Thesis and Oral Exam

M.A. Thesis

In consultation with the Major Professor and the other members of the student's M.A. Advisory Committee, the student will prepare a thesis proposal. Normally, the proposal should be submitted no later than the term in which the student is to complete course requirements.

Upon approval of the proposal by the Advisory Committee, the student will prepare a thesis. The thesis is a formal research paper normally about 50 pages in length. It may be an expansion of a research paper prepared by the student for a course. The thesis should not emphasize topics that only peripherally demonstrate the student's linguistic abilities, or focus on purely mechanical skills such as organization or classification of data. The thesis should demonstrate the student's knowledge of linguistic theory and ability to deal with problems that arise in the application of linguistic theory. Previous M.A. theses in Linguistics are available for students’ consideration. Students must present a bound copy of the completed thesis to the department.

Theses and dissertations will be submitted electronically to the Graduate School. Consult the UGA Graduate School Policies and Procedures regarding electronic theses and dissertations.

Final Examination

When the student and Major Professor agree that the thesis is complete, it must be circulated to the other members of the Advisory Committee at least three weeks before the date of the defense. The defense itself must be scheduled at least one week before the deadline for submission of the completed thesis to the Graduate School prior to graduation and must be announced through the Department of Linguistics at least two weeks prior to the date of the exam.

The final examination will consist of an oral defense of the thesis, together with an oral examination on the program of study. The combined defense/oral exam will last approximately 90 minutes. The student’s committee will administer and evaluate the examination on the scale High Pass/Pass/Fail. Two passing votes are required to pass the exam. Students who fail the exam may retake it once, no sooner than two weeks after the first attempt but within one additional semester. Students who fail the exam a second time will be dismissed from the program.

Updated: 7/27/2017