measures for any student not making adequate progress..