GUIDELINES FOR THE DEGREE OF Ph.D. IN LINGUISTICS

UPDATED 10/01/04

1. SUMMARY TIMETABLE OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE DEGREE OF Ph.D. IN LINGUISTICS

1.1 Length of Program
Full-time students admitted to the Ph.D. program will generally have completed all Ph.D. requirements of the Department and of the University, including submission of the dissertation in final form, by the end of the fifth year.

1.2 Standards of Progress towards Advanced Degrees
Candidates for advanced degrees are expected to satisfy degree requirements as expeditiously as possible. The Department faculty meets each year to review the progress of all students enrolled in the program, and the GSA will inform students of their progress. Students in the second year and later are reviewed in the Spring Quarter; first year students are evaluated at the beginning of Autumn quarter of the second year. Failure to meet minimal progress requirements and/or correct deficiencies in a timely manner will be cause for dismissal.

For reinstatement after an unapproved leave, see 2.4.

Copies of all official records must be kept in the student's departmental file. Degree candidates are advised to maintain a personal file at home with copies of all official records of their progress towards the degree. Students should also periodically review their records on Axess.

1.3 Checklist for Progress to Degree
In the following checklist for progress to degree, University requirements are capitalized.

1.3.1 By the end of your FIRST YEAR, you should have:

1) Applied for an NSF or other national fellowship in first quarter, if eligible (usually only US citizens and resident aliens in their first year of graduate study post-B.A. or B.S. are eligible)

2) Petitioned for transfer of any course work or units from M.A. programs in other universities, as approved by the GSA (see section 2.2)

3) Made a significant start on completion of the eight basic courses, including the three sequences

4) Completed 203 (Research Methods in Linguistics, Autumn quarter)

5) Completed 396 (Mentored Research Projects, Winter quarter)

6) Registered in 398 (Directed Research, Spring quarter) under the direction of the QP1 Chair (Spring quarter)

7) Completed 395A (Research Workshop, Spring quarter)

8) Completed some of the courses for added depth

9) Formulated a plan for completing the two parts of the language requirement

1.3.2 By the end of your SECOND YEAR, you should have:

1) Completed six of the eight basic courses

2) Completed two of the four courses for added depth

3) Completed 395B (Research Workshop, Spring quarter)

4) Completed two qualifying papers (QP1 in Autumn, QP2 by end of Summer)

5) Completed first language requirement (usually the reading requirement)

6) FILED FOR CANDIDACY BY THE END OF THE SIXTH QUARTER, upon completion of six basic courses, two courses for added depth, one qualifying paper, and one part of the language requirement

7) Optionally completed the M.A. en route to the Ph.D.(45 units beyond B.A. and a thesis or one Qualifying Paper); the M.A. proposal should be filed with the Student Services Coordinator (SSC) by early Spring quarter

8) Attended the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) TA orientation (Autumn quarter) and the departmental TA workshop (394, Autumn); also likely TAd one course

9) Drafted a CV and a job/fellowship application letter

1.3.3 By the end of your THIRD YEAR, you should have:

1) Completed all required coursework:
a. all eight basic courses
b. all four additional courses for depth
c. Foundations (200, Autumn quarter)

2) Completed the second language requirement (usually the in-depth requirement)

3) Completed the dissertation proposal

4) SET UP THE DISSERTATION COMMITTEE AND COMPLETE THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION READING COMMITTEE FORM 5) Applied for fellowships or grants to support fieldwork or other research expenses, if applicable

1.3.4 By the end of your FOURTH YEAR, you should have:

1) Completed teaching requirements

2) FILED FOR TGR (Terminal Graduate Registration) STATUS AS SOON AS YOU HAVE COMPLETED 135 UNITS (BASIS FOR UNIVERSITY RESIDENCY, STARTING 2001) OR 10.5 QUARTERS OF RESIDENCE (PREVIOUS BASIS FOR RESIDENCY). Note: The Reading Committee form must be on file before TGR status will be granted

3) Completed the Dissertation Proposal Talk

4) Applied for Dissertation Year fellowships (typically Autumn quarter)

1.3.5 In your FIFTH YEAR, you should have:

1) Applied for a teaching, postdoctoral or other position (Autumn quarter)

2) Completed colloquia requirements, including Dissertation Proposal Talk

3) Completed the University Oral

4) Completed writing of the dissertation

5) Applied for graduation on Axess

2. UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE Ph.D.

For more details, see the relevant sections of the Stanford University Bulletin, particularly the sections on degree-specific requirements and academic regulations regarding academic progress, dismissal, and grievance procedures.

2.1 Coursework and Residency
University residency for all students who matriculated in Autumn quarter 2001-02 and later is determined by the number of units completed. These completed units are calculated on the basis of courses taken at Stanford; for students entering with an M.A., a limited number of units transferred from another institution may be used in the residency calculation by petition.

For students who matriculated prior to Autumn quarter 2001-02 only, residency for an advanced degree is the time devoted to graduate study measured in tuition payments. Full-time tuition is for 11 units or more per quarter or 15 units in the summer. Residency for partial tuition accrues as follows: 3 units =.24, 4 units = .31, 5 units = .37, 6 units = .43, 7 units = .50, 8 units = .56, 9 units = .62, 10 units = .68.

The University's minimal graduate degree requirements are a program of study that includes 90 units of graduate course work and research done at Stanford and 135 completed units of residency. The doctoral program may include an M.A. degree; however, the minimal requirement for a doctoral degree taken after a Stanford M.A. degree is 90 units of unduplicated work. A maximum of 45 units of coursework done as a graduate student elsewhere may be applied to the Stanford doctoral program requirements (see Section 2.2).

Departmental requirements for Ph.D. candidates are a completion of a minimum of 80 units of graduate work beyond the B.A. or B.S. exclusive of dissertation units, or, beyond the M.A., 40 units exclusive of dissertation units. Directed Reading and Directed Research units may be included in these totals.

2.2 Transfer of Credit
Students entering the Linguistics program with an M.A. from another accredited institution may have their M.A. coursework evaluated by the Department to determine the possibility of transfer credit. University policy stipulates that students be enrolled at Stanford for at least one quarter prior to applying for transfer credit. (Getting transfer credit precludes earning an M.A. at Stanford, unless an additional three quarters of residency are completed.) A maximum of 45 units of course work may be validated to meet requirements for the doctoral degree.

To have work completed at another university evaluated for residency credit, first consult the GSA, then obtain the form 'Application for Graduate Residency Credit'. This form should be completed in consultation with the GSA, and returned to the SSC with an original transcript. The application for residency credit is then sent to the Graduate Degree Support Progress section of the Registrar's Office, for final approval after Department-internal approval.

2.3 Leaves of Absence
Students working for advanced degrees enroll for at least Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters of each year from the time of first matriculation until receipt of the degree. The only exception is a formal leave of absence. Such leaves are normally granted for no more than one year, and must be approved by the Department and the Registrar's Office. Any student who fails to file a formal leave of absence is declared inactive and can re-enroll only by means of formal reinstatement, which must be approved by the Department.

International students must consult with the Bechtel International Student Center (and are strongly encouraged to consult with the GSA and SSC) prior to requesting a leave of absence; leaves of absence are closely monitored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Student Exchange Visitor Information Service database. Students must secure approval for all leaves of absence from the Department, the Registrar's Office, and the Bechtel International Student Center.

2.3.1 Taking a Leave of Absence
Discuss with the GSA your reasons for taking a leave. Have a clear understanding of what (if any) conditions will be imposed for your return and the availability of financial aid. International students who are considering a leave should also consult with the Bechtel International Center far in advance of the starting date of the leave.

Obtain and complete the 'Leave of Absence Petition' and return to the SSC. Leaves for academic purposes such as fieldwork will require a detailed letter about the work to be accomplished.

2.3.2 Returning From a Leave of Absence
It is your responsibility to notify both the Department AND the Office of the Registrar of your intention to return in a timely fashion. It is extremely important that you comply with all deadlines in this regard. Failure to do so could result in your being out of status (the academic equivalent of being AWOL!). It will be costly to be reinstated to the graduate program. Since financial aid for the following academic year is allocated in March/April, you should let the Department know by then about a return for the following academic year. International students should keep in mind that visa paperwork should be initiated well in advance of their return.

2.3.3 Extending a Leave of Absence
In exceptional circumstances a leave of absence may be extended for an additional period of time. This should be discussed with your advisor and the GSA well in advance of your initial leave expiring. To apply for an extension, obtain and complete the 'Extension of Leave of Absence' form. Leaves of absence may not exceed a cumulative total of two years.

IMPORTANT!! While on leave, students are not allowed to live in student housing or have library privileges. Health insurance is available for three unregistered quarters, or through the end of the year, which ever comes first. Students on leave may also have to start repayment of student loans.

2.4. Reinstatement
Prior to candidacy, students who do not register for a quarter during the academic year and do not take an approved leave of absence must reapply for admission to the Department. Conditions for reinstatement are set by the Department.

Subsequent to candidacy, students who wish to be considered for reinstatement to the program should discuss this prospect with the GSA; reinstatement is normally conditional upon completing any requirements outstanding at the time of leave from the program and on finding an advisor. Students who have gone on leave after all course work and requirements have been completed, and have been absent from the program for over two years, must show evidence that they are fully acquainted with recent linguistic work in their area of specialization.

To apply for a reinstatement, obtain and complete the 'Application for Reinstatement in Graduate Study'. Submit this to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the first day of the quarter for which re-enrollment is requested, along with: a new statement of purpose, an application for extension of candidacy (if candidacy has expired), transcripts of work done at educational institutions since last enrolled at Stanford, and a reinstatement fee (amount to be determined by the Office of Graduate Admissions).

2.5 University Minimal Progress
The University requires that graduate students registered at full tuition must enroll for at least 11 units and must pass a total of 24 units in 3 quarters, normally at least 8 units a quarter. Those registering at 8-10 units must enroll for 8-10 units and pass a total of 18 units in 3 quarters, normally at least 6 units a quarter. Additionally, graduate students must maintain a B (3.0) grade point average. Students not meeting these requirements for minimal progress will be reviewed by the Department and may be subject to dismissal.

2.6 TGR (Terminal Graduate Registration)
This registration status allows a student to pay only the basic registration fees without having to pay and register for units. TGR eligibility requirements for Ph.D. candidates include:

1) Admission to candidacy

2) Completion of all coursework

3) Completion of all requirements except the dissertation and University Oral

4) Accumulation of 135 units (or 10.5 residency credits if matriculated prior to Autumn 2001-02)

To petition for TGR status, obtain and complete the 'TGR Request' form. Before this status will be granted by the Graduate Degree Support Section, a completed 'Reading Committee Form' must be approved and on file.

2.6.1 Registration for TGR
When TGR status has been approved, Ph.D. candidates will need to register for TGR dissertation with a faculty advisor (course number 802, for 0 units).

2.7 Graduation Quarter Registration
Students who have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree except the submission of the dissertation in its final form, are eligible for one quarter of reduced tuition status, the "Graduation Quarter". Students must have completed the University Oral Examination, and have been enrolled in the immediately preceding quarter in order to be eligible for this special registration status.

Students registered in Graduation Quarter status are considered full-time students, and are therefore assessed a minimal tuition charge set by the University, plus ASSU fees and Cardinal Care health insurance fees (unless evidence of comparable insurance coverage is presented by the quarterly deadline).

2.7.1 Registration for the Graduation Quarter
Submit the 'Petition for Graduation Quarter' to the SSC for signature approval, and then to the Registrar's Office prior to the first day of the quarter to which it is to be applied.

Students registered under the Graduation Quarter rubric must enroll in 802 (Linguistics TGR Dissertation, 0 units).

3. LINGUISTICS DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE Ph.D.

A faculty member serves as GSA. Typically, this individual keeps track of the general progress of all M.A. and Ph.D. students, coordinates departmental advising and TAing, and approves special petitions. Any time during or immediately after the first year, students are encouraged to choose an individual research advisor on the basis of their research interests. This advisor is often a member of the reading committee for the students qualifying papers. Individual advisors also serve as mentors. Students may change advisors at any point. In any case, they are encouraged to work with at least two or three people so as to gain as varied research experience as possible while in the Ph.D. program.

3.1 Courses
Departmental course requirements for students in the Ph.D. program in the Department of Linguistics include the following:

Students must maintain a satisfactory record in the number and distribution of units completed. The overall course work grade average must be at least a B (3.0 grade point average), and all the "basic" courses should be completed with at least a B.

Students are expected to take eight (8) basic courses: At least three (3) two-quarter sequences (from either Group I and/or Group II), plus two courses. Furthermore, of the eight courses, at least two courses must be from each of Group I and Group II.

At least six of these courses must be completed prior to candidacy, and all must be completed by the end of the third year. Students are encouraged to take a number of these basic courses in the first year of study.

The basic courses divided into Groups I and II (two-quarter sequences are as indicated):

Group I
Phonetics/Phonology
206 (Phonology) and either

205 (Phonetics), or

208 (Topics in Phonology)

Morphology
207A (Morphology) and

207B (Morphosyntax)

Syntax
221A (Foundations of English Grammar) and

221B (Studies in Universal Grammar), or

222A (Lexical Foundations of Syntax) and

222B (Lexical Foundations Seminar), or

224A (Introduction to Formal Universal Grammar) and

224B (Advanced Topics in Lexical Functional Grammar)

Semantics
230A (Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics) and either

230B (Semantics and Pragmatics), or

232A (Lexical Semantics)

Group II
Computational Linguistics
238 (Introduction to Computer Speech and Language Processing) and

any course in the 239 series (Computational Linguistics)

Language Acquisition
240 (Language Acquisition I) and either

241 (Language Acquisition II), or

248 (Seminar in Developmental Psycholinguistics)

Sociolinguistic Variation
250 (Sociolinguistic Theory and Analysis) and either

251 (Pidgin and Creole Sociolinguistics), or

257 (Language Variation)

Historical Linguistics
260A (Historical Morphology and Phonology) and

260B (Historical Morphosyntax)

Courses other than those listed above may be substituted with the approval of the GSA in consultation with faculty responsible for teaching the course in question.

During the first year, all students must take 203 (Research Methods in Linguistics, Autumn), followed by 396 (Research Projects in Linguistics, Winter). Additionally, first year students must take 395A (the first quarter of the Research Workshop) and at the same time register in 398 (Directed Research) under the direction of the Chair of their first Qualifying Paper Committee. During the second year, all students must take 395B (the second quarter of the Research Workshop, Spring). In conjunction with the Workshops, students will write two Qualifying Papers (see section 3.3 below).

All students must take at least four additional courses, two of which must be taken before advancement to candidacy. Selection of the courses should be designed to enhance research in the student's areas of interest. No more than two of these courses may come from Groups I and II (listed above). The courses should be chosen in consultation with the GSA and the Qualifying Committee Chair.

Finally, all students must take 200 (Foundations of Linguistics, Autumn) before reaching TGR status.

Substitutions for any portion of these requirements on the basis of work done elsewhere may be given with the approval of the GSA and the instructor of the course that is waived.

3.2 Research

3.2.1 Human Subjects
Stanford University, in compliance with US government regulations, requires that all research involving human subjects be approved by the local Administrative Panel on Human Subjects. The Stanford Panel meets approximately once a month to review proposals. Allen Sciutto, Linguistics Department Administrator, has the necessary forms and instructions. Additional information, including the meeting schedule of the panel and submission deadlines, can be obtained from Juli Espinoza (), 723-2480. Because of approval requirements, students may need to have proposals ready two months or more before they plan to do the work, especially for research to be conducted abroad.

You must seek approval if your work both involves human subjects and qualifies as research. The following guidelines are to help you decide whether you need to seek approval; always consult the Panel's staff when in doubt.

Human subjects are any people from whom you obtain data. Typical linguistic research falling under this rubric includes (but is not limited to) experiments in sound perception or language processing, developmental studies of children's language, the collection of linguistic data and grammaticality judgments from an informant, ethnographic observation of communities and their language use, and videotaped interviews. Observation (with or without interaction) requires approval if you keep records that would identify the individual. On the other hand, consulting with a fellow linguist or other language professional, or using archival data or data that have already been published, does not require Panel approval.

'Research' is scientific activity leading to results that will be made available to other researchers. This includes not only publication, but also presentations at conferences, colloquia, or workshops; informal dissemination via working papers; or deposit of the information in the library or in the Linguistics Department for access by other interested parties. Theses and dissertations always fall in this category, and the presumption is that Qualifying Papers and most other projects do too. Two common exceptions are: 1) Practica. These are class exercises not expected to lead to publishable results, and 2) Pilot studies. A pilot study is work done for the purpose of refining a method of observation or data collection before starting the project proper. Note that data obtained as part of unapproved pilot work cannot be used for publication. For the actual study, you must solicit Panel approval, gather new data, and base your conclusions on the new data.

The department has "blanket" IRB approval for certain kinds of linguistic data collection. This covers data collection or verification, in the form of linguistic tokens or acceptability judgments, collected in person (the data may be recorded for future reference) or over the internet.

However, panel approval is required for any data in which personal information about the speaker (e.g., gender, age, education, hometown) is collected, even for aggregate statistical use, or if data are elicited through personal discussion or interaction. When in doubt, assume that you should investigate getting panel approval in advance of undertaking your project. Consult with the GSA if you have questions.

Whether or not your work requires Panel approval, the Department urges that you follow standard ethical guidelines. You should protect people from unnecessary discomfort or risk of harm; ensure that they know that participation is voluntary and that they can withdraw at any time; inform them in advance of the nature of the work (purpose, procedures, risks and benefits, discomforts, compensation, time requirements, confidentiality or credit, use and disposition of recordings); and obtain their explicit consent. If you work with a minor, a parent or guardian must also give permission. These issues of informed consent are all addressed more fully in materials supplied by the Panel; please consult them.

3.2.2 Research: Qualifying Papers
Each prospective Linguistics Ph.D. candidate is expected to complete two substantial research papers in different subfields of linguistics. These papers are known as Qualifying Papers, or QPs. The purpose of the QPs is to provide experience in selecting a topic on which to do research and scholarship, formulating and delimiting the topic, developing a hypothesis, marshaling compelling arguments and data to test it, and suggesting a solution to a problem (where appropriate). These papers will be discussed orally in what is known as the "QP oral" (see section 2.6.3). The first QP is initially developed and discussed in the first Research Workshop (395A, 2 units, S/NP option ONLY); at the same time students enroll in 3 units of Directed Research (398) under the supervision of the Chair of their QP Committee. The second QP is then begun in 395B (2 units, S/NP option ONLY). Students are encouraged to enroll in Directed Research (398) for 2-3 units during the quarter in which they are completing their research (i.e. the quarter after taking 395A or 395B).

It is in the best interests of students to satisfactorily complete both qualifying papers by the end of the Autumn quarter of the third year of graduate study, so that they can start work on the dissertation during the third year, and students are advised to make every effort to do so. The formal process is as follows:

1) Register in 395A and 398 in the Spring quarter of the first year

2) Complete the QP1 oral and the QP1 paper by the end of the Autumn quarter of the second year (can be extended by one quarter; see below)

3) Register in 395B in the Spring quarter of the second year

4) Complete the QP2 oral and the QP2 paper by the end of the Summer quarter of the second year (can be extended by one quarter; see below)

Requests for extensions must be made on the appropriate form ('Extension of Qualifying Paper Deadline'), completed by the student and the QP Chair, and then approved by the GSA. The maximum extension is normally one quarter beyond the deadline for the relevant QP. A hold will be put on registration if the QP is not completed by the time specified.

3.2.3 The QP
The quality of the QP is measured in depth, not length. Nevertheless, the suggested average length for QPs is 25 pages. An adequate QP is a paper that would qualify as the draft of a satisfactory contribution to a linguistics conference. While a satisfactory QP is more substantial than the typical term paper for a course, a term paper is often an excellent starting point for a QP, and students are encouraged to enroll in courses that through topics covered, work required, and so on, will directly advance their work on a QP. The subject matter of the two papers must be clearly distinct, i.e., from different basic areas, though they may be related. Although some students may wish to use a QP as the basis of their dissertation work, many others will prefer to use the QPs to broaden the scope of their portfolio.

3.2.4 The QP Committee
In preparing for their QPs, students are advised to choose topics and do background reading and research prior to the quarter of each Research Workshop. Each student's papers will be evaluated by a committee of at least three faculty members. Students are asked for their preferences regarding committee members in Winter quarter of their first year. The faculty then meets to assign committees, taking these preferences into account. The committee is chosen to be representative of the various areas of faculty interest, not solely of the area of the QP. (The same committee will normally serve for both papers; however, substitutions can be made for the second QP if appropriate for a particular topic, or if a committee member goes on leave or sabbatical.) Students should meet regularly with the members of their committee to discuss ideas and drafts of their QPs. The committee chair meets several times with the student during the period that the paper is being written and ensures that the student also meets with the rest of the committee while the QP is being written. The committee should advise the student concerning revisions - most papers require a minimum of two or three drafts. Committee members should also advise on ways in which approved QPs might be further revised for submission to journals or conferences. When it considers the QP ready for the oral, this committee meets with the student to discuss questions stemming from the paper in a group context (see "QP oral" below).

3.2.5 The QP Oral
The purpose of the QP oral is to discuss the paper, to clarify any issues, and to consider next steps. The Department stresses the value of explicating a piece of research orally when it is more or less complete, much as one would at a conference. The QP oral should be held no later than two weeks before the end of the quarter that the relevant QP requirement is to be completed to allow time for any revisions or clarifications to be made. Students are expected to provide a draft of their QP to their committee at least one week before the oral, and the QP chair will ensure that the committee regards the draft as ready for the oral. During the week before the oral, the committee members will read the paper thoroughly in preparation for the oral. A minimum of three committee members, one of whom must be the chair, is required for the oral.

Students should schedule two hours for the oral; ten minutes for a summary of the main points of the QP and its significance for the field; 50 minutes for questions; the student then leaves the room while the committee discusses the paper and the oral presentation; the last fifteen minutes or so are spent discussing with the student recommendations for revision (if any), suggestions for further development of the paper, and plans for the future. If the committee makes suggestions about improving the paper, implementing them may or may not be required for passing the QP requirement. Chairs of QP committees are urged to put summaries of required changes in writing (if any) after the oral. (Note that, unlike the University Oral (see 2.15.4), the QP oral does not involve any official votes.)

While no formal paperwork is required in order to schedule the QP oral, the GSA and the SSC should be notified of the day, time and location. After the QP oral has taken place and the final written version has been approved by the QP committee, the 'Qualifying Paper Report' should be completed and submitted with the signature of the committee and the paper to the GSA who will sign it and pass it on to the SSC. If the QP fulfills the in-depth language requirement, this should be noted on the 'Qualifying Paper Report'. If the QP fulfills the M.A. project requirement, the 'MA Project Acceptance Form' should be completed.

3.2.6 Department Funds Available for Graduate Student Research and Travel
The Department allocates a particular sum of money to be used for each students travel and research expenses during their five years of graduate study. There are also caps on the amount each student can use for these purposes within any given academic year (an academic year is defined as September 1 to August 31 of the following calendar year).

3.2.6.1 Department Funds Available for Graduate Student Research
Department funds exist to support graduate research. Two types of funds are available: to reimburse travel costs for one research related trip, and to cover non-travel research expenses.

As of academic year 2004-05, up to $400 will be allocated to each student in any academic year for research costs other than travel. Valid uses of the research funds include the purchase of specialized equipment, software, and/or data sets, human subject or informant costs and/or data entry or transcription costs. The Department will not reimburse costs for health insurance in the field, dissertation write-up expenses, or payment(s) to assistants. If human subjects are involved in the research, funds will not be available until the relevant human subjects protocol has been submitted and approved. All equipment, software, data sets, etc. are property of the Department and are to be returned after use.

During a students graduate career the Department will also reimburse the travel costs for one research related trip (e.g., fieldwork, visits to labs directly connected to the students research, travel to libraries or archives). As of academic year 2004-05, up to $1,500 will be available for all travel, including research travel, in an academic year.

To request research funds, students should obtain and complete the Application for Research Funding form at least three weeks prior to incurring research costs or travel (allow for more time during the summer). An approved human subjects protocol (or evidence of submission if protocol not yet approved) if relevant to the research reimbursement requested, must be appended.

3.2.6.2 Department "Backup" Fund Available for Graduate Student Research
The department has created a "backup" research fund to help students with their research costs (primarily in the summer). This fund is intended to help support students who have applied for grants for fieldwork or other kinds of data collection, or for research-related activities, but who have been unsuccessful in their applications. Specifically, the fund will provide money up to a graduate career cap of $1,500 for costs related to those activities just described, provided that the student has applied in good faith for a grant that would have covered all reasonable expenses if granted. In no instance will students receive more than the amount requested in the application budget from this fund.

Students may combine their requests to use this fund with requests to use their regular travel and research fund allowances, if the external grant request exceeded $1,500; student requests are still subject to annual and career caps.

This new fund is explicitly a backup fund and is not intended to provide supplementary funds for any ongoing research activity. As the source of funds is research-related, the funds cannot be applied to language classes or summer schools. Additionally, they can only be used in a quarter when the student is registered, or a summer quarter between two registered academic quarters.

The process for requesting these "backup" research funds is the same as outlined in 3.2.6.1 above, but in addition, students must submit a copy of the original grant application, including the budget, and the declination letter.

3.2.6.3 Department Funds Available for Graduate Student Travel
Department funds exist to support graduate student travel. The primary use of these travel funds is for presenting research at professional meetings, reflecting the Departments conviction that it is important for students to present their work at conferences (as reflected in section 3.7, Colloquia). During a students graduate career the Department will also reimburse the travel costs for one summer school (proof of registration is required) and/or for one research related trip (see section 3.2.6, Department Funds Available for Graduate Research, above).

As of academic year 2004-05, up to $1,500 will be allocated to each student in any academic year (defined as expenses submitted from September 1 to August 31 of the following calendar year). There are no restrictions or distinctions regarding domestic versus international travel.

For presenting papers at professional conferences, appropriate and reimbursable travel expenses include registration fees, meals, lodging, and actual travel costs incurred (airplane, automobile mileage, etc). The Department will not reimburse travel costs simply to attend conferences.

For summer schools, the Department will only reimburse actual travel costs; it does not reimburse summer school tuition or conference tutorial fees, and/or related living expenses.

To request travel funds, students should obtain and complete the Application for Travel Funding form at least three weeks prior to the actual dates of travel (allow for more time during the summer). Upon return from travel, the student is to provide to the SSO all related receipts for reimbursement and sign the Universitys green Travel and Reimbursement receipt envelope.

3.2.7 Department Funds Available for Post-Graduate Employment Search
Up to $300 per student is available to support job search efforts. To receive these funds, the student must have TGR status, not be beyond the 5th year of graduate study, and have already presented the dissertation proposal talk. These funds may be used to pay for the costs of attending conferences where the student is to be interviewed for future professional employment.

To request job search funds, students must provide evidence of the interview, e.g. an e-mail confirmation of the interview time and place. See section 3.2.7 (Department Funds Available for Graduate Student Travel) above for department and University travel reimbursement policy.

3.3 Foreign Language Requirements
There are two language requirements: demonstration of reading knowledge of a foreign language and demonstration of in-depth knowledge of the structure of a foreign language. The latter requirement may be fulfilled by satisfactory completion of a QP, and students should consider this option, if appropriate.

Students whose native language is not English may use either English or their native language to fulfill one of these two requirements, but at least one of the requirements must be satisfied with a language that is neither English nor the student's native language. Normally, in this situation, the students native language is used to satisfy the reading requirement.

At the very latest, at least one of the language requirements must be completed before the end of the second year, the University deadline for filing for candidacy for the Ph.D.

3.3.1 Reading Knowledge of a Foreign Language
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to read at least one foreign language in which a substantial linguistic literature is written, with sufficient facility to understand and to interpret linguistic research published in that language. The requirement may be fulfilled by taking an examination with one of the linguistics faculty members. In the event that no faculty member can certify competency in the language, arrangements should be made with the Language Center, Special Language Program, or relevant department. Students should consult the SSC for more details.

For examinations administered within the Department, the method of examination will be chosen by the examiner, in consultation with the student. The Department would prefer that the examination consist of a discussion (in English) based on a sight-reading of a few pages from the linguistic literature. Other methods of examination that the Department would view as adequate include written translation of a linguistic passage (about 700-1000 words long). A dictionary may be used. After the language examination, copies of the language examination form, signed by the examiner, are to be filed by the student with the SSC.

If the candidate's area of specialization or professional goals make a different kind of proficiency appropriate, this requirement may be modified (e.g. to proficiency in an unwritten language), with the approval of the student's advisor and the GSA.

To reserve a place in a foreign language reading exam, contact the appropriate department prior to the start of the quarter in which the exam will be taken. Examiners in these departments notify the Department of the exam results. Students taking an exam with the Special Language Program, with a linguistics faculty member, or international students being certified for using their first language should file the 'Report on Ph.D. Foreign Language' with the SSC.

3.3.2 In-Depth Knowledge of a Foreign Language
Explicit in-depth knowledge of some foreign language other than the one used to fulfill the reading requirement will be demonstrated by submitting to the GSA a research paper on some aspect of the chosen language. This paper should be endorsed by a faculty member, and may be developed through a regularly scheduled course for which the paper fulfills a requirement, through a directed reading devoted to the writing of this paper, or through a qualifying paper.

The paper should be devoted to a particular aspect of the language chosen, and should demonstrate sufficiently broad knowledge of the language to justify the analysis. One purpose of the requirement is to permit the student to give evidence of accomplishment in some area other than the student's primary area of specialization within linguistics.

The Qualifying Paper Report allows both acceptance of the QP and certification of fulfillment of the In-Depth Language Requirement on the same form. To certify a paper other than a QP for fulfillment of the In-Depth Language Requirement, complete the 'In-Depth Foreign Language Report'; and submit the form along with a copy of the paper fulfilling the In-Depth Foreign Language requirement to the GSA for signature and filing with the SSC.

3.4 Candidacy
The University's statement on advancement to candidacy is as follows: "Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is an acknowledgment of the student's potential to complete successfully the requirements of the Ph.D. The University deadline for filing for candidacy is the end of the sixth full quarter of residence (excluding summers). Students who fail to meet this deadline may be denied permission to register."

3.4.1 Admission to Candidacy for the Ph.D.
Departmental requirements for advancement to candidacy are satisfactory completion of the following:

1) Six of the eight basic courses
2) Two of the four courses for added depth
3) At least one of the two foreign language requirements
4) At least one of the two qualifying papers
5) A topic and an expected date of completion for the second qualifying paper

Students should meet with the GSA and their QP advisors to prepare a Proposal for Candidacy'. This Proposal should be submitted with the advisor's signature to the GSA by the end of the fourth week of the Winter Quarter of the second year. Candidacy proposals will be reviewed at a faculty meeting late Winter quarter or early Spring quarter. Approved proposals will then be returned to the student with the GSA's signature. They should be attached to the 'Application for Candidacy' (see below).

Once the student has completed the necessary requirements, the faculty votes to advance the student to candidacy. At this point, the student should complete the Universitys 'Application to Ph.D. Candidacy' form, and submit it to the SSC for the requisite signatures.

3.5 The M.A. En Route to the Ph.D.
The M.A. in Linguistics may be completed en route to the Ph.D. For this, students need to have completed 45 units of coursework beyond the B.A., one of the foreign language requirements, and one of the qualifying papers.

Obtain and complete both the 'Program Proposal for the Master's Degree' and the 'Graduate Program Authorization Petition', and file the Foreign Language Report and the Qualifying Paper Report, if you have not already done so. Petition for degree conferral via Axess.

3.6 Teaching
The University regards teaching as a valuable part of the process that prepares a student for a future career. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are expected to be sufficiently trained and given appropriate guidance regarding both teaching and grading. The Department views experience in supervised teaching as an integral part of its graduate program, whatever the student's career goals, since all professional careers, academic or not, involve teaching broadly construed.

For additional information on many of the points below, see the Linguistics Department TA Handbook (found online at http://www-linguistics.stanford.edu/resources/ta-manual/).

3.6.1 Teaching Load
A minimum of three quarters of teaching is required of all students as part of the Ph.D. program. Since teaching is an integral part of professional development, all teaching requirements apply to all students.

Students typically start teaching in their second year, and spread the other teaching assignments over the third and fourth years. No student serves as a TA for more than one course in any given quarter. The Department aims to give all students a varied range of TA experience. A Mentor TAship provides advanced students with excellent teaching records the opportunity to train other TAs in the Department (see "TA coordination", section 3.6.7, below). Limited opportunities may be available to students with excellent teaching records to propose a special course for undergraduates given under the auspices of the Linguistics Department.

3.6.2 Selection of TAs
In Spring quarter the GSA and Mentor TA will meet to assign TAs for the next year according to the following priorities:
1) Undergraduate courses that require TAs
2) Graduate courses that require TAs
3) The preferences of the prospective TAs

3.6.3 Eligibility for TAships
All Students should meet minimal progress requirements; if not, their eligibility will be discussed on a case by case basis with the GSA.

Students whose native language is not English must obtain TA eligibility certification with the English for Foreign Students Program (EFS) Autumn qtr of the first year in the Ph.D. program.

3.6.4 TA Training
All prospective TAs should attend CTLs orientation workshops, preferably the day-long orientation offered a few days prior to the start of the Autumn quarter of the year in which they are going to teach, but if this is not possible, the CTL mini-workshops at the beginning of the Winter and Spring quarters. In addition, in the Autumn quarter of the second year, prospective TAs register for and attend a workshop (394) prepared by the Linguistics Department Mentor TA on pedagogical content specific to TAing in Linguistics courses.

3.6.5 TA Responsibilities
TAs help with course planning, participate in developing and grading problems and exams, hold office hours, and in many courses, plan and teach discussion sections. If a course does not have discussion sections, TAs are often given the opportunity to teach at least one class and be evaluated.

3.6.6 TA Evaluation

1) All TAs will be evaluated by students in their section using the University TA evaluation form. Instructors are responsible for ensuring that evaluations are scheduled; 10-15 minutes should be set aside in class or section time for completion of the forms. The completed forms should be submitted to either the Registrars Office (address indicated on the envelope provided) or the SSC by a student in the class. The Registrars Office processes these forms, and submits copies of the evaluations, as well as an evaluation summary of each TA. These are typically delivered to the SSC the following quarter, and are then distributed to the instructor, the TA, and the TAs Department file.

2) Instructors are urged to attend sections at least twice

3) Instructors evaluate TA teaching using the faculty evaluation form. (The instructor completes it, discusses it with student, and gives it to the SSC for inclusion in the TAs Department file)

4) Students are also encouraged to use CTL's assessment services

5) TAs are urged to complete the TA Course Summary Evaluation form in order to provide course feedback from the TA perspective and catalog materials used during TA duties

3.6.7 Coordination of TAs
The Mentor TA (typically a fourth year student) is primarily responsible for coordinating the TA training, supervision, and trouble-shooting, in consultation with the GSA (for more information regarding Mentor TA responsibilities: http://www-linguistics.stanford.edu/resources/ta-manual/mentor-ta-job.html). Students with strong teaching records apply during Spring quarter for the following year. The appointment typically takes the form of a 50% Mentor TAship for one quarter, with the mentorship workload spread over three quarters. However, most of the work is in the Autumn quarter. Responsibilities include designing and conducting the TA workshop for second year students (394), as well as additional "pedagogical content" workshops for Linguistics TAs. The Mentor TA serves as a resource to TAs during the year, ensuring that students and faculty implement the Department's TA guidelines (printed in the departmental TA Handbook, and found online at http://www-linguistics.stanford.edu/resources/ta-manual/), observing and evaluating sections or other teaching, maintaining and updating the Linguistics Department TA Handbook, and serving as liaison with CTL.

3.7 Colloquia
This requirement is intended to provide the student with the opportunity to develop the skills needed both for teaching and for the presentation of research. Since effective oral presentations are so important to success in teaching and research, the colloquium requirements should be planned to give the student maximal feedback on performance and maximal help on improvement. The student's advisor, and any other faculty members asked ahead of time, will be responsible for giving constructive comments on content and style of presentation.

Two oral presentations are required in addition to the oral dissertation proposal (see below). One of the two presentations may be given in a Topics course or a seminar. Papers presented at professional meetings are especially appropriate for satisfying colloquium requirements.

3.8 Ph.D. Dissertation
The process of writing a dissertation involves development of a hypothesis, analysis and interpretation of research results, and conclusions to be drawn from them. The completed dissertation demonstrates that the student has the ability to complete a substantial piece of original research work, to articulate the results of this work in a manner appropriate for the linguistics community, and to demonstrate the significance of the work in the context of the general field of linguistics.

3.8.1 Establishment of a Reading Committee
The purpose of the reading committee is to help the student define a topic and to read and critique drafts of the research. Students should select a principal advisor, who will have the prime responsibility for guiding the dissertation work, and should work in conjunction with the principal advisor in selecting committee members. The committee is composed of at least three readers - the principal dissertation advisor who must be from the Stanford Department of Linguistics, and at least two other members. Two of the three readers must be members of the Academic Council (i.e. Full, Associate, and Assistant Professors). Consulting faculty, visiting faculty, or faculty from other Universities may be members of oral examination and reading committees, provided they agree to do the work involved. Former Stanford Academic council members and faculty from other departments or institutions may be co-principal advisors, but may not serve alone as principal advisors. Students are especially encouraged to seek outside members if no member of Stanford University is an expert on the language they work on. Approval for an outside member of a committee must be obtained through a 'Petition for Doctoral Committee Members', submitted to the SSC for signature approval by the Chair of the Department. Please note that neither the university nor the Department provides funds for travel for outside committee members.

Discuss potential committee members with your principal dissertation advisor. Obtain and complete the 'Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee' form, and return to the SSC. (This form is required before students may file for TGR; it must be filed with the SSC at least one quarter before completion of the dissertation.) The composition of the dissertation committee can be changed (as can the tentative title of the dissertation) at a later date. To include non-Academic Council Members submit a 'Petition for Doctoral Committee Members' along with a current CV to the SSC for approval by the Chair of the Department.

3.8.2 Written Proposal
Each Ph.D. candidate is expected to submit a written dissertation proposal (approximately 30-40 pages long) for approval by the dissertation committee (if the dissertation committee changes at a later date, the student should ensure that new committee members approve the dissertation proposal informally). The purpose of writing a proposal is to clarify the goals of the research, and assess its feasibility within a reasonable length of time (typically a year); to help focus (most topics are far too large in their initial conception), and to fully understand the foundational work already done in the area. Therefore, a typical proposal includes: An outline of the proposed research, a justification for undertaking the research, a pilot study of the problem to be studied, and an adequate working bibliography.

Since this work is a proposal, i.e. a plan of work including questions to be answered at a later date, it is not to be thought of as a publishable paper, although it may include work that has been published (for example in conference proceedings). Rather, it is to be thought of as material that can be used as a draft of one of more sections of the dissertation (almost always the introductory chapter, sometimes, parts of other chapters as well).

It is wise to write the proposal as early as possible in the process of working on the dissertation and ideally no later than the Spring quarter of the 3rd year. Departmentally approved proposals are often required for dissertation fellowship and other funding applications (typically due in the Autumn quarter of the fourth year). A proposal can also serve as a writing sample in job applications (though actual chapters are of course preferable for these purposes).

The written proposal must be approved by the dissertation reading committee. Students are encouraged to have an informal discussion of the proposal with the committee. As soon as the proposal has been approved, a copy with a 'Dissertation Proposal Report' signed by the reading committee should be submitted to the GSA who will file it with the SSC.

3.8.3 Oral Presentation
Upon approval of the written dissertation proposal, each student is expected to make an oral presentation of the proposal in the departmental colloquium or one of the regular Department workshops (e.g., syntax, phonology, semantics, sociolinguistics), sometime during the September to June academic year. The oral presentation should be devoted to a description of the proposed dissertation, including some specific questions to be asked in the research, how the research will be carried out, the potential significance of the work, and the background of the study. Presenters should aim to speak for about 50 minutes, to allow maximum time for input from faculty, students, and visitors.

The Department encourages students to schedule their oral presentation as early as possible in the dissertation writing process, to maximize the benefits of presenting it to the local linguistics community. This oral presentation is separate from the dissertation proposal approval process, which simply requires the signature of the advisor and two more faculty members on the written proposal.

3.8.4 University Oral Examination
The University Oral is based on, but not limited to, the dissertation project and related areas. The oral may be scheduled only after the reading committee agrees that the dissertation draft submitted is an acceptable pre-final version of the dissertation. This version will include a clear presentation of the dissertation's principal empirical and theoretical contributions, and most chapters of the dissertation will be in a near-final state at the time of the scheduling of the University Oral.

The examining committee for the University Oral is minimally composed of five people: the student's dissertation committee members (at least three), a chair (from another department), and an additional member to be selected by the student, subject to the approval of the Department. (This latter applies only where the student's dissertation committee consists of only three members.)

The role of the University Chair is to see that the examination is carried out in a fair and responsible manner (i.e. to serve as "Umpire and Quality Controller"). Students are encouraged to suggest and obtain the Chair, and it is strongly advised to start the search early. If a Chair cannot be identified, it is the responsibility of the student's advisor to obtain a Chair (or to delegate this task to another member of the committee). The Chair cannot be from the Department of Linguistics or have an appointment in a department in which the principal dissertation advisor has an appointment. Students are also responsible for coordinating the time and place of the exam.

The 'University Oral Examination Schedule' must be filed with the SSC 2 weeks before the date of the University Oral. It requires the signature of the Department chair.

The student must submit a draft or long abstract (12 pages minimum) to the University Chair at least one week before the Oral; the SSC will make up a file for the chair of the Oral. (The Chair has the option of asking for the total corpus of dissertation materials available at the time of the Oral.)

The University Oral takes up to three hours; it has the following form in Linguistics:

(i) A talk of no more than 20 minutes by the candidate outlining the purposes of the dissertation and implications for the field. Visitors may attend this part of the Oral, subject to advance approval by the candidate and the candidate's advisor. Visual aids should be made available. Notes may be used, but the talk should not be read. Failure to observe these requirements may result in cancellation of the oral. Such cancellation may be requested by any member of the orals committee within the first five minutes of the talk.

(ii) Questions from the Committee on the content of the talk; these are not limited to the dissertation topic alone; each committee member has approximately 20 minutes for questions, including the Chair.

(iii) The committee then discusses the dissertation and the oral in the absence of the candidate, and votes on whether the oral is passed or failed.

(iv) The candidate is advised of the result of the oral, and any suggestions for revisions of the dissertation are outlined. Members of the dissertation committee are expected to meet individually with the student shortly after the oral to discuss any revisions in greater detail.

Scheduling the oral exam takes considerable planning. Approximately 5 weeks prior to the exam date, you should work with your principal advisor to determine a day and time for the exam and to identify a University Chair. The SSC can help with scheduling a room for the exam. After obtaining the University Chair, be sure to give him/her either a copy of the thesis or a long abstract well in advance of the exam. Complete the 'Oral Examination Schedule' and return to the SSC at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. The SSC will prepare a folder for you to personally deliver to the University Chair. Students must be registered in the quarter of the Oral Examination.

3.8.5 Submission of the Dissertation in Approved Final Form
The following must be filed with the Graduate Degree Progress section of the Registrar by the University's quarterly deadline (additional instruction and forms are available in the Registrar's Office publication 'Directions for Preparing Doctoral Dissertations'):

1) Four single-sided, unbound copies of the dissertation with original signatures of all members of the faculty reading committee.

2) Three additional separate copies of the title page of the dissertation.

3) The 'Certificate of Final Reading of Dissertation' signed by one member of the reading committee to approve the dissertation in final form.

4) One separate copy of the abstract of the dissertation signed by the student's advisor.

5) The 'Doctoral Dissertation Agreement Form' (authorizing publication of the dissertation and the abstract by Bell & Howell).

6) The 'Survey of Earned Doctorates'.

7) A receipt from the University Cashier for payment of the fee for binding four copies of the dissertation. If Copyright is requested, the receipt must also include the Copyright fee.

8) Application to Graduate filed ON-LINE via Axess by the quarterly deadline established in the University Calendar.

When students submit the required dissertation copies to the Graduate Degree Progress section, they may submit up to two personal copies for binding. There is an additional fee for this service, which must be included in the receipt mentioned in (7) above. Bound personal copies must be picked up in the Graduate Degree Support Section when ready, as there is no mailing service available.

3.9 Commencement
We strongly encourage students who have completed all degree requirements to participate in Commencement. In addition to the University festivities, the Department holds a diploma award ceremony for its degree recipients. This is an informal ceremony and a wonderful opportunity for your friends and family to share in your accomplishment. This ceremony is held at the end of Spring quarter.

Students who are close to completing all degree requirements and who would not be able to attend the commencement ceremonies following degree completion can petition to 'walk-through'. MA candidates who wish to walk-through must have an approved draft of their MA thesis or project and must expect to complete the degree by the end of the Summer quarter following commencement. Ph.D. candidates must have completed the University Oral Exam, or have submitted the 'University Oral Examination Schedule' form; they also must complete the degree by the end of the Summer quarter following commencement.

To 'walk-through' commencement ceremonies, obtain and complete the departmental 'walk-through' petition from the SSC. 'Walk-through' petitions must be submitted to the SSC by the quarterly deadline to file the dissertation, as established in the University Calendar.

3.10 Activities
Students are expected to participate in departmental affairs (conferences such as the annual Child Language Research Forum, Linguistics Colloquium series, workshops, committee work, parties, etc.). Such participation is valuable for both professional identification and breadth of experience. All members of the Department, faculty and students alike, are urged to lend their support and active help in all departmentally-sponsored functions, whatever their own area of specialization.

3.11 Opportunities for Involvement in Research
Stanford graduate students in Linguistics have unusual opportunities for involvement in research from early on in their graduate career and can participate in a wide variety of on-going research projects on campus, both within the Department and the Center for the Study of Language and information (CSLI). In addition, there are established connections with the laboratories of a number of Silicon Valley companies through which students may obtain further experience and employment opportunities.

3.12 Publications
The Department strongly urges students who may be considering professional careers in linguistics within academia to begin as early as possible to present papers at conferences and workshops, both within the Department and without. They are also urged to prepare papers for publication in refereed journals. Conference participation and publication serve a number of important functions and play a crucial role in the professional development of the student, and should therefore be seen as an integral part of the program, even if not a requirement of the curriculum per se. Students are advised to seek additional advice and guidance from the advisor and/or other faculty members.

4. EXCHANGE SCHOLAR PROGRAM

Two exchange programs with other universities are available for graduate students. One allows a student to spend up to a year at one of the following campuses: Brown, University of Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale (for more information: http://www.upenn.edu/grad/exchange.html). The other allows a student to take courses at UC Berkeley. Note that the academic calendars of other universities, including UC Berkeley, do not coincide with Stanford's and this may cause logistical problems.

In both cases, exchange students pay tuition and fees ONLY at the home campus. Foreign students must complete all INS details at the home campus far in advance of the requested quarter of exchange study. For Berkeley, a new application is required each semester (by the end of the third week of classes), and must be submitted to Berkeley Graduate Degrees and Petition Office, 302 Sproul Hall (forms are available from that office). Petitions to attend courses at all other campuses are available from the Graduate Degree Progress section of the Registrar's Office, Old Union 132.

5. COGNITIVE SCIENCE DESIGNATION

Linguistics, along with the Departments of Computer Science, Philosophy, and Psychology, participates in an interdisciplinary program on cognitive science. The program is intended to provide an interdisciplinary education in addition to the major concentration in linguistics. Doctoral students who complete the requirements within linguistics and cognitive science will receive a special designation in cognitive science along with the Ph.D. degree in Linguistics. To receive this designation, students must complete 30 units of approved courses, 18 of which must be taken in fields outside linguistics. Students wishing to have a cognitive science designation should plan their second and third year courses, in consultation with the GSA, so as to cover the necessary interdisciplinary requirements prior to writing their dissertation proposals.

6. FINANCIAL MATTERS

The following information was written with the intention of clarifying the issue of graduate financial aid. It should be noted that the information below provides a snapshot of the typical funding scenario for those students who matriculated after Autumn quarter of 2001. These scenarios are subject to change in the future. Students who entered the program prior to Autumn 2001 may have a very different funding situation.

This document gives some GENERAL funding scenarios for students on different funding sources. Please do not be concerned if your particular situation doesn't match those listed. Each student receives an award letter which gives a quarter by quarter breakdown of his/her particular funding award.

6.1 Description of Funding Types

6.1.1 University Fellowships
A University Fellowship (UF) provides the student with a living stipend and pays for tuition appropriate to the students stage in the program. Students in their first year are generally on 3 quarters of UF, which includes 15 units of tuition support per quarter. The second year is generally funded by a combination of both UF and TA (and/or RA, in certain circumstances); these quarters include 10 units of tuition support. Students holding UFs are paid the full amount of the stipend (minus applicable taxes and fees) on the first day of the quarter.

6.1.2 Teaching Assistantships
Students typically complete the teaching requirement (at least 3 quarters of TA) by the end of the fourth year of study. Students on TA-ships are paid a semi-monthly salary and also receive 10 units of tuition per teaching quarter.

6.1.3 Predoctoral Research Assistantships
Once students have advanced to candidacy, their funding generally takes the form Predoctoral Research Assistantships in all non-TA quarters until they reach TGR status. The third and fourth years are generally funded by a combination of Predoctoral Research Assistantships and TA (and/or RA-ships on faculty members grants). Students on Predoc RA-ships are paid a semi-monthly salary and also receive 10 units of tuition per quarter.

6.1.4 Research Assistantships
Opportunities also exist for students to receive RA appointments on faculty members grants, as an alternative to UF or Predoctoral Research Assistantship quarter(s). You are encouraged to consider these opportunities seriously, if they arise, as they provide invaluable experience. Students on RA-ships are paid a semi-monthly salary and also receive 10 units of tuition per quarter.

6.1.5 Summer Quarter Research Assistantships
Ph.D. students matriculating in the Department of Linguistics after Fall 2003 are eligible for two summers of funding from the Department, unless they are already receiving comparable funding through an SGF, NSF, or other fellowship. Students may use this support in any summer following years 1-4 of graduate study. Students may choose when to receive summer funding, but the Department recommends that they take advantage of this funding earlier, rather than later, in their graduate career.

Summer funding is in the form of an RA-ship on a research project with one or more faculty members. A list of available summer RA opportunities will be circulated to students in the spring. Students interested in summer funding will be asked to express their preferences. The GSA will then match students to RAships and inform students and faculty of these assignment by the middle of the Spring Quarter. Students may choose to be TAs in the EFS Program as an alternative to being an RA. The summer RA requirement will also apply to students with NSF, SGF, or other external fellowships.

In most instances, summer funding will be for the 8-week summer session; however, if students are selected as RAs on an externally-funded research project that can offer 10 weeks of support, the funding may be for the 10-week summer session. All students will receive 10 units or TGR tuition, as applicable given their status in the graduate program. The stipend offered will depend on the number of weeks of support: those supported for 8-weeks will receive a stipend of 80% of the academic year stipend for a quarter; those being supported for 10 weeks will receive the usual academic year stipend for one quarter. The stipend rates are those for the previous academic year.

Students must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress on their degree requirements to receive Department summer funding. Specifically, students must have been advanced to candidacy to receive funding in the summer after their second year of graduate study; students must have completed both QPs to receive funding in the summer after their third year of graduate study; and students must have advanced to TGR status to receive funding in the summer after their fourth year of graduate study. Students are expected to be in residence during the 8-week (or, if applicable, 10-week) summer quarter in which they receive funding (i.e., students attending a summer school, such as the LSA Linguistic Institute, that overlaps with the summer session will not be eligible for department funding in the summer they attend the school).

Students will be able to receive summer support from Stanford sources for additional summers beyond the two the Department is committed to providing, if there is additional funding available beyond what is needed to support those students who are eligible for department funding or if there is funding for a project that requires a student with specialized skills.

For students who matriculated in the graduate program before Fall 2003, we will determine the number of summers of funding available as follows: Students who will be entering year 5 in Autumn 2003-04 are not eligible for funding. Students entering year 4 are eligible for at most one summer of funding. Students entering years 2 or 3 are eligible for up to two summers of funding. The number of actual summers of support will depend on whether the student has previously received summer support from Stanford sources, such as faculty research grants or TAships in the EFS Program, or from NSFs, SGFs, or comparable fellowships. Such prior support will be counted towards the number of eligible summers of funding. The Department has already notified applicable students if they are eligible for summer funding in future years. This summer support is subject to the guidelines set out above.

6.1.6 Health Insurance
During each quarter of Department support, students in their first through fifth year of graduate study are eligible to receive a health insurance benefit that covers the cost of their Cardinal Care University health care coverage. Students in their sixth plus year of graduate study are eligible to receive a benefit that covers half the cost of Cardinal Care. Students must elect Cardinal Care insurance coverage to receive these benefits. Students may learn more about Cardinal Care benefits and coverage at http://CardinalCare.stanford.edu. Should students receive support in any quarter from non-Department sources, the full cost of Cardinal Care might not be covered.

6.2 Some General Funding Scenarios

6.2.1 Five Year Departmental Funding Package
This award provides 15 quarters of academic year funding, consisting of 8 quarters of University Fellowship, 3 quarters of Teaching Assistantship, 4 quarters of Predoctoral Research Assistantship, and 2 quarters of Summer Quarter RA-ship (see section 6.1.5). An example of a funding breakdown for the academic year portion of a 5 year award is as follows:
Year 1:3 quarters of UF (with 15 units of tuition support each quarter)
Year 2: 2 quarters of UF, 1 quarter of TA-ship (with 10 units of tuition support per UF or TA quarter)
Year 3 and 4:2 quarters of TA-ship, 4 quarters of Predoctoral RA-ship (with 10 units of tuition support each quarter)
Year 5: 3 quarters of UF (with TGR tuition support each quarter)

6.2.2 NSF/Departmental Funding Package
When a student enters the program with an NSF, the Department supplements the award so that the student receives 5 years of funding. The NSF award provides 3 years of funding, including summers, a generous living stipend and a small contribution towards tuition (the remainder of the tuition during these three years is paid by the Department).

One funding scenario for the NSF award is as follows: Years 1-3: NSF, with Dept supplementation Year 4:3 quarters of Department funding, consisting of a combination of Predoctoral Research Assistantships and TA-ships (if the teaching requirement has not yet been completed) Year 5: 3 quarters of UF (with TGR tuition support each quarter)

6.3 Tax Information
The following is general information about taxes. Please note that the departmental administrative staff cannot assist you in this matter; we strongly recommend that you obtain professional help in the preparation of your taxes. International students should take advantage of the special tax seminars held in March and April at the International Center.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who received fellowship stipend checks (quarterly, lump sums from which taxes were not withheld) will NOT receive W-2s. Your stipends are taxable but are not subject to withholding or reporting by Stanford. (Tuition is not taxable for degree seeking students. It is tax reportable for non-degree seeking students, e.g., post-docs.)

International students who received fellowship stipends (quarterly lump sums) WERE subject to withholding and will receive a summary from the Controller's office in February or March. This will not be a W-2 (a report of wages) because you did not receive payroll salaries; instead, it will be a 1042-S listing your scholarship/fellowship & taxes withheld. International students from treaty countries who are claiming exemption from taxes based on the treaty will be receiving 1042S forms by March 15, and should report these earnings. This applies to either salary or stipend amounts. If you do not receive the 1042-S form by March 15, you may contact the University Payroll Office at (72)3-2259. You will need to indicate your full name, SU ID number, social security number and current address.

Students on all types of assistantships (RA-ships and TA-ships) receive W-2 forms from Payroll during the 2nd half of January. If you have not received your form by February 1, you may contact the University Payroll Office at (72)3-2259; they will issue a duplicate form. You will need to indicate your full name, SU ID number, social security number and current address.