Graduate Program

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Resources for PhD Students

Handbook and policies

In the PhD handbook is a description of the PhD program in linguistics, the requirements for completing the program, a list of the graduate courses and course descriptions, a timeline, two sample schedules and more.

PhD handbooks (PDFs)

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
In absentia status for PhD students
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
Research internship approval form - used to approve research internships
QP extension request form - used to request an extension for your QP
Defense registration form - used for the department to register your dissertation
Petition for time-to-degree extension - used to request an extension on the timeframe for completing your degree
Audit fee waiver request form - used to apply for a fee waiver when auditing a course
ISO completion date change form - used to apply for an I20 extension or report a shortened completion date for F1 and J1 students
In-absentia request form - used to request in-absentia status for up to one year
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 QP1 defense, must be submitted 10 business days prior to the defense
Exam report form - used to document the result of your QP1 defense (and a pass brings you into PhD candidacy) 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
PhD statement of completion - used to confirm the successful completion of all degree requirements prior to your dissertation defense
Fullbright program verification form - used to verify your program progress and financial aid for Fullbright

Program FAQs

Why are there two PhD handbooks and which one should I use?

In 2023, there were significant changes made to the PhD handbook that would impact the structure of the PhD program, so students who were admitted before 2023 are able to remain on the old version or they can opt into the new one, but students admitted after 2023 must refer to the new one.

If you're a student who was admitted before 2023 and you'd like to opt into the new handbook, email the Director of Graduate Studies.

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.

How many credits of research can I take?

You need 90 credits total to complete your degree. The required coursework, which can be found in the PhD handbook, adds up to 36 credits. So, the remaining 54 credits can be any combination of research credits, supervised teaching credits, independent studies, elective courses, etc.

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.

PhD students will not receive compensation for being a TA as it's a program requirement to TA twice and they're already provided a stipend and full tuition coverage. PhD students will be given priority over master's students when it comes to assigning TAs.

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.

How many QPs do I need to complete?

If you're a PhD student who was admitted before 2023 and who has not opted into the new handbook, you are only required to complete one QP; however, if you were admitted after 2023, or if you have opted into the new handbook, you are required to complete two QPs.

Funding FAQs

Will the stipend I receive as a PhD student continue into the summer?

Yes and no.

Your stipend is distributed across 12 months, so you will continue to receive it in the summer; however, if you are the recipient of a Provost or Sproull Fellowship, the additional money you receive from that fellowship will end on June 30 every year (because those fellowships can only be disbursed during the academic year), and your July and August payments will be smaller.

Do I have to pay for the dissertation fee that comes with LING 999?

If a student is registered for LING 999 in their fifth year, the dissertation fee is covered by GEPA as a part of the student's funding package, just as if the student were taking a normal course in their first four years.

After a student's fifth year, the dissertation fee associated with LING 999 will not be covered by GEPA and it will be the student's responsibility to cover this fee. Students can petition the department to cover this fee on their behalf, but only for one semester, after which, it will strictly be up to the student to pay.

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.

It's not common practice for the department to cover dissertation fees after the initial five years, and it's expected that students will seek external funding for any year past the fifth one.

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.

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.