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Program Details

Graduate Program: Anthropology & Linguistics (PHD)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Anthropology & Linguistics (PHD)  
Program Description

Applicants to The University of Arizona’s Ph.D. program in Anthropology and Linguistics (ANLI) should have significant background in both linguistics and anthropology. The ANLI program makes it possible for students to pursue the study of language in its social context and linguistic theory, drawing on the resources of both the Department of Linguistics and the Linguistic Anthropology program within the School of Anthropology, without having to go through two separate Ph.D. programs. Potential applicants should clearly address in their statement of intent how their past experiences and future research interests fit with the current strengths of both departments.

Both departments have strong national reputations for their contributions to the study of language, and each department has specialized in mutually compatible ways in the kinds of linguistic theory and analysis it offers students. The Department of Linguistics focuses on both formal and experimental models of language structure, including the study of Southwestern Native American languages and cultures, and historical linguistics. Linguistic Anthropology, as one of the four sub-disciplines within the field of anthropology, has concentrated on developing the study of language in its social context, particularly in sociolinguistics, including strong links with Cultural Anthropology. Scholars from both departments have also carried out research and fieldwork on numerous languages.

The joint degree in Anthropology and Linguistics is designed for students with interests in both departments who would emerge from the program as job candidates for both linguistics and anthropology departments. Both the School of Anthropology and Department of Linguistics offer teaching assistantships and research support for students in the joint Ph.D. program.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Linguistics

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Arizona offers undergraduate and graduate programs in linguistics and human language technology. Our faculty has research specializations in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, computational linguistics, psycholinguistics, language acquisition, represented by diverse interests in a variety of languages. We also offer unique programs in Native American linguistics. The department trains students for careers in teaching, research, and industry, and is equipped with a variety of laboratory facilities.

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Joshua Carlin
520-621-6897
Graduate Program Coordinator
Joshua Carlin
520-621-6897
Director of Graduate Studies
Robert Henderson
520-621-6897
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Megan Jia Mcnulty-Luoma
520-626-9962
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

GPA Requirement

Prospective applicants must have a 3.0 or higher GPA in order to qualify for admission.

Statement of Intent

Applicants must submit a concise statement of intent demonstrating their academic goals, career goals, and why a graduate degree in linguistics would help him/her pursue these goals.

Writing Sample

Applicants must provide a writing sample to demonstrate their level and proficiency of writing.

Standardized Tests

The GRE is optional, not required for the PhD, MS, and Joint PhD Programs. It is recommended, but not required to the MA in Native American Languages and Linguistics Program.

English Proficiency

English proficiency is one of the requirements for admission for all applicants whose native language is not English. Applicants must submit a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 on the paper-based test (PB), 79 on the internet-based test (iBT), or a IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 7 (no subject area below a score of 6). International students seeking graduate teaching assistantships must attain the minimum TOEFL or IELTS score listed above, and in addition must attain a score of 26 or higher on the speak portion of the TOEFL IBT.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from letter writers who know the student’s work, specifically assessing student’s ability to carry out graduate work in linguistics. Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of recommendation from professors who are familiar with the applicant's recent academic work.

 
Standardized Tests

Required test(s):

  • GRE
  • TOEFL or IELTS if non-native English Speaker

 

Minimum TOEFL: Score of 550 on the paper-based test (PB) or 79 on the internet-based test (iBT)
Minimum IELTS: Composite score of 7 (no subject area below a score of 6)

 
Funding Opportunities

The ANLI program is a part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), which allows Ph.D. students who are residents of the WICHE member states to enroll in the ANLI program and pay resident tuition. The WICHE states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. To be considered for the WRGP resident tuition rate, apply directly to the department or graduate studies department of the institution where you want to enroll, and identify yourself as WICHE WRGP applicant. WGRP students must fulfill all the usual requirements of the department and institution concerned, and meet all admission deadlines. Contact information for each participating program is listed in our WRGP online directory.

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: December 15

International Applicants:

  • Fall: December 15
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

64 

Core Coursework Requirements

In Anthropology, students are required to take two semesters of the interdisciplinary core course, Anth 608A and 608B, as well as Anth680, "Foundations of Linguistic Anthropology."

In Linguistics, students are required to take Ling 503, "Foundations of Syntactic Theory", Ling 510, "Phonology", and Ling 697A, "Prelim", as well as the one-credit 'Linguistics Colloquium" course.

Required coursework - 46 units of coursework, 18 dissertation units

Ling 503 Syntax (3)
Ling 510 Phonology (3)
Ling 697A Prelim (3)
Ling 595 Colloquim (1)
Anth 608A Anthro Theory I (3)
Anth 608B Anthro Theory II (3)
Anth 680 Foundations of Ling Anthropology (3)

Ling 515: Phonological Phonetics (3) OR Ling 507: Statistical Analysis for Linguists (3)
Anth 620: Linguistic Field Techniques (3) OR Ling588: Linguistic Elicitation and Documentation (3)

One additional course in Linguistics from five of the distinct 'core groups'. See the Linguistics Graduate Handbook for a description of the core groups and the courses associated with them. Overlap between "Core Group" requirement and 515, 507,588 above is allowed.

Four additional courses in Anthropology, chosen from the following:

Anth 576 Language and Culture (3)
Anth 580 Historical Lingusitics (3)
Anth 583 Sociolinguistics (3)
Anth 585 Face-to-Face Interaction (3)
Anth 589 American Indian Languages (3)
Anth 678 Ethnographic Discourse Analysis (3)
Anth 679 Language and Ethnography (3)
Anth 681 Keywords in Linguistics Anthropology (3)
Anth 696C Topics Seminars

 

 
Elective Coursework

Five courses must be taken out of the following six areas (one out of each group, with one group not treated). All courses are 3 units each.

Computational Group:

LING 508       Computational Techniques for Linguists

LING 538       Computational Linguistics

LING 539       Statistical NLP

LING 578       Speech Technology

Foundation Group:

LING 501       Foundation of Linguistic Theory

LING 507       Statistical Analysis for Linguists

LING 588       Linguistic Elicitation and Documentation

LING 518       Analysis and Argumentation

Phonology/Phonetics Group:

LING 514       Phonology II

LING 515       Phonological Phonetics

LING 516       History of Phonology

Psycholinguistics Group:

LING 532       Psychology of Language

LING 533       Theories of Language Development

LING 543       Advanced Language Development (syntax/lexicon)

Syntax/Semantics Group

LING 504       Advanced Syntactic Theory

LING 505       Theories of Grammar

LING 506       Major Works in Syntactic Theory

LING 564       Formal Semantics

LING 522       Lexical Semantics

Typology/Morphology Group:

LING 535       Morphology

LING 544       Typology and Universals

LING 545       Structure of Non-Western Language

LING 554       Structure of A Near-Eastern Language

 
Additional Requirements

Colloquium

Two one-credit colloquium courses, LING595A, are to be taken in the 1st and 2nd semesters.

 

Comprehensive exam “Prelim” course

Students are required to enroll in a one-credit course, LING697A, in their 4th or 5th semester that provides support in writing one of their written comprehensive exam papers.

 

Professionalism in Linguistics

There is a required one-credit course on professionalism, LING689, (separate from the comprehensive exam course) to be taken by the 6th semester. This class is required of all students. In addition, the graduate advisor will be responsible to meet with students in order to cover issues such as students’ survival skills, meetings with professors, planning graduate career, library resources, etc.

Seminars

A minimum of two seminar courses is required.  However, students are encouraged to attend all seminars that meet their curricular goals throughout their graduate career, and should consult with their advisor on the number and type of additional seminars to consider.

 

Before moving on to their dissertation research, students write a comprehensive exam in Anthropology and a qualifying 'prelim' paper in Linguistics (while taking the "Prelim" course; see above). During dissertation research, students must register for at least 18 dissertation units, in compliance with Graduate College regulations.

 
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program

Major and minor: For University paperwork (i.e. GradPath), ANLI students have "ANLI" as both major and minor. ANLI students do not need to choose a Department-internal major or minor specialization, as ANLI serves as their specialization.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 9.09%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) n/a
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male n/a
Enrollment Percent Female n/a
Enrollment Percent International n/a
Enrollment Percent URM n/a

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/ANLIPHD
Last revised 03 Mar 2021
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