Due Dates:

First paper:	Choose overseer and topic	Second Year, Spring – 1st Tue
	Proposal due	Second Year, Spring – 6th Tue
	Paper due (exam version)	Third Year, Fall – 5th Tue
Second paper:	Choose overseer and topic	Third Year, Fall – 1st Tue
	Proposal due	Third Year, Fall – 8th Tue
	Paper due (exam version)	Third Year, Spring - 8th Tue

 

Important: see below for absolute deadlines which trigger loss of department funding if not met.

The general examination consists of two papers of publishable quality, one in a topic closely related to the student's special area of interest, the second in some other area. The proposal for the first paper is due to all members of the faculty by the sixth Tuesday of the spring semester of the second year. The completed first paper, ready for the examination, must be submitted to all members of the committee by the fifth Tuesday of the fall semester of the third year. The proposal for the second paper is due to all members of the faculty by the eighth Tuesday of the fall semester of the third year. The completed second paper, ready for the examination, must be submitted to all members of the committee by the eighth Tuesday of the spring semester of the third year.

Proposals for general examination papers identify a problem to be investigated and the nature of the investigation. The proposal has a maximum length of 2,500 words (about ten double-spaced pages) plus bibliography, and is evaluated by a committee of the whole faculty. The approved proposal is then filed in the Department Library. In the planning stage for a proposal, students consult with a faculty member in the area of the planned research. This faculty member is identified on the student's proposal as overseer. Normally, the overseer named on the proposal chairs the examining committee for the paper.

The examining committee consists of at least three faculty members in Linguistics, including the overseer of the paper. The membership of an examining committee is chosen by the faculty at its review of a proposal and communicated to the student by the overseer. To comply with Graduate School rules for general examinations, there are at least five different faculty members on the two examining committees for the two examination papers for each student.

The examination paper should be submitted with a cover sheet that lists the overseer and the members of the examining committee, and should include a one-page abstract summarizing the contents of the paper. The abstract is distributed to all faculty members in the Department. The full paper is submitted by the due date to the members of the examination committee and any faculty member who requests it. One copy should be placed in the department office for the reference of faculty members who are not on the examination committee. Examinations are held within one or two weeks of the due date of the paper. Any member of the faculty can participate in an examination and advise the examining committee. The results of the examination, however, are the responsibility of the examining committee designated at the time the proposal is accepted.

Students can consult with any faculty member for advice on general examination proposals and papers, whether or not the faculty member is named to the examining committee for the paper under the procedures outlined above.

The department will notify the Graduate School of the results of the examination when two corrected copies of each general examination paper passed by the faculty have been deposited in the department office.

Doctoral students may apply for the M.A. degree if they have completed 24 credits on an approved Ph.D. plan of study and have passed the doctoral general examination. The application is made on the form that is submitted to the Graduate School upon depositing the final version of the second general examination paper in the department office.

• Students who submit their paper by the due date will have their exam as usual. If a student fails to meet the due date for a GE paper, the committee will hold a meeting with the student to hear the explanation and decide on a course of action.

• Ultimately, failure to complete the GE papers will lead to the students losing any financial support received from the Department. If a student has failed to submit the final version of the first GE paper by the end of the spring semester in the third year (specifically, by the last day to submit grades), then the student will automatically lose all funding from the Department. Since this is the final version of the paper, the examination and any revisions that are required must have been completed by this date.

• Similarly, if a student has failed to submit the second GE paper by March 1st of the fourth year, funding will automatically be cut. This is almost a full year after the ordinary due date.

As with all rules and regulations, appeals for extension may be considered in exceptional circumstances. The key word here is ‘exceptional’, extensions to the above deadlines are not routinely granted.

• GE Proposal should be submitted prior to faculty meeting on due date (Tue) for consideration by faculty at its next regular meeting.
• Outcome of examination is conveyed by memo to DGS, with deadline for revisions (if any).
• When revisions are completed to satisfaction of committee, overseer sends a memo to Program Assistant at DGS.
• Completed final paper (with revisions made and approved) is deposited with program assistant in department office.