Dr. Tonia Bleam (tbleam _AT_ umd *DOT* edu). Note that for anything time sensitive you should never trust e-mail; to be safe in a time-sensitive situation you should leave a message on her office phone and also send e-mail. If you want to set up a meeting with Dr. Bleam, always include a list of your available dates and times in your e-mail message.Assistance with advising is also being provided by Dr. Margaret Antonisse, and in a real pinch you can contact the Linguistics Advisor Emeritus, Dr. Philip Resnik.
Talk to someone. As the academic advisor for undergraduates in Linguistics, my main role is to help you with departmental matters, and to point you to the right people for academic issues at the ARHU or University level. But if you're having a really hard time with something, you should realize that part of my job, and that of every faculty and staff member on this campus, is to help you get the help you need. If you can't figure out who the right "someone" is to talk to, then talk to an undergraduate advisor and we'll help you figure it out.Unfortunately, it's really typical for students (and people in general!) to engage in denial about problems they're facing, to not recognize the early signs of psychological difficulties, or to feel uncomfortable getting help for cultural reasons. You probably don't realize it, but there are a lot of people on this campus whose job it is to help you deal with things. All day, every day. It's what they're paid to do. Use them.
You'll find a lot of those people at the University Counseling Center, including psychological and career counseling (x47651), disability support (x47682), and assistance with academic skills (x47693). There's also the university's Mental Health Service; the Family Service Center (x52273); the Career Center (x47225), and of course the Health Center (x48180). All that and more can be found in the Guide to Student Services.
But, like I said, if you're so totally overwhelmed you don't know who to talk to, talk to someone.
To repeat: bring a copy of an appropriate Roadmap!
Well, the best thing is not to let anything go so long that it
becomes urgent. If you can't reach the undergrad advisor or someone
helping out with advising, try talking with Kathi Faulkingham, the
Linguistics Dept administrator (kathif _AT_ umd *DOT* edu, or
301-405-7002). Here's a very important quote from the Arts
and Humanities FAQ: It is worth repeating
that you alone are responsible for informing yourself about and for
following all requirements and procedures necessary to receive your
undergraduate degree.
That's not covered in Linguistics advising.
Here's a link to information
for ARHU undergraduates. They have a really spiffy
Frequently
Asked Questions page.
Yes. If you're a Linguistics major, you should make
sure? to be on the list. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or
post to the list, go to
this
Web page.
FYI, the Office of
Information Technology documentation includes a Basic
Guide to Listserv with more information about subscribing,
unsubscribing, posting, etc. (Those who truly want all the gory
details can look at
L-Soft's detailed
information for Listserv list users.)
Prescriptive rules of that kind are of little interest to linguists.
Although you can find a rather detailed discussion of this issue by
linguists on LanguageLog, a
(perhaps the) linguistics blog. See especially
this
entry by Mark Liberman, which addresses the fact that
"everyone who writes English needs to understand what 'preposition
stranding' is, if only for self-defense against misguided copy editors."
This
entry is also worth looking at, while you're at it. :-)
You should meet with the departmental advisor only after you have already had a 4-year plan meeting with an ARHU advisor. If you do not have a completed 4 year plan for the major and a Benchmark Contract signed and stamped by ARHU to present to me, then you need to call ARHU at x52108 to schedule a 4-year-plan workshop, where you will receive information on how to fill out the 4 year plan. If you're taking UNIV101, an ARHU advisor will do this with you in class.
The ARHU advisor will have given you a 4-year plan template, and they should have helped you fill in your non-Linguistics requirements and even some of the Linguistics requirements. It is your job to make sure that all Linguistics-related courses are filled in on the 4-year plan before you come to meet with me. Our meeting should be mostly about going over a plan you've created, not creating it in the first place.Let me say that again: it is your job to fill in all Linguistics-related courses on the 4-year plan before you come to meet with me. If you come unprepared, I may have to ask you to reschedule your appointment.
Well... it is what it is. This 4-year plan business is new to us, too. You do not need to choose every single specific course when you fill out the 4-year plan. What I'd recommend is this:
- Make sure to fill in Ling240, Ling311, and Ling321 for specific semesters. (The earlier the better.)
- Fill in "Ling3xx/4xx (core)" in two places, to cover the last two slots in the Linguistics core on your roadmap. You can put the actual course number in if you've decided on specific courses for those slots, but otherwise this placeholder is fine.
- Fill in "Ling (UL elective)" for unspecified upper-level electives, "Ling (elective)" for electives, etc.
Overall, the goal is not to choose every single course for 4 years. That would indeed be nuts. The goal is to make sure that every slot on the appropriate Linguistics roadmap shows up somewhere in your 4-year plan, even if you haven't picked the specific course that's going to fill that slot.
Talk to Dr. Bleam.
We expect it to take a minimum of five semesters. It is very unlikely that it would be possible to squeeze a Linguistics major into two years. Please take this into account when you are deciding whether or not to choose Linguistics as a major.
If you have a facility for languages, then Linguistics might be a good major for you. However, it's important for you to realize that Linguistics is about the study of language, not the study of languages. Majors in Linguistics can choose the "Language Track", which includes significant study of a second language, but everyone in the major needs to do the Linguistics Core, which covers fundamental topics in the science of linguistics such as phonology, syntax, and semantics. See below.
There's a "declaration of major" form you should get from the Arts and Humanities (ARHU) office: see the ARHU FAQ for information, including a downloadable version of the form. Part of the process is an appointment with me to fill in the form and go over the requirements of the major. I'll sign and stamp it and you'll return it to ARHU. Don't let me forget to stamp the form!In preparation for the meeting with me, in addition to bringing the "declaration of major" form, you should also:
- Make sure to read over this entire FAQ.
- Read over, print out, and bring a copy of one or both of the following, depending on your interests.
There are two parts to this. First, everyone majoring in Linguistics, whether they're a single major, double major, or double degree, takes the Linguistics Core. This consists of:
- Ling240 (Language and Mind)
- Ling311 (Syntax 1)
- Ling321 (Phonology 1)
- Any two of the following courses:
- Ling312 (Syntax 2)
- Ling322 (Phonology 2)
- Ling410 (Semantics)
- HESP403 (Intro to Phonetics)
Note that if you decide to take HESP403, you should be aware of its prerequisites; talk to the HESP undergraduate advisor about this if you have any questions.
[Note: Officially, Ling 330 and Ling 420 are also options in the "any two of" category. However, because the department does not currently offer these courses, we have removed them the list. If you are able to find these courses at another college or university (and if they are accepted as equivalent courses and the credits transfer to UMD), they will count in this category.]
Second, if you're doing a single major in Linguistics, you can choose between following two tracks.
- Grammars and Cognition Track. This track requires 24 credits distributed as follows:
- Phil 170, 173, or 271
- Ling 350 (cross-listed as Phil 360)
- Psych 100
- Psych 341
- Ling3/4xx (upper level Linguistics elective)
- Ling3/4xx (upper level Linguistics elective)
- Elective in Ling, Psych, HESP, Phil, or CMSC
- Elective in Ling, Psych, HESP, Phil, or CMSC
- Language Track. This track requires 24 credits distributed as follows:
- 15 credits of a single language
- 3 credits in a course on structure or history of the language.
- Ling3/4xx (upper level Linguistics elective)
- Ling3/4xx (upper level Linguistics elective)
These requirements are neatly organized for you as checklists in the following documents:
This is handled on a case by case basis, but the answer is usually yes.
Following College policy, a course requires a grade of C or better (i.e. not C- or lower) to count for the major.
Probably. Talk to me to confirm.
Yes. (I know, this surprised me, too.)
No. Of course, if you're into being multilingual, nothing stops you from fulfilling the requirements for a single language and also taking classes in other languages.
Talk to me. We generally can find a substitute course either in the languages department (e.g. history of Japanese/Korean/Chinese if there's no course just on history of the relevant language), or we can substitute a Linguistics course (e.g. one of the Ling419 advanced undergraduate seminars having to do with language structure).
Note: this answer has changed! Department policy is that a student must complete Ling240 prior to taking any other of the Linguistics core courses. This is necessary because it is the gateway to the major and an important prerequisite.Note that this means that it is very unlikely that a student can complete the requirements for a Linguistics major in fewer than five semesters!
Yes.
Unfortunately for convenience, there is no official and exhaustive list. Fortunately for flexibility, the undergraduate advisor has some discretion here, which means that you can propose a course and argue that it's relevant, e.g. by presenting its syllabus. Based on a quick perusal in Testudo, here are some courses in philosophy and psychology that are likely to meet with our approval. (Note, though, that you must check for approval. Don't assume a course is approved just because it appears on the list.)
Anyone who has been at UMD for more than a semester can tell you that even though a course is on the books, it might or might not be offered in any given year. It is your responsibility to make sure that your plans are taking into account the possibility that one or more courses might not be offered at the time you expect to take them. I would recommend that you check with Kathi Faulkingham, the Linguistics Dept administrator (kathif _AT_ umd *DOT* edu, or 301-405-7002) a year in advance to verify that the courses you need are being offered in the relevant semester. The closer you are to graduating, the more important this is.That said, if you find you're in a bind, talk to me. I'll do my best to help you figure it out.
There's a "double major/degree" form you should get from the Arts and Humanities (ARHU) office: see the ARHU FAQ for information, including a downloadable version of the form. You will need to fill out one side of the form with the undergrad advisor for your primary major (e.g. journalism) and the other side with the undergrad advisor for the second major (e.g. linguistics), and then return it to ARHU. For the Linguistics side, you'll make an appointment with the Linguistics Department advisor to fill out our side of the form, basically listing out the courses you plan to take to fulfill our side of the requirements, and then the advisor sign and stamp it. Don't let the advisor forget to stamp it!
I don't know if it matters to your other major, but the requirements on the Linguistics side are the same either way. (Note, though, that the instructions on the form say you need to go to your primary department first.)
In Linguistics we leave the "supporting area courses" part of the form blank.
Anyone who has been at UMD for more than a semester can tell you that even though a course is on the books, it might or might not be offered in any given year. It is your responsibility to make sure that your plans are taking into account the possibility that one or more courses might not be offered at the time you expect to take them. I would recommend that you check with Kathi Faulkingham, the Linguistics Dept administrator (kathif _AT_ umd *DOT* edu, or 301-405-7002) a year in advance to verify that the courses you need are being offered in the relevant semester. The closer you are to graduating, the more important this is.That said, if you find you're in a bind, talk to me. I'll do my best to help you figure it out.
Find a Linguistics faculty member who will supervise an honors thesis. Optionally register for Ling499 (Directed Studies) with that faculty member. Do good research and write a good thesis paper. Arrange a presentation of your work with the faculty member. Have the faculty member tell me that you are graduating with honors, at least a few weeks before the end of your last semester, so that I can inform the Registrar's office.
Information on the University Honors Program can be found here.
Information on the Honors Humanities Program can be found here.
Take a look at the President's Promise Initiative. This is a "virtual library" of special undergraduate experiences that includes international experiences, internships, living-learning programs, research opportunities, community service learning, leadership experiences, and much else. The President's Promise office staff can also be reached at presidentspromise@umd.edu or by telephone at 301-314-7888.
Yes.
According to an April 7, 2005 memo from the ARHU Dean's Office, as of the end of the Spring 2005 semester, citations are "now defunct". Instead, see the FAQ entry on this page concerning minoring in Linguistics.
- Carefully read the description of the Minor in Linguistics and its requirements.
- Read the rest of the questions and answers in this section of the FAQ.
- Go to the Web page for the Linguistics Undergraduate Mailing List and join the list.
- Fill in the Roadmap for Linguistics Minors, tentatively identifying when you plan to take which courses. Include semesters and grades for courses you've already taken. If you'd like to discuss the Linguistics Minor requirements (or anything, for that matter), e-mail me to set up an appointment and I'll be happy to meet with you.
- Put the Roadmap in my mailbox in the Linguistics Department (1401 Marie Mount Hall). It would be a good idea to also keep a copy for yourself.
- E-mail me to let me know that you've left a copy of the Roadmap for me and that you have subscribed to the mailing list. You should not consider yourself enrolled for the minor until you have received confirmation from me.
- Contact the ARHU Office of Student Affairs (x52108) and inform them that you're doing the minor.
- Near the end of your graduating semester, contact me to make sure that everything is on track for the minor to be awarded (assuming successful completion of any courses you're still taking). It is your responsibility to contact me by the end of April to let me know that you have completed the requirements.
You should also look at more general info on minors at the University, including the full rules for minors. The last of these includes some things you'll want to know, including the fact that "minors will be posted on a student's academic transcript but not on the diploma" and "No course with an earned grade below 'C' may count towards a minor".
No. If you've already taken Ling240, it would not make sense for you to go back to a prior introductory course. Instead, take a different Linguistics course and we will substitute it for Ling200 in your minor requirements.
We would advise you to start with Ling240. As discussed in the previous question/answer, you can then substitute a different course in place of Ling200.
Yes.
Yes.
The University Web page for transfer students is available at http://www.transferfaqs.umd.edu/. It's very thorough: there are over 80 items with many links to key campus Web pages. The pages cover the period of "first look at UM" through the end of the first semester, and topics include admissions, credit, international student, housing, financial aid, and student affairs items.
If the course is already listed in the Transfer Equivalency Database as being equivalent to one of our required courses, then the answer is yes. If it's not listed, then I'll first need to know whether or not the Transfer Credit Center has assigned transfer credit for the course -- their FAQ has useful information.Much of the time, decisions about transfers and Linguistics requirements are a matter of judgment. You can help me evaluate your previous courses (and improve your chances) by providing me with as much information as possible -- preferably a full course description including the syllabus and what textbooks were used.
If courses were taken many years ago, the transfer credit FAQ includes a note worth thinking about: "If you are in a major that requires a solid foundation in recent developments ... it may be to your advantage to repeat the introductory level courses, even though you will lose transfer credit."
See the University's Study Abroad Web site, or send them mail. Also, take a look at the President's Promise Initiative, a "virtual library" of special undergraduate experiences that includes international experiences as well as internships, living-learning programs, and much else.
First, see if the course is already listed in the Transfer Equivalency Database as being equivalent to one of our required courses. If it is, then the answer is yes.If not, then I'll first need to know whether or not the Transfer Credit Center has assigned (or will assign) transfer credit for the course -- their FAQ has useful information. Assuming they do, the question of Linguistics requirements credit is likely to be a matter of judgment on my part. You can help me evaluate your courses (and improve your chances) by providing me with as much information as possible -- preferably a full course description including the syllabus and what textbooks were used.
It's usually the case that you won't have the syllabus, etc. in advance. For that reason, there's usually no way for me to guarantee in advance that a course abroad will satisfy a Linguistics requirement. If you want, tell me what you know about the course and I'll give you my best guess based on the information I have; it's not a promise but it's the best I can do.
I can't. To get permission to take over 15 credits, you will need to see one of the advisors in ARHU in the Student Affairs Office in the Francis Scott Key Bldg.
Prerequisites are listed as prerequisites for a reason. (Try typing that five times fast!) You should only consider this sort of thing if you're really having trouble fitting required classes into your schedule, and you're prepared to meet the extra challenges offered by a class where you don't have the expected background. (Without asking for extra help or special treatment from the instructor!) Even under those circumstances, as a general principle, whether or not prerequisites should be waived depends a lot on the individual. You must, repeat must talk with the person who will be teaching the class that requires the prerequisite. (If the catalogue says "Staff" is teaching the course, you can ask Kathi Faulkingham who the instructor will be.) If the instructor says it's ok, then it will be ok with me. (But you still need to let me know.)
Wrong. The University's registration system is not smart enough to lock you out of a course just because you don't have the prerequisites. See the answer to the previous question. It is your responsibility to either ensure that you have met the prerequisites for classes you take, or to get permission of the instructor to waive those prerequisites.
This turns out to be between you, the professor of the class, and ARHU. From the ARHU FAQ: "Students (usually Junior or Senior standing) need permission from the professor offering the graduate level class. If s/he does, then you need a letter from the professor, on letterhead, giving you permission to register for their graduate level class. Bring the letter to the ARHU Office of Student Affairs, 1120 Francis Scott Key Hall."
- ARHU Office of Student Affairs, x52108