Placeholder Policy for PhD Students
PhD students must complete a minimum of 90 credits during their program. The 90-credit requirement is a minimum, not a maximum.
During their first five academic years, students who are approaching the 90-credit minimum may register for more than 90 credits as needed to maintain full-time status. For example, if a student will reach 90 credits during a semester with less than 9 credits left, they may register for the additional credits that put them over the 90-credit threshold.
Once a student has completed the 90-credit minimum requirement, they do not need to register for additional coursework. In subsequent semesters, they should register only for the appropriate placeholder course to maintain their full-time status. Students who are beyond their fifth academic year should also register only for the appropriate placeholder course.
PhD Placeholder Courses
LING 1005 Doctoral Dissertation
This course provides PhD students the opportunity to work full-time on their dissertation. Students will make significant progress toward completing degree requirements.
LING 1006 Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia
This course provides PhD students the opportunity to work full-time on their dissertation. Students will make significant progress toward completing degree requirements.
This placeholder variant is for students studying in absentia in the United States.
LING 1007 Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia Abroad
This course provides PhD students the opportunity to work full-time on their dissertation. Students will make significant progress toward completing degree requirements. Students must also register for the appropriate Education Abroad co-requisite.
This placeholder variant is for students studying in absentia internationally.
PhD Placeholder FAQs
Find quick answers to common questions about PhD placeholder policies.
Do I have to pay for the placeholder courses?
No, there is no cost to the student for using a placeholder course.
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 491 PhD Reading in Linguistics and LING 495 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 1005 Doctoral Dissertation.
More information on placeholder policies can be found above.
If a student can't finish their PhD by the end of their 5th year, can they apply to be funded for a 6th year?
GEPA firmly only allows PhD stipend funding and tuition coverage for five years. After that period, the financial package expires and PhD students must cover their own expenses.
The Department of Linguistics, effective Fall 2027, will cover 50% of health insurance and mandatory health fees in the sixth year.
If I receive external funding during my first five years, can I receive university funding after the initial five years?
PhD funding packages last five full academic years. GEPA doesn't allow any exceptions for funding to be extended past the five years.
If you receive external funding within the first five years, that doesn't mean because the university isn't paying you that you can make up for those years afterwards. (i.e. if you receive a year of external funding during the first five years, you can't receive a year of university funding after the five years to make up for missing out on that one year of university funding.)
If you want funding for an additional year, you'd either have to get an extension on the external funding you received in your first five years when the time comes or try to find other external funding.
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