Department of Linguistics

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Please send me the catalogue and application materials.
  2. How many students apply and how many are admitted?
  3. How much is tuition?
  4. When is your application deadline? and do you offer spring enrollment?
  5. Where do I send my application?
  6. Is there a separate application for international students?
  7. What financial aid is available? and is there a separate application for financial aid?
  8. How long does it take to get a Master's or Ph.D.?
  9. I have no prior background in linguistics, am I still eligible to apply to your program?
  10. What can I do with a Master's or Ph.D. degree in linguistics?
  11. Can I be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program?
  12. Do I have to take the TOEFL test?
  13. What should I submit for my Writing Sample?
  14. Is there on-campus housing for graduate students?
  15. I would like to visit the department.
  16. Can I contact current students in the Linguistics Department?
  17. Can I enroll in courses before I am admitted?
  18. I want to be a Visiting Scholar.
  19. Do you offer any distance learning or online programs?
  20. What courses do you offer?
  21. Do you offer early admissions decisions?
  22. If I am not accepted to your program can you please provide feedback on my application so that I can reapply?

How many students apply? How many are admitted?

We receive several hundred applications for fall admission. The acceptance rate varies by concentration and degree program; as a rule, the department accepts one to two Ph.D. students per faculty member. Approximately 30 new Master's and Ph.D. students matriculate each fall. On average, there is a total of 140 students enrolled in the Linguistics Department, including those students who are writing their dissertations.

Is there a separate application for international students?
No, all applicants follow the same application procedures.

How long does it take to get a MS or Ph.D.?
The Master's program in Linguistics requires 12 courses (36 credit hours), and a full-time load is 3 courses per semester. (Some students opt to enroll in 4 courses a semester.) For a full-time student, it will typically take between three and four semesters to complete the degree requirements. The Graduate School allows up to three years from matriculation for the completion of all degree requirements for the Master's degree.
The Ph.D. degree in Linguistics requires a total of 18 courses (54 credits). For students entering the doctoral program with only a Bachelor's degree or have more than 36 credits to complete after receiving advanced standing, the Graduate School allows seven years to complete the Ph.D. It will typically take four years to do the coursework, which allows up to three years to write the dissertation. The length of time required to complete the dissertation depends on many factors, including the nature of the topic, the extent of the student's prior research in the area, whether the student is employed while writing the dissertation, focus, discipline, and so on.
I have no prior background in linguistics, am I still eligible to apply to your program?
Yes, you are still eligible to apply; however, if accepted, we strongly recommend enrolling in a general linguistics course the summer prior to matriculation.

What can I do with a Master's or Ph.D. in linguistics?
Career opportunities vary depending on the subfield of linguistics. A M.S. in linguistics is generally seen as leading to Ph.D. studies, and a Ph.D. is generally preparation for an academic career. The majority of our MAT graduates go on to teach English as a Second Language. However, in Computational Linguistics the job opportunities are primarily non-academic, and an M.S. (with proper coursework) can prepare the graduate to begin a career in the field. There are also nonacademic careers for M.S.s and Ph.D.s in other subfields of linguistics, though the primary career opportunities are academic and are highly competitive. To see where are alumni are employed, please refer to our Alumni Page. 

As part of their professional development, graduate students will want to subscribe to the relevant electronic discussion groups, join the professional organizations, attend conferences, and monitor job postings. Useful starting points include LINGUIST, the Virtual Library for Applied Linguistics, American Association for Applied Linguistics, and the Association for Computational Linguistics.


Can I be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program?
Yes, students with a Bachelor's degree and strong credentials may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program as of Fall 1999, or may choose to apply to the Master's program. If you are in doubt about which degree program to apply for, please consult the head of your prospective concentration.

What should I submit for my Writing Sample?
The writing sample is one of the elements of your application, and is an important source of information for the admissions review process. It is wise to submit work which you feel best represents your scholarly potential in the concentration for which you are applying. If you are applying for admission to the doctoral program, submit a very strong piece of original research (see our financial aid page for guidelines if you are applying for financial aid).

For students without a prior background in Linguistics, you may submit a paper from your previous coursework or conduct a small research project. The length of the writing samples vary, but in general your paper should be around 15 to 30-40 pages. We cannot evaluate your application without a writing sample. Finally, your writing sample must be written in English.

Is there on-campus housing for graduate students?
No, students are responsible for finding their own housing. For international students, the Office of International Programs (OIP) conducts an orientation over the summer which includes a week long housing search program. All other student are invited for a housing search weekend in late July sponsored by the Georgetown University housing office, which allows you to stay in a campus dorm for free. For guidelines on housing in the D.C. area, please refer to the Graduate School's housing information page.

I would like to visit the department.
Faculty are available to meet with prospective students through appointments made during their office hours or at other times, by direct arrangement with them. Office hours can be obtained from the department, by e-mail at linguistics@georgetown.edu or by telephone at 202-687-5956. If prospective students are planning a visit, it can also be helpful and informative for them to meet with current students. The email addresses of the president and officers of the Graduate Linguistics Student Association (GLSA) can be found on their website: http://www.georgetown.edu/organizations/glsa/. Faculty are generally not available during the summer or during winter or spring breaks, but the department remains open during these periods and the Chair is often available at times outside regular semester hours to meet with prospective students.

For directions on getting to campus and for a campus map, please click [here]. The Linguistics Department is located on the fourth floor of the Bunn Intercultural Center (ICC Building).

 
Can I enroll in courses before I am admitted?
Occasionally students wish to get a head start by enrolling for courses before admission to the graduate program, or before the semester for which they have been admitted (e.g., the summer before). A limited number of linguistics courses are offered through the School for Summer and Continuing Education, and students may register as non-degree students. Before enrolling for such courses, you need to contact the professor of the course for their permission, and if approved, you will then need to have the Chair of the Linguistics Department sign off on your School for Summer and Continuing Education application. If accepted to the program, any courses taken as a non-degree student must be transferred to the Graduate School, and only 25% of the credit hours required for the degree sought can be transferred (and only if approved).

I want to be a Visiting Scholar.
Researchers who hold the Ph.D. may seek affiliation with the Department of Linguistics as Visiting Researchers. Because the faculty are very busy with teaching, supervising graduate students and conducting their own research, only a few Visiting Researchers are accepted each year. Visiting Researchers must have a faculty sponsor and pay a fee for use of University facilities. Please contact the Department Chair for more information.

Do you offer any distance learning or online programs?
At this time, the Department of Linguistics does not offer any distance learning or online programs.

We do not review applications prior to the January 2 deadline. In early March, you will receive an email from the Linguistics Department informing you of the admissions recommendation that we have submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The final admissions decision is made by the Office of Graduate Admissions and you will be notified of this decision in an office.

Do you offer early admissions decisions?
We do not review applications prior to the January 2 deadline.  In early March, you will receive an email from the Linguistics Department informing you of the admissions recommendation that we have submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  The final admissions decision is made by the office of Graduate Admissions and you will be notified of this decision in an official letter from their office.

If I am not accepted to your program can you please provide feedback on my application so that I can reapply?

We are unable to provide feedback on admissions decisions. If you would like to reactivate your application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.