UNM Department of Linguistics

Committee on Studies

Each Ph.D. candidate must establish a committee on studies composed of at least three UNM faculty members approved for graduate instruction. The chair must be a regular faculty member in the Department of Linguistics. The members of the committee must have expertise in the areas of specialization selected for the doctoral comprehensive examination.

The basic role of the committee is to plan, with the student, an integrated individual program of study and research meeting general UNM requirements and the specific requirements of the Ph.D. program in Linguistics. The committee must approve the program and oversee its execution. The committee is also charged with establishing prerequisites when needed, recommending transfer of credit, certifying satisfaction of the research skills requirements, approving significant changes in the program of studies, and administering the doctoral comprehensive examination.

Appointment of the committee on studies usually involves the following steps: (1) You arrange for an appropriate faculty member to serve as committee chair. (2) You and the committee chair agree upon the remaining members of the committee. (3) The committee must be approved by the department's Graduate Advisor. (4) The committee must be approved by OGS (as part of the approval of the Application for Candidacy).

The doctoral committee on studies is automatically disbanded once the comprehensive exam is passed, and you must establish a dissertation committee that will provide you guidance through the final stages of progress toward the Ph.D. It is, of course, possible to appoint former members of the committee on studies to the new dissertation committee.