Qualifying Papers (QPs)
A Qualifying Paper (QP) is a paper of near publishable quality of a length that is appropriate for the area of specialization. Each student is required to complete two QPs – the first in the second year and the second in the third year.
Students may base their QPs either partly or wholly on a paper that was written for a course. In line with the interdisciplinary emphasis of the program, the two QPs are expected to reflect breadth by, e.g., engaging with different specializations and/or research methodologies.
Parts of the QP
There are three parts to a QP: the plan, the porposal, and the defense. It's important to understand the differences and when each one is due. It's possible that parts of your second QP are due before you've completed your first QP.
The QP Plan and Committee
At the end of their first and second year, students submit their QP plan – a short document consisting of i) a one-paragraph description of their indented QP project/area and ii) a list of 2 or 3 preferred research advisors for the QP. For the second QP plan, the student must also justify how the topic is different from the QP1 topic.
Each QP has a committee consisting of a primary QP advisor and a secondary QP advisor. The advisors must be faculty members in the Department of Linguistics. An external committee member is not required, but students can invite an external member to the committee if they wish. Students are expected to provide input on their preferred QP advisors in their QP plan.
Students are expected to submit a QP plan for each of their QPs by April 15 of the respective academic year (year 1 for QP1, year 2 for QP2).
The QP Proposal
Before a QP defense, students must submit a proposal to all of their QP committee members. The proposal, 1-2 pages long, outlines the research topic and is composed of research questions, a work plan, and references. This is not the same as the QP plan.
Students are expected to submit a QP proposal for each of their QPs by September 15 of the respective academic year (year 2 for QP1, year 3 for QP2).
The QP Defense
By default, QP defenses are closed defenses between the student and their committee.
The first QP defense should be scheduled in advance with your committee members. A QP result form will be completed by your committee members following the defense.
The second QP defense (advancement to candidacy) needs to be scheduled in advance with committee members, and both the department manager and DGS notified, at least 3 weeks in advance of the defense. An exam report form will be completed by your committee members following the defense.
Possible QP Outcomes
The possible outcomes of a QP defense and the effect of those outcomes are as follows:
Pass
Congratulations! There is nothing left for you to do.
When you pass QP2, the Department Manager will submit the appropriate form to officially advance you to candidacy.
Minor Revisions
If you receive an outcome of "Minor Revisions," you will have 30 days to make and submit your QP revisions.
Minor revisions must be reviewed and cleared by your primary QP advisor.
Major Revisions
If you receive an outcome of "Major Revisions," you will have 90 days to make and submit your QP revisions.
Major revisions must be reviewed and cleared by your entire QP committee.
Failure
The typical result of a failed QP is separation from the program. Students may petition their QP committee to rewrite and redefend.
If the student petitions their QP committee for an opportunity to redefend, the petition should be submitted as soon as possible following the failure.
The QP Timeline
This visual timeline may help you better understand the timeframe for when all the parts of each QP are due. For a more comprehensive overview of the PhD program, go to the detailed PhD timeline.
Students should work with their primary advisor and their QP committee to address any concerns with the QP process or timeline.
It's possible to apply for a QP1 extension if needed; however, extensions are not gauranteed. More information about QP1 extensions can be found in the frequently asked questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers common questions about QP timelines, committee formation, topic selection, outcomes, and more. Whether you're starting your first QP or preparing to submit your second, the FAQs are here to help you understand expectations, avoid surprises, and move forward with confidence.
How many QPs do I need to complete?
Each PhD student must complete two QPs before they can move on to preparing their dissertation.
Do the topics of QP1, QP2, and the dissertation have to be different?
The topic of QP2 must be different from QP1 and it must be in a distinct subfield. For instance, it cannot be the case that both QPs are in formal semantics. We encourage students to discuss possible topics for QP2 with their advisor well in advance of the plan and proposal, so the advisor can detemine the viability of the topic or discuss any unclear cases with the rest of the faculty. If necessary the faculty will make a determination on a case-by-case basis whether a proposed QP2 is sufficiently distinct in terms of topic and subfield from QP1. Students should justify in their QP2 plan how the topic is different from their QP1.
The dissertation, however, can build upon a topic in one of your QPs.
What's the process for finalizing my QP committee?
Students share their preferred QP committee members in your QP plan and through continued discussion with your primary advisor. The faculty will not vote to approve your QP committee. It is the student's responsibility to ask faculty to join their QP committees. Note: the process is different for dissertation committees.
What are the expectations of QP committee members in guiding a student through the QP process?
There are no fixed expectations for the committee members beyond reading the final draft of the paper and participating in the defense. With that said, it is completely reasonable to request feedback on drafts and request meetings to discuss progress with a committee member, and we encourage students to do so. It is up to the student to make any such requests.
If a student’s primary and secondary advisors are both on leave would they have an interim advisor they can go to for guidance?
No. Most faculty will continue to be available to their advisees when they are on leave; however, it's important that you maintain consistent communication with your advisor, so when they do go on leave, together you can come up with a plan for how to meet and what level of comunication is acceptable until they return.
It can be difficult to give advance notice for leaves because often times, faculty don't know if their leave is approved until shortly beforehand.
What must I do administratively to prepare for my QPs?
The second QP (which advances you to candidacy) is the one for which the department manager will submit official paperwork. This defense needs to be scheduled in advance with your committee members, and both the department manager and DGS notified, at least 3 weeks in advance of the defense.
Once the QP defense is complete, an exam report form must be completed and submitted within one week regardless of the outcome of the defense.
The first QP doesn't require administrative work beforehand.
Can I have an extension on my QP1?
QP1 traditionally must be defended by the end of the Spring semester in the second year.
Students who need an extension may request this from their QP committee; however, requests are subject to review by the committee and can result in approval or denial. Extensions should not be counted on to complete any program requirements.
If the student's QP committee grants an extension request, the Department Manager and DGS must be notified, and the student can continue to work on their QP1 through the Fall semester of their third year.
QP1 must be defended no later than December 15 of the third year. If the QP can't be completed by this deadline, it will result in a failure.
What happens if I submit my major revisions and they're not satisfactory?
"Major Revisions" are only a provisional pass. If a student doesn't complete their revisions by the deadline or if those revisions are not satisfactory, the QP result becomes a failure. Students cannot receive "Major Revisions" for the same QP more than once.
When do I become a PhD candidate?
You advance to candidacy once you've completed QP2.
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