UofC

Location: Craigie Hall, Room D310 / Room C205
Program number: 403.220.5300 / 403.220.5293
Fax: 403.284.3634 / 403.284.3610
Email address: llac@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: slllc.ucalgary.ca

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Master of Arts (MA), thesis and course-based routes

The MA degree may be taken on a full-time or a part-time basis

Specializations:

• Applied Linguistics
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Transcultural Studies

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Arts

a) A sufficiently high level of oral and written competence in the target language (a recommended minimum of CEFR level B2, ACTFL Intermediate-High, or equivalent. For CEFR standards, see: coe.int/lang-CEFR. For ACTFL standards, see: actfl.org/publications/all.

b) An adequate academic background in one the fields of Modern Languages, Linguistics, Literary, Film or Cultural Studies or other closely related field.

c) An academic writing sample (of approximately 8-15 pages): a term paper, research paper or other writing, which the applicant considers representative of his or her best work.

d) A Statement of intent: 250-word (minimum) statement of research interest including research topic and the reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this program.

e) Two reference letters.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) A Master of Arts degree in one of LLAC’s areas of specialization, or equivalent.

b) A grade point average of 3.4 (based on a 4-point system) on the work of the last two years of study.

c) A sufficiently high level of oral and written competence in the target language (CEFR level C1 or equivalent). For CEFR standards, see: coe.int/lang-CEFR.

d) An adequate academic background in the discipline.

e) A research proposal of approximately 2-3 pages.

f) A sample of critical writing: MA thesis or research paper or other writing, which the applicant considers representative of his or her best work. Either the sample research paper or the research proposal must be submitted in the target language of study.

g) A statement of intent: 250-word (minimum) statement of research interest including research topic and the reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this unit.

h) Two reference letters.

Deadline for the submission of complete applications:

• February 1 for September admission
• September 1 for January admission (discuss January admission with Graduate Program Director)

Late applications may be accepted but reduce the applicant’s chances of receiving funding.

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process, as set out in section A.6 Advanced Credit.

Note: Normally no more than 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of Directed Reading may be taken for credit.

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the program requires:

Master of Arts (thesis-based)

1) Eighteen units (3.0 full-course equivalents), including LLAC 601 and, depending on research perspective, either LLAC 602 or LLAC 603.

2) A scholarly and/or critical thesis (approximately 100 pages).

Applicants lacking the requisite background in language or literature may be admitted as qualifying students. In this case, extra course work is normally required. A qualifying oral examination based on set texts may be required before the students attain regular Master of Arts status. Courses taken as a qualifying student do not normally count as part of the student’s course requirements.

Master of Arts (course-based)

1) Thirty units (5.0 full-course equivalents), including LLAC 601 and, depending on research perspective, either LLAC 602 or LLAC 603.

2) A written essay (of approximately 20 pages), to form the basis for the Capstone Examination.

Applicants lacking the requisite background in language or literature may be admitted as qualifying students. In this case, extra course work is normally required. A qualifying oral examination based on set texts may be required before the students attain regular Master of Arts status. Courses taken as a qualifying student do not normally count as part of the student’s course requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy

1) Course Requirements: Eighteen units (3.0 full-course equivalents) beyond the MA. Courses must include LLAC 601 and, depending on research perspective, either LLAC 602 or LLAC 603, unless these courses were taken in the MA program.

2) A Third Language Requirement: All students must demonstrate, at a minimum, reading comprehension of a language other than English and the target language of the PhD program, at a level sufficient for the use and understanding of scholarly material. This language will normally be related to the student’s thesis research. The language requirement is deemed to have been satisfied when the student has either:

(i) successfully completed a fourth semester language course;

(ii) successfully completed a language-proficiency examination designed specifically for graduate students by a relevant academic designated specialist. Such an examination tests the student’s reading proficiency, by testing his/her understanding of a scholarly article;

or (iii) successfully completed a B1 Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) examination, when available.

3) A thesis.

Copyediting

The program prohibits copyediting of the students’ theses for the MA or PhD degrees.

a) All students are encouraged to attend University orientation sessions. Students enrolled in a Fall Block week course are encouraged to attend an orientation session at the earliest opportunity.

b) Before the end of their second year of study, MA Thesis students are required to make an internal or external presentation relating to their research.

c) Students in the thesis-based programs are also expected to demonstrate their participation in university-wide research activities by attending internal or external scholarly presentations every year in their programs. A minimum of one workshop on language training (see section (d) below) and at least two other presentations are required. Students should list all presentations attended in their Annual Progress Report.

d) Our graduate students are expected to complete training that will enhance their profile as a Language Teacher. Beyond LLAC 601, training may include further courses such as:

• LANG 615 Second Language Learning and Technology 
• LANG 625 Second Language Learning and Cultural Understanding
• LANG 699 Research Seminar in Second Language Learning
• EDER 613 Change and Innovation in Education
• EDER 667 Second Language Reading and Writing
• EDER 669 Aspects of Second Language and Culture
• EDER 696 Special Topics in Education
• DELE/DELF/German CEFR examiner accreditation courses

These courses do not count towards degree requirements.

It is also highly recommended that students avail themselves of other training offered by the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

e) MA students in French and Spanish have a knowledge areas requirement that must be satisfied by the first month of the second year in program, or, as appropriate, one month after the completion of course work, whichever occurs first.

Knowledge areas: French
Medieval and Early Modern French Literature and Culture, Modern French Literature and Culture, Contemporary Literature and Culture of France, Franco-Canadian and Québécois Literature and Culture, Francophone Studies (outside Canada), History or Theories of Language, Theories of Culture or Literature.

Knowledge areas: Spanish
Medieval and early Modern Spanish Literature and Culture, Spanish American Literature and Culture to 1900, Modern and Contemporary Peninsular Literature and Culture, Latin American Literature and Culture since 1900, History or Theories of Language, Theories of Culture or Literature.

Details on the knowledge areas can be found at: slllc.ucalgary.ca/graduate/graduate-program-french and slllc.ucalgary.ca/graduate/graduate-program-spanish.

When studying an application for admission, the Graduate Program Director, in consultation with the Graduate Committee, will determine, based on undergraduate transcripts, which of the required knowledge areas have not yet been satisfied. Where the appropriateness of a course to fulfill a knowledge area is in doubt, a syllabus and/or a course description will be requested from the applicant. Upon admission, students will be advised of any specific course or other work needed to fulfill this requirement. Unfulfilled knowledge areas may be accomplished by either completing a graduate course in the area, which will form part of the course requirements (or may be in addition to them), or by completing specific readings under the supervision of an area specialist followed by demonstration of good knowledge of the specific area. This will be in the form of a paper written in response to a specific question, followed by an evaluation of the paper and an oral exam with the area specialist and another member of the School.

f) Graduate students must consult with the Graduate Program Director concerning course selection, leave of absence, course or program withdrawal.

Only in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate to a student’s program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599. No more than 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) can be at the 500 level.

Expected completion time for full-time students is two years for a thesis-based MA, three years for a course-based MA and four years for the Doctor of Philosophy. Maximum completion time is four years for a thesis-based MA, six years for a course-based MA and six years for the Doctor of Philosophy.

Master of Arts

The Graduate Program Director is normally the interim supervisor for newly admitted students. Students are expected to choose a permanent supervisor by the end of the second regular academic session after first registration (April 30 for September registrants and December 15 for January registrants). Selection of a supervisor should be by mutual agreement between the student and the staff member concerned, approved by the Graduate Program Director, and is based on the stated research interests of the students, the disciplinary expertise of faculty members and program capacity.

Doctor of Philosophy

A student is assigned an interim supervisor on admission to the program based on the stated research on interests of the student, the disciplinary expertise of faculty members and Program capacity. Students will normally have a permanent supervisor by the end of the second term of study (usually April) and must finalize supervisory arrangements no later than twelve months after first registration.

Once the student has finalized the choice of a supervisor, a supervisory committee is struck. It will normally consist of the supervisor and two other faculty members from the program. One of the two members of this committee may be external to the program. See Supervision for more information.

Capstone Examination (Course-based MA)

The course-based programs require a capstone comprehensive examination with a written and an oral component, taken after the completion of all course work and any other requirement such as the knowledge areas requirement. Students are required, as early as possible and, in any case, at least before registering for a final semester, to file the reading list on their chosen area of specialization with the program’s Graduate Committee. The list should be drafted after consultation with the student’s supervisor and approved by that faculty member.

Doctoral Candidacy Examinations

Doctoral students are required to pass a written field of study examination and an oral candidacy examination. Specific details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements can be found at slllc.ucalgary.ca/graduate/new-graduate-program-llac.

Thesis Examinations

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the program requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Masters of Arts

Thesis students are required to submit a written thesis proposal thirteen months after initial registration (for September registrants: 1st draft to the supervisor is due by September 1 and the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is due by September 30; for January registrants: 1st draft to the supervisor is due by January 2 and the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is due by February 1). This proposal should be approximately 1200 words in length and be accompanied by an abstract and an appropriately detailed preliminary bibliography. It should be drafted after consultation with the student’s supervisor and have his/her preliminary approval. These documents will be circulated to the program's Graduate Committee for approval. Abstracts of proposals may be reproduced for information purposes.

Doctor of Philosophy

By the twenty-fourth month after entry into the program, the student must prepare a Thesis Proposal of approximately 20 pages in length, followed by an appropriate bibliography of approximately 25 titles, which will serve as the reading list for the Oral Candidacy Examination. Specific details of the proposal format and candidacy requirements can be found at slllc.ucalgary.ca/graduate/new-graduate-program-llac.

None.

Funding is available to qualified thesis-based students in the form of scholarships, awards and/or teaching assistantships. Students applying for departmental funding for the following academic year must submit their applications to the Department by February 1. All students are strongly encouraged to seek external financial assistance throughout their program. For information on other funding opportunities, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar and the Faculty of Graduate Studies website: grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.

Prospective students are encouraged to consult the Graduate Program Director.

As part of the graduate program in German, students may participate in a one-semester exchange with Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.

Information about faculty members and their research interests may be found at slllc.ucalgary.ca.