Doctoral Study Program Cognitive Science of Language

Programme description

The Senate of the University of Nova Gorica at its 75th session held on 18 January 2017 approved the extension of the III. level study program Cognitive science of language from the current three years (180 ECTS) to four years (240 ECTS).

The four-year doctoral programme will start in the academic year 2017/2018.

Students who are currently enrolled in the three-year study programme will complete studies at the three-year programme.

The Ph.D. program in Cognitive science of language at UNG provides high quality training of young researchers in Linguistics in the context of contemporary Cognitive Science.

The program curriculum is based on the scientific thesis that the endowment for language is encoded in the human biological make-up as a system with computational properties. As such, the program emphasizes integration of analytical tools of modern formal theoretical linguistics and methods of experimental sciences such as psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics which concern themselves with studying the psychological and neurological reality of language.

The program provides students with solid education in the core areas of formal linguistic theory: syntax, semantics, and phonology in the framework of generative grammar. The curriculum consists of required coursework, along with the writing and oral defense of a dissertation. Ph.D. level courses in the core areas are taught by the program faculty. In addition, the program offers a selection of courses in current trends in phonology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, psycho- and neurolinguistics, and computational linguistics, taught by leading international researchers. These will take the form of mini-courses or block-seminars. The students are actively involved in research from the very outset of their doctoral training in collaboration with the various faculty members of the program.

The program is open to students from all countries. The language of the program is English.

Information for students

Slovenian language course

Supervisors

Admission requirements

To qualify for entry into the doctoral study program Cognitive Science of Language , applicants must satisfy the following admission requirements:

• have completed a 2nd cycle master’s study preogramme;
• have completed at least a four-year academic undergraduate programme accredited with 240 ECTS credits;
• have completed a uniform five year master’s study programme accredited with 300 ECTS credits;
• have completed a specialization after previously finished professional study programme, and had passed additional study obligations within 30 to 60 ECTS credit points;
• have completed an equivalent program abroad;

If the number of applicants exceeds the 20 available slots, they are selected based on previous academic achievement.

• all required exams,
• research required by the program, and
• successful defense of the doctoral thesis.

Grades are given on the basis of written or oral exams or term-papers with a mandatory in-class presentation.

Finally, the student completes the study program with a successful public defense of the doctoral thesis.

Educational and professional goals

The program educates scientists that can successfully continue their scientific career in an academic or research organization or in the industry. Graduates from this program are educated to perform the following kinds of activities:

• academic and research work in the area of formal linguistics, psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics
• work in applied linguistics that can be used in high-tech and IT companies, including language technologies, language engineering etc.
• professional work in media, editorial houses and governmental offices.

A graduate from this program should have a good overview over the scientific approach to linguistics in the context of contemporary cognitive science and a very detailed knowledge of a particular area of linguistics he specializes in. Graduates from this program are able to conduct individual research in any area of theoretical and experimental linguistics, especially in their chosen area of specialization, apply for and lead research projects in the topic of their specialization, and use their acquired linguistics knowledge in practice.

Assessment

The syllabus has a research orientation. It covers all the major subfields of linguistics. The program curriculum includes mandatory subjects, elective subjects, individual research and a doctoral thesis. Some courses are one semester long, others may be short and intensive courses.

Doctoral degree candidates must complete the following study requirements:

• all required exams,
• research required by the program, and
• successful defense of the doctoral thesis.

Grades are given on the basis of written or oral exams or term-papers with a mandatory in-class presentation.

Finally, the student completes the study program with a successful public defense of the doctoral thesis.

Courses given per year

(For 3 year study programme.)

(For 4 year study programme)

The condition for enrolling in the fourth year is completion of requirements of all three years (180 ECTS credit points).

(For 4 year study programme.)