Graduate Program

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Resources for Master's Students

Handbook and policies

In the master's handbook is a description of our three master's program in linguistics, the requirements for completing the programs, a list of the graduate courses and course descriptions, a timeline, and more.

Master's handbook (PDF)

Master's handbook

Important policies

GEPA policies & regulations: house rules and regulations that govern graduate students at the University of Rochester
Graduate bulletin
Placeholder and full-time status policies
More to come...

Guidance and timelines

The PhD program in linguistics is a rigorous program with many requirements and deadlines to keep track of. The following resources will help guide you through your program.

Current courses

View our course catalog and currently offered courses below.

2024-25 course catalog
Fall term schedule (graduate courses only)
Spring term schedule (graduate courses only)
Historical graduate course offerings

Forms

All of the following forms must be sent to the department manager, regardless of where it says to send it on the form itself because the department must be involved in processing them.

Graduate add/drop/swap form - used to add, drop, or swap graduate-level courses before the deadline of each semester. (not always needed if before online registration closes)
Primary advisor change request form - used to request a new primary advisor
In-absentia request form - used to request in-absentia status for up to one year
Audit fee waiver request form - used to apply for a fee waiver when auditing a course
Research internship approval form - used to approve research internships
Petition for time-to-degree extension - used to request an extension on the timeframe for completing your degree
ISO completion date change form - used to apply for an I20 extension or report a shortened completion date for F1 and J1 students
Parental leave request form - used to apply for a parental leave (up to eight weeks), must be submitted 60 days in advance
Time conflict resolution form - used to gain permission from two instructors to enroll in both courses if they occur at the same time
Payment information form (for one person) - used to pay both US citizens and nonresident alien research participants by either EFT to a foreign bank or ACH to a US bank
Payment information form (for large groups) - used to pay a large number of nonresident alien research participants by EFT to a foreign bank

There are other important forms not listed here because they must be filled out by the department, some of which will take place automatically (anything to do with your program progress), and others which you must request be filled out on your behalf (for example, leave requests) These include but are not limited to:

F1 student employment verification letter - used to prove your student employment so you can apply for a SSN
Check form - clears a student for degree conferral, pending the completion of the final requirements
Exam appointment form - used to schedule your Plan A thesis defense, must be submitted 10 business days prior to the defense (not applicable to Plan B students)
Exam report form - used to document the result of your thesis defense/essay presentation (must be within a week of the defense)
Program of study - used to document and verify the courses and research credits used to satisfy your degree requirements
Incomplete contract - creates an agreement between a graduate student and an instructor regarding the work that must be completed to change an I grade
Fullbright program verification form - used to verify your program progress and financial aid for Fullbright

Frequently asked questions

How many credits of research can I take?

If you're a Plan A student (thesis), you must take between six and ten credits of research, independent study, and/or internship. If you're a Plan B student (non-thesis), the maximum number of credits of research, independent study, and/or internship is six.

How can students stay updated on RA opportunities and faculty leaves?

The department activity report is published prior to each semester, and it showcases current research going on in the department, potential opportunities to be involved in research, and advance notice of faculty leaves for planning advisor coverage.

What's the difference between a Master's Thesis, a Master's Essay, and a Master's Exam?

The Department of Linguistics offers two general paths of study. Plan A is a research track for students who come with prior coursework in linguistics and a research project in mind, in which they develop a thesis. Plan B is focused on providing students with a background in contemporary linguistics and linguistic subfields through coursework and a final Master’s Essay. Both Plan A and Plan B students must present their thesis/essay in their final semester. There is the option to instead take an exam (for Plan B students only), but it's uncommon and must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies well in advance.

Can I receive credit for my teaching assistantships?

Yes, to receive credit for a teaching assistantship, you must register for LING 590 Supervised Teaching with the instructor you're a TA for. If a section doesn't exist for the instructor you need, email the department manager who can create a section for you to register for.

This is a good way to maintain full-time status if you happen to be one credit short of nine in a given semester. TAships are not gauranteed to master's students because it's a requirement for PhD students, which means they get priority.

Do I have to pay for the dissertation fee that comes with LING 899?

Although it's not technically tuition, the dissertation fee—also sometimes called a continuation fee—is treated like tuition in this instance.

If a student is registered for LING 899 in their second year, the dissertation fee is covered at 50% by GEPA as a part of the student's funding package, just as if the student were taking a normal course in their first year.

After a student's second year, the dissertation fee associated with LING 899 will not be covered by GEPA, and it's the student's responsibility to cover this expense.

When do I register for a course with my advisor vs. with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)?

Courses you'd register for with your advisor as the instructor include LING 591 PhD Reading in Linguistics and LING PhD Research in Linguistics.

The only courses you'd register for with the DGS as the instructor, regardless of who your advisor is are placeholder courses including LING 997 Doctoral Dissertation and LING 999 Doctoral Dissertation.

More information on placeholder policies can be found in the policies section above.

Am I eligible to receive funding for indirect academic costs?

Indirect academic expenses are any research or academic related expenses other than tuition scholarships, stipends, or health insurance. For example, conference travel.

Any student may be reimbursed for indirect academic expenses if they have grant funding and the expenses are deemed appropriate for the grant to cover.

For students without grant funding:

PhD students may be reimbursed by the department for indirect academic expenses up to a certain amount (confirm this amount with the department manager). This is not a yearly amount that replenishes.
Master's students are not eligible for reimbursement by the department. It's possible for an advisor to cover the expenses from one of their accounts if the student asks and receives permission from their advisor.