PhD Program - School of Linguistics and Language Studies

The PhD in Linguistics, Language Documentation and Revitalization will help students to generate a record of a language by investigating its structural properties and its role in the culture. As well, this four-year program will train PhD researchers working with endangered language communities to develop the tools and skills necessary to help maintain and promote their language and culture. Students will apply their linguistic knowledge in documentation projects involving classifying, annotating and analyzing linguistics data, and/or in creating materials to be used by the linguistic community in maintaining and revitalizing their language.

► Viewbook
► Meet our current graduate students

Admission Requirements

An MA degree in Linguistics with a minimum GPA of A-.

► Info Session PPT
► Guide for graduate students in linguistics

Required Documents

Transcript(s) and CV
Letters of Reference: (3 required) written by former professors who are
familiar with your academic potential and achievements.
Statement of Intent: to include:

research plan, including specific ideas for research projects you
would undertake for your PhD, and general description of research
interests in linguistics;
in particular, a description of your interest in language
documentation and revitalization, including specific languages,
communities, and/or areas you plan to work with;
names of one or two SLaLS faculty members who could serve as
supervisors, and an explanation of how your research interests fit with
theirs;
description of relevant background and experience that demonstrates
your potential to succeed in graduate school.

Writing Sample: a piece of academic writing in linguistics or related
field, written in English or French.
Language Proficiency (ESL Test Scores): if required

Apply now!

Application Deadline: January 20, 2024

Program Requirements – PhD in Language Documentation and Revitalization (10.0 credits)

1.0 credit in:

LING 6801 [1.0] Language Documentation

0.5 credit in:

ALDS 6407 [0.5] Revitalization Policy

1.5 credits from:

ALDS 5202 [0.5] Curriculum in Language Teaching
ALDS 5302 [0.5] Second Language Acquisition
ALDS 5407 [0.5] Language Policy and Planning
ALDS 5501 [0.5] Language Testing and Assessment
ANTH 5106 [0.5] North American Indigenous Peoples
ANTH 5208 [0.5] Anthropology of Indigeneity
ANTH 5210 [0.5] Special Topics in Indigenous Studies
ANTH 5305 [0.5] Special Topics in Ethnography
CGSC 5101 [0.5] Experimental Methods and Statistics
LING 5004 [0.5] Syntax
LING 5005 [0.5] Morphology
LING 5007 [0.5] Phonology
LING 5077 [0.5] Phonetics
LING 5608 [0.5] Language and Cognition
LING 5704 [0.5] Linguistic Analysis, Culture & Cognition
LING 5505 [0.5] Semantics

0.0 credits in:

LING 6907 [0.0] Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
LING 6908 [0.0] Qualifying Paper

7.0 credits in:

LING 6909 [7.0] PhD Thesis

Milestones for PhD Program

Activity	Date
Initial meeting with supervisor(s)	Year 1 (Fall)
Coursework LING 6001 Language Documentation ALDS 6407 Revitalization Policy 1.5 credit in program electives	Year 1 (Fall & Winter)
QP Committee formed
QP defended Comp Exam Committee formed Thesis Committee formed	Year 2 (Fall)
Comp Exam completed Prospectus defended	Year 2 (Winter)
Thesis defended	Year 4 (Summer)
Final thesis submitted	Year 4 (Summer)