Ph.D. Program

NEW! Ph.D. program at NC State University in planning stages

Cooperative Program with Duke University

Since the Fall of 2000, Duke University, in cooperation with North Carolina State University, has offered a PhD in English Linguistics. This program has a diversified curriculum with an emphasis on cutting-edge methodologies, field- based research, engaged sociolinguistics, and a commitment to gaining employment for all students. Duke's English Department is rated as one of the top five in the country by US News and World Report.

Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program through the regular admission process in the Duke English program and get their degree from Duke, but work with faculty at both NC State and Duke throughout their graduate study.

SAMPLE DOCTORAL PROGRAM OF STUDY IN ENGLISH LINGUISTICS

A sample plan of study may be found in the initial proposal for the joint Ph.D. program and can also be found on the Duke Linguistics Program website. It is reprinted here for your convenience.

• Required Courses (11 courses; students who have MA degrees from other institutions may petition to be allowed to count up to three courses taken at the graduate level at the MA-granting institution)


1. Introduction to Linguistics (may be waived if student had a comparable course prior to matriculation)
2. An introductory sociolinguistics course (e.g., NCSU-ENG 525 Variety in Language; may be waived if student had a comparable course prior to matriculation)
3. A historical linguistics course (e.g., Old English, History of English)
4. One course in phonetics
5. One course in discourse analysis
6. A second course in either phonetics or discourse analysis
7. Two courses drawn from two of the following subject areas: syntax, morphology, semantics
8. Three seminars, e.g.
   Language Variation Seminar (Wolfram)
   Language Change Seminar (Thomas)
   
9. Electives: any requirement that is waived must be replaced by an elective graduate course of the student's choice, but all such replacements must be approved by the student's committee.



• Plan of Study

FIRST YEAR
Fall: 3 courses, no teaching
Spring: 3 courses, no teaching

SECOND YEAR
[order for Fall and Spring may be reversed] Fall: 3 courses, no teaching
Spring: 2 courses PLUS independent study and teaching apprenticeship

THIRD YEAR
Fall: 1 course (optional); teach one section of Frosh writing; preliminary exam
Spring: 1 course (optional); teaching apprenticeship; dissertation chapter meeting

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: 1 course (optional); teach one section of Frosh writing; write dissertation
Spring: 1 course (optional); teach one section of 20s; write dissertation

FIFTH YEAR
Fall: teach one section of Frosh writing; finish dissertation; job search
Spring: teach one section of 20s; defend dissertation; job search