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Linguistics, PhD
The Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures has particular strengths in multilingual language acquisition, phonology, and syntax. Students are encouraged to take courses in a wide variety of departments and programs across the university.
Overview of the Program
The phonology curriculum emphasizes current theoretical perspectives, including optimality theory, and the collection, description, and interpretation of novel phonological and phonetic data. Students may also study phonological acquisition and development. Courses feature extensive work in data analysis and problem-solving, focusing on the construction and evaluation of phonological theories, particularly in light of new empirical data.
The syntax curriculum includes the dual emphases of empirical and theoretical perspectives. It offers a variety of foundational courses that build analytic and argumentation skills, as well as specialized coursework on current issues in syntactic theory. The courses consist of intensive work in problem-solving. They combine the discovery and description of new linguistic data with the exploration of the implications of such facts in testing and constructing syntactic theories.
The acquisition curriculum emphasizes multilingual language syntax and phonological development in simultaneous, sequential, and late learners across a variety of learning contexts. Students have research opportunities that provide an overview and analysis of current language acquisition research.
PhD students may enroll in the Certificate in Cognitive Science of Language program of study offered through the Graduate College. This certificate provides students with multidisciplinary training in cognitive science—a field that complements linguistics in many diverse ways—and the opportunity to work closely with faculty and graduate students from other departments across campus.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- be familiar with the fundamental concepts of phonology, syntax, and an additional specialization area typically focused on an aspect of language acquisition in multilingual populations;
- conduct original research in the field of linguistics by writing two comprehensive exam papers, of publishable quality, to be presented to the department no later than their third year in the program;
- conduct original research that will culminate in a dissertation, defended by an oral exam;
- gain experience with experimental methods and analysis through participation in faculty-run labs and discussion groups across campus that focus on language acquisition and development;
- expand their understanding of how the fundamental concepts of linguistics relate to those of cognate areas determined with their advisor, such as psychology, education, anthropology, and computer science, providing them with a broad perspective on human language;
- take courses in statistical methods and have a clear understanding of how to carry out and interpret statistical analyses at an intermediate to advanced level;
- be encouraged to submit abstracts to conferences (national and international) to disseminate their research and to work towards publishing their comprehensive papers before graduation; and
- be encouraged to participate in cocurricular activities outside of their regular coursework.
Program Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in linguistics requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a Graduate College major program grade-point average of at least 3.50. The highly selective program provides students with a strong foundation in theoretical linguistics and helps them develop the skills they will need to explore the close relationship between linguistics and related disciplines.
Requirements Summary
- Core Courses: 22 s.h.
- Electives: 12 s.h.
- Additional Coursework: 38 s.h.
- Additional Requirements: Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation
Core Courses
Students complete the following set of required core courses for a total of 22 s.h. Core courses must be taken on an A–F graded basis.
- LING:3005: Articulatory and Acoustic Phonetics (3 s.h.)
- LING:5000: Proseminar: Morphosyntax (1 s.h.)
- LING:5010: Introduction to Syntax (3 s.h.)
- LING:5020: Introduction to Phonology (3 s.h.)
- LING:6010: Syntactic Theory (3 s.h.)
- LING:6020: Phonological Theory (3 s.h.)
- LING:6080: Topics in Second Language Acquisition (3 s.h.)
- One of the following:
- LING:6040: Linguistic Structures (3 s.h.)
- LING:6050: Language Universals Linguistic Typology (3 s.h.)
Linguistics Core Electives
Students take 12 s.h. of linguistics courses (prefix LING) numbered 4000 or above, excluding LING:4010, LING:4050, LING:4900, LING:6900, and LING:7900; these courses must be taken on an A–F graded basis. The core electives may include a maximum of 6 s.h. total from LING:4195 Linguistics Lab II, LING:5090 Special Projects, and LING:7100 Special Projects.
Additional Coursework
Students complete 38 s.h. in additional coursework. This may include additional linguistics courses (prefix LING) numbered 3000 or above. All additional coursework must be approved by a student's advisor.
Additional Requirements
Comprehensive Exam
To pass the comprehensive examination for the PhD, a student must gain approval for two papers of publishable quality. One must be in phonology or syntax. The other should be in an area of the student's choosing and must be distinct from the area of the first paper.
Dissertation
An oral defense of the dissertation and three years in residence at the University of Iowa are required. Students enroll in LING:7900 PhD Thesis while working on the dissertation. In addition, all candidates are required to gain supervised experience in teaching and research.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the graduate program in linguistics must submit an online application to the Graduate College. In addition to three letters of recommendation, the application requires a statement of purpose that outlines the student’s goals and planned area of research and identifies the faculty member(s) with whom the student would like to work.
Applicants also must provide written evidence of the ability to do advanced work in linguistics. This may include one or more of the following:
- a short squib-style paper (short notes consisting of 5,000 words maximum) that makes a specific point by calling attention to a theoretically unexpected observation about language without the need for a developed analysis or solution;
- a final course paper; and
- a research project outlining the area of investigation the applicant wishes to pursue.
Applications must be received no later than Jan. 15 for admission the following fall.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities in linguistics can be found in academia, government, industry, and the non-profit sectors.
A number of companies, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Xerox, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and other high-tech firms, regularly hire employees with linguistics degrees. Opportunities also exist for government work, for example, as a special agent linguist for the FBI.
The Linguistic Society of America has a wealth of resources available to individuals interested in pursuing a career in linguistics.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Linguistics, PhD
Plan of Study Grid (Manual) Academic Career
- First Year:
- Fall: LING:6101 Cognitive Science of Language Proseminar I (3 s.h.), Advanced syntax/phonology course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
- Spring: LING:6102 Cognitive Science of Language Proseminar II (3 s.h.), LING:7100 Special Projects (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
- Second Year:
- Fall: Advanced syntax/phonology course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Present first Comprehensive Exam paper
- Spring: LING:7100 Special Projects (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
- Third Year:
- Fall: LING:7100 Special Projects (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam
- Spring: LING:7100 Special Projects (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.), Present and defend Dissertation Prospectus
- Fourth Year:
- Fall: Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
- Spring: Elective course (3 s.h.), Elective course (3 s.h.)
- Fifth Year:
- Fall: LING:7900 PhD Thesis (3 s.h.)
- Spring: LING:7900 PhD Thesis (3 s.h.), Exam: Doctoral Final Exam
Total Hours: 72 s.h.