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This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://calendar.carleton.ca.

School of Linguistics and Language Studies
236 Paterson Hall
613-520-2802
http://carleton.ca/slals

This section presents the requirements for programs in:

Program Requirements

M.A. Linguistics (5.0 credits)

Students will establish their programs in consultation with the School's supervisor of graduate studies. Each candidate will select one of the following program paths:

Requirements - Thesis Pathway (5.0 credits)
1.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics
2.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5608 [0.5]
Language and Cognition
LING 5704 [0.5]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition
4.  1.0 credit in LING at the 5000 level, or chosen from the list of optional courses:1.0
CGSC 5005 [0.5]
Cognition and Neuroscience
CGSC 5101 [0.5]
Experimental Methods and Statistics
FREN 5004 [0.5]
Linguistique du français canadien
FREN 5100 [0.5]
Le monde francophone: linguistique et littérature
5.  2.5 credits in:2.5
LING 5909 [2.5]
M.A. Thesis
Total Credits5.0
Requirements - Research Essay Pathway (5.0 credits)
1.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics
2.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics
3.  1.0 credit from:1.0
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5608 [0.5]
Language and Cognition
LING 5704 [0.5]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition
4.  2.0 credits in LING at the 5000 level, or chosen from the list of optional courses:2.0
CGSC 5005 [0.5]
Cognition and Neuroscience
CGSC 5101 [0.5]
Experimental Methods and Statistics
FREN 5004 [0.5]
Linguistique du français canadien
FREN 5100 [0.5]
Le monde francophone: linguistique et littérature
5.  1.0 credit in:1.0
LING 5908 [1.0]
Research Essay
Total Credits5.0

Ph.D. Linguistics, Language Documentation and Revitalization (3.0 credits)

Students will establish their programs in consultation with the School's supervisor of graduate studies.

Requirements:
1. Candidates admitted to first year of the PhD program must complete the following two courses before proceeding to the second year of study:1.0
LING 6802 [0.5]
Issues in Language Documentation
LING 6803 [0.5]
Methods in Language Documentation
2.  0.5 credit in:0.5
ALDS 6407 [0.5]
Revitalization Policy
3.  1.5 credits from:1.5
ALDS 5202 [0.5]
Curriculum in Language Teaching
ALDS 5302 [0.5]
Second Language Acquisition and Learning Theories
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 5505 [0.5]
Semantics
LING 5608 [0.5]
Language and Cognition
LING 5704 [0.5]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition
4.  0.0 credit in:0.0
LING 6907 [0.0]
Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
LING 6908 [0.0]
Qualifying Paper
5.  0.0 credits in:
LING 6909 [0.0]
Ph.D. Thesis
Total Credits3.0

Graduate Diploma in Linguistics (2.5 credits)

Requirements:
1.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics
2.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
LING 5004 [0.5]
Syntax (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5005 [0.5]
Morphology (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
LING 5007 [0.5]
Phonology (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5077 [0.5]
Phonetics (If not already used to fulfil Item 1 above)
LING 5505 [0.5]
Semantics (If not already used to fulfil Item 2 above)
4.  1.0 credit in LING at the 5000 level, or chosen from the following list:1.0
ALDS 5102 [0.5]
Systemic-Functional Linguistics
ALDS 5207 [0.5]
Pedagogical Grammar in Second and Foreign Language (SL/FL) Teaching
ALDS 5301 [0.5]
Language and Cognition
ALDS 5302 [0.5]
Second Language Acquisition and Learning Theories
ALDS 5303 [0.5]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition
ALDS 5407 [0.5]
Language Policy and Planning
ANTH 5106 [0.5]
North American Indigenous Peoples
ANTH 5107 [0.5]
Issues in North American Ethnohistory
ANTH 5208 [0.5]
Anthropology of Indigeneity
ANTH 5210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Indigenous Studies
ANTH 5305 [0.5]
Special Topics in Ethnography
ANTH 5906 [0.5]
Fieldwork
CGSC 5002 [0.5]
Experimental Research in Cognition
CGSC 5003 [0.5]
Language and Cognition
CGSC 5005 [0.5]
Cognition and Neuroscience
CGSC 5101 [0.5]
Experimental Methods and Statistics
CGSC 5103 [0.5]
Formal Methods
CGSC 5303 [0.5]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition
ENGL 5207 [0.5]
Studies in Old English
ENGL 5208 [0.5]
Studies in Middle English Literature
ENGL 5303 [0.5]
Studies in Early Modern Literature I
ENGL 5305 [0.5]
Studies in Early Modern Literature II
FREN 5004 [0.5]
Linguistique du français canadien
FREN 5100 [0.5]
Le monde francophone: linguistique et littérature
5.  0.0 credit in:0.0
LING 5907 [0.0]
Graduate Diploma Capstone Examination
Total Credits2.5

Linguistics (LING) Courses

LING 5004 [0.5 credit]
Syntax

A graduate seminar in contemporary syntactic theory.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5005 [0.5 credit]
Morphology

A graduate seminar in contemporary morphological theory.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5007 [0.5 credit]
Phonology

A graduate seminar in contemporary phonological theory.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5009 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Linguistics

Examination of a topic or more specialized area in linguistics or language study. Topic to be announced. Repeatable for credit when the topic changes.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4009, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5077 [0.5 credit]
Phonetics

A graduate seminar in contemporary phonetics.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5412 [0.5 credit]
Diversité du français

Études des variétés du français, dans ses dimensions spatiales. Le contenu précis de ce cours varie selon les années. Consulter le site Web du Département de français pour obtenir les détails.
Also listed as FREN 5412.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4412 and FREN 4412., for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5413 [0.5 credit]
Diachronie du français

Étude du français, dans ses dimensions historiques. Le contenu précis de ce cours varie selon les années. Consulter le site Web du Département de français pour obtenir les détails.
Also listed as FREN 5413.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4413 and FREN 4413., for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5414 [0.5 credit]
Analyse du français

Étude du français, dans ses dimensions morphologiques, syntaxiques ou phonologiques. Le contenu précis de ce cours varie selon les années. Consulter le site Web du Département de français pour obtenir les détails.
Also listed as FREN 5414.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4414 and FREN 4414, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5415 [0.5 credit]
Variation du français

Étude des variations internes de la langue, dans ses dimensions orales et écrites. Le contenu précis de ce cours varie selon les années. Consulter le site Web du Département de français pour obtenir les détails.
Also listed as FREN 5415.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as FREN 4415 and LING 4415., for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5505 [0.5 credit]
Semantics

A graduate seminar in contemporary semantics.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as PHIL 5650.

LING 5510 [0.5 credit]
Lexical Semantics

Study of the meaning of words. Topics may include lexical decomposition, meaning variation, lexical relations, and lexical aspect.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as PHIL 5660.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4510 and PHIL 4055, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5601 [0.5 credit]
Cognitive Neuroscience of Language

Further study of psychological and neurolinguistic mechanisms of adult language processing. May include topics from first language acquisition.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4601, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5603 [0.5 credit]
First Language Acquisition

Advanced topics in language acquisition and development, and the relative contributions of the environment, cognitive development, and inborn knowledge.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4603, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5605 [0.5 credit]
Psycholinguistic Research Methods

Introduction to experimental methodologies used in current psycholinguistic studies. Topics include experimental design and techniques, descriptive statistics, and interpreting and reporting research findings.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4605, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5606 [0.5 credit]
Statistics for Language Research

Application of statistical procedures to analysis of language data and to problems of measurement in experimental linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, and related fields.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as ALDS 5604.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as ALDS 4606 and LING 4606, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5608 [0.5 credit]
Language and Cognition

Structure and representation of linguistic knowledge in human cognition. Evidence from child language acquisition, language processing and language impairment.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as ALDS 5301 and CGSC 5003.

LING 5704 [0.5 credit]
Linguistic Analysis, Culture and Cognition

Universals of language from a cross-cultural perspective. Study of lesser-known languages leading to critical understanding of universal human concepts and communication practices in culture-specific configurations. Cross-linguistic analysis as a means to general understanding of diversity and universality in human cognition.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as ALDS 5303.

LING 5801 [0.5 credit]
Linguistic Field Methods

With a language consultant, students discover the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structures of the target language using linguistic elicitation. Language will vary from year to year but will normally be a non-European language. Language documentation, data management, ethical issues surrounding research in Indigenous communities.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Also listed as ALDS 5801.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4801, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5802 [0.5 credit]
Historical Linguistics: English

A theory-intensive course that will study the development of English starting with Proto-Indo-European progressing through Common Germanic to the stages of English itself. Topics include phonological sound changes, phonemic inventories, and morphological and syntactic theory.
Also listed as ENGL 5101.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as LING 4802, for which additional credit is precluded.

LING 5901 [0.5 credit]
Directed Reading in Linguistics

Research on a topic chosen in consultation with a faculty member and with the approval of the graduate supervisor.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of the graduate supervisor.

LING 5907 [0.0 credit]
Graduate Diploma Capstone Examination

Students must pass an oral exam that will evaluate their knowledge of linguistic theory. Students will be provided with a reading list of literature in theoretical linguistics that they should be familiar with, based on their core linguistics courses and their research interests.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5908 [1.0 credit]
Research Essay

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 5909 [2.5 credits]
M.A. Thesis

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 6802 [0.5 credit]
Issues in Language Documentation

Core PhD seminar in Language Documentation. Exploration of fundamental issues in language documentation including language description vs. documentation, endangered languages, community relations, ethics and documentation methods.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 6803 [0.5 credit]
Methods in Language Documentation

Core PhD seminar in Language Documentation. Introduction to current standards, methods, and commonly recommended practices in the development of language documentation projects and collections. Topics include data management, recording methods, annotation and dissemination.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 6907 [0.0 credit]
Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

Students must pass an oral comprehensive exam that will evaluate their knowledge of linguistic theory. Students will be provided with a reading list of literature in theoretical linguistics that they should be familiar with, based on their core linguistics courses and their research interests.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 6908 [0.0 credit]
Qualifying Paper

Students are required to write a Qualifying Paper (QP) that assesses their potential for conducting original research. Their QP must include aspects of both linguistic theory and language documentation and/or revitalization, although the proportion devoted to each component will vary from student to student.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

LING 6909 [7.0 credits]
Ph.D. Thesis

Includes: Experiential Learning Activity

Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Admission

The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is a BA Honours degree in linguistics or a related field (e.g. applied linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, anthropology).

Students must have achieved a minimum of B+ in a relevant field and B overall in their academic work in the last two years of study.

Accelerated Pathway

The accelerated pathway in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study for students in their final year of a Carleton B.A. Honours Linguistics degree. Students in their third year of study in the B.A. Honours degree in Linguistics should consult with both the undergraduate advisor and the graduate supervisor to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to confirm their selection of courses for their final year of undergraduate studies. Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit up to 1.0 credit, which can reduce their time to completion in the MA program. The Accelerated Pathway requirements are two LING courses at the 5000 level and a minimum overall CGPA of B+.

Admission

The normal requirement for admission to the PhD in Linguistics, Language Documentation and Revitalization program is a Master's degree in Linguistics with an overall GPA of at least A-.

Admission

In order to apply for admission into the Graduate Diploma in Linguistics, students must first be enrolled in a graduate program at Carleton. Application for those programs is independent of application for the Diploma. The normal requirement for admission to the Diploma is undergraduate or graduate coursework in linguistics or closely related fields. Preference will be given for students enrolled in one of these programs: Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, Anthropology, Cognitive Science, English, or French.

Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar, and in addition the following:

  • Candidates must maintain a grade point average of 10.0 or better throughout this program.

M.A. Regulations

Regularly Scheduled Break

For immigration purposes, the summer term (May to August) for the M.A. Linguistics including all specializations/concentrations is considered a regularly scheduled break approved by the University. Students should resume full-time studies in September.

Ph.D. Regulations

Residence Requirement

Ph.D. candidates must normally be registered full-time in a minimum of six terms to satisfy the residence requirement. If a candidate is registered part-time, the minimum residence requirement is eight terms.

Guidelines for Completion of Ph.D.

Full-time Ph.D. students are normally expected to complete their requirements in four calendar years. All part-time students must complete their requirements within a period of nine years, as set out in the General Regulations in the Graduate Calendar.