Department of English Literature and Linguistics

Linguistics Graduate Orientation Meeting

2015-16

Graduate coordinator: Prof. Sharon Armon-Lotem

Linguistics in Clinical Research coordinator: Dr. Michal Ben-Shachar (on sabbatical)

Programs offered at the department

LinguisticsLinguistics in Clinical Research

In each there is anMA programPhD program

Individually tailored program

The program may include specialization in a combination of two or more of areas in linguistics, as well as in other fields such as brain sciences, psychology, or philosophy.

The policies, rules, and procedures established by the M.A. and Ph.D. Committees serve as the framework and set the minimum standards for the Department's Graduate Committee.

If you have a

BA in Linguistics with background in both theoretical linguistics and psycholinguistic – you are in the Linguistics program.

BA./BEd in a related field – 4 prerequisites a year – (השלמות)

BA /BSc in an unrelated field – 6 prerequisites – a year or more

BA in a clinical field >>> Linguistics in Clinical Research

A grade of 80 in each course is a must to pass the prerequisites. A grade of 85 is a must for continuing in the thesis track.

M.A. Program – Where do we start?

M.A. Track A (with thesis) - For research-oriented students who may want to continue to Ph.D. Courses: 7 Seminars with research papers in 2 of them, M.A. thesis.

M.A. Track B (without thesis) - For students who want a deeper understanding of language and language processing as they pertain to clinical issues. Courses: 11 seminars with research papers in 3 of them.

All students are accepted to Track B (without a thesis) and can move to the thesis track at the end of the first year if they found an advisor.

The colloquium counts as a seminar for track B students

M.A. Program - Tracks

Graduate seminars (800/900 level) – MA/PhD seminars for deeper understanding of specific topics. Often require in class presentation and always require a seminar paper.

Undergraduate seminars (400 level) – 3rd year BA seminar – can replace one of the graduate seminars.

The seminar paper might be short or long – this is the student’s choice. Each teacher decides what counts as short or long paper.

A course (500 level) – only for those who do not do a thesis.

In all graduate courses, the lecturer or professor determines the requirements and the grading criteria.

Seminars and courses

Cont.M.A. Track A (with thesis)

students need special permission from the graduate advisor and the head of the department in order to take an undergraduate seminar. In such cases, the course requirements will be equivalent to work at the graduate level.

All papers must be handed in at the time set by the lecturer/professor.

Students who wish to submit a late paper must apply to the university and pay a fee for processing this application

Prerequisites (987, 922) and applied seminars

are scheduled on Tuesdays and WednesdaysTheoretical seminars are scheduled on

Tuesdays and Thursdays.We make sure there is no overlap between the

different seminars.Courses are also given on MondaysIf you plan well you need not come for more

than a day and a half each week in order to finish your MA in two years (after completing the prerequisites).

When you are in on Tuesday, don’t miss the colloquium

Scheduling your courses

● All graduate students must attend the colloquium for a whole year.

● The colloquium is held on Tuesday at 14:00 almost every week.

● At the colloquium, a variety of topics are presented by researchers from within and outside the department.

● When you attend the colloquium, you are encouraged to listen and reflect on what you hear. You are welcome to participate and ask questions.

● Guidelines with questions will be available online to help you make the most out of these talks.

The colloquium

M.A. Track A - Thesis and guideline ● For Track A (thesis/research track), a thesis

proposal must be submitted by the end of first semester of the second year. The proposal must be approved by the thesis advisor, two other lecturers/professors from the Department, and the University M.A. Committee.

● When the thesis is completed, and has been approved by the thesis advisor, it is read and must be approved two other senior lecturers/professors.

● Finally, there is a final oral examination on the thesis (possibly followed by further corrections).

● When submitted to the library, the thesis must meet the university guidelines (see http://graduate-school.biu.ac.il/files/gradschool/shared/graduate-school-info-2014-2015.pdf )

Final Examination for Track B Students (no thesis)

● In the last year of studies, an oral examination is conducted based on a set of readings agreed upon with a lecturer/professor..

● A student in a track B MA exam is supposed to present some individual research.

● We have had students prepare a reading list on a topic that she/he is interested in (with the approval of a faculty member) and we have had students read in depth a paper connected to a seminar paper already written and take the research a stage further, discuss  a different aspect of it and so on.

● The student is NOT just supposed to present a seminar paper already written for some other class

● Both the reading list and the date of the examination must be approved in advance

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarships and grants are administered by the University M.A. Scholarships Committee. Funding is allocated on the basis of merit as well as financial need. Online application is through the student section of the BIU webpage.

Research assistant positions are available through researchers who have funded research.

Ph.D. Programs in LinguisticsPh.D. admissionDissertation ProposalPh.D. DissertationFinancial Aid and Assistantships

Ph.D. admission The regular Ph.D. program is for students

with an M.A. degree in linguistics for which they have written a thesis and for which they earned a grade of at least 88.

Students with an MA in Linguistics or Speech Therapy without a thesis are sometimes recommended for admission on the condition that they first write a major paper equivalent to an M.A. thesis (“MA equivalent” עבודה שוות ערך).

Students from other fields will be required to take several prerequisite courses before attaining the formal status of a Ph.D. student. A thesis equivalent will be required from students who were in a non-thesis track, ore come from a very unrelated fields.

Auditing prerequisite coursesIn the PhD program, we often recommend auditing

the pre-required courses (typically 987 (שמיעה חופשית)and 922, theoretical 500 level course/s and seminar/s).

Why?

Experience shows that 4 years is a very short time for PhD. Auditing courses pre-admission is a way to delay the clock.

In some cases this is also a way to get an updated assessment of your performance, and improve the chances for admission.

Our only incentive is to best advise you.

But: It is also more expensive.

PhD Program – requirements

A grade of 90 in each prerequisite course is mandatory in order to continue in the PhD program.

Every PhD candidate must be interviewed by the Linguistics PhD committee

Every PhD candidate must have an advisor before registration to the program.

After acceptance - registration to 6 courses, 2 with a research paper, 4 with pass/fail.

Dissertation ProposalA research proposal is due by the beginning of

the second year of studies.

When the proposal has been completed and approved by the advisor, it will be reviewed by at least two other members of the department.

Once approved inside the department, the dissertation proposal is then submitted to the University Ph.D. Committee, which will send it out for review to at least two scholars in the field both inside and outside Bar-Ilan University.

Ph.D. Dissertation

The Ph.D. dissertation, when completed, goes through the same process as the dissertation proposal. First, it is submitted to the advisor for approval, then to two additional members of the department, and finally, to the Ph.D. committee for approval, which solicits anonymous reviews from two outside reviewers. This process usually takes from two to six months.

Financial Aid and Assistantships ● Presidential Fellowships consist of four years of

support, which includes tuition remission and a stipend of approximately NIS 4800 per month. These awards are granted on a competitive basis to students who show high academic promise and commit themselves to a full-time study program which will allow them to complete the degree within the four year period specified in the Fellowship contract.

● The University Scholarships Committee, which grants sums of approximately NIS 6,000 on the basis of academic merit and financial need.

● Private sources of funding are sometimes available from foundations.

● Some students receive support as Research Assistants from research grants.

● Some students are employed as Teaching Assistants.

General topicsRequirement outside the departmentConferencesPace of WorkHow to handle your advisor

Requirements outside the departmentForeign Language Requirement - Graduate

students learning in the department, are exempted from the foreign language requirement.

Jewish studies – 2 yearly courses. If you did your BA/MA at BIU you only need to take 1 course.

Conferences

All graduate students are encouraged to attend national and international conferences organized at the University by lecturers in their field.

Small amounts of funding are available for graduate students who have had papers accepted at major international conferences held abroad.

Pace of Work

The funding of the University and the Department assumes that it takes 2 years to finish an M.A. degree, and 4 years for a Ph.D. degree. The Department appreciates that this pace is rather fast for students with other responsibilities.

The following suggestions are offered to deal with this requirement: Take prerequisite courses before applying for admission. The Department tries to schedule its graduate courses on one or two days of the week. These days should be kept clear for coursework.

All course obligations and seminar papers should be completed when they are due.

How to handle your advisor

Its your job to be in touch with your advisor

S/he might not be available immediately/always/24h a day to meet, read, respond.

You  MUST be in touch with your advisor if you are lost, confused, need to discuss where you are and etc, also to discuss what courses you should be taking. 

Secretaries proved useful advice on how to handle the system. They do not give academic advice or make academic decisions. 

If you find out that you have further questions feel free to

contact me at

sharon.armon-lotem@biu.ac.il

Thank you