Research/Independent Study

Undergraduate students in the Linguistics Department are encouraged to seek research opportunities. Conducting research is an excellent way to gain experiences and skills that will benefit you both academically and professionally. Even if you are unsure about graduate studies, conducting undergraduate research is a great way to develop skills that are useful for a variety of careers, as well as to test the suitability of a research-oriented career to your interests.

  • Why do research?

    1. Explore research interests.
    2. Expand understanding and knowledge of your academic field.
    3. Define your academic, career, and personal interests.
    4. Establish valuable connections with faculty.
    5. Gain academic experiences that help expand your resume, such as presenting at research conferences, publishing, and working with a research team.
    6. Develop critical thinking, leadership, time management, and communication skills.

    Additionally, students can earn units for doing research in the linguistics department by enrolling into independent study courses. More information under “How do I enroll?”

  • How do I get started?

    Students who are interested in doing research in Linguistics should do the following:

    1. Determine the faculty member you want to work with. Linguistics faculty and research interests are listed here. *Note that each faculty member is allowed only 7 contract/independent study classes per quarter.
    2. Ask the faculty member if they have any research opportunities available. Email the instructor and include your name, major, linguistics coursework completed, and research interests. Finalize how often you will meet throughout the quarter and summarize the project that you will do. If you are a junior/senior, you can create a research contract by registering for an independent study course. At the end of the quarter, you will present on the project to fulfill the contract (typically a paper).

  • How do I enroll into independent study units?

    Undergraduates may enroll in a maximum of eight units of 195-199 courses per term. PLEASE NOTE: After completing 32 units of 195-199 credit on a letter grade basis, students must take any additional 195-199 courses on a Pass/No Pass basis.

    1. Once you have confirmed with a faculty member that you can do independent study with them, you will need to create a contract course.
    2. Login to MyUCLA -> Classes ->Contract Courses
    3. Create the contract
    4. Give Contract to faculty member to sign
    5. Submit contract to Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer by Friday of Week 2 of the research term.

    Eligible Juniors/Seniors assisting in research enroll into:
    197. Individual Studies in Linguistics
    Units: 2 to 4
    Tutorial, four hours. Requisite: course 1 or 20. Limited to juniors/seniors. Individual intensive study, with scheduled meetings to be arranged between faculty member and student. Assigned reading and tangible evidence of mastery of subject matter required. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. P/NP or letter grading.

     

  • Which contract course should I enroll into?

    Eligible Juniors/Seniors conducting their own research can enroll into:
    198A. Honors Research in Linguistics I
    Units: 4
    Tutorial, to be arranged. Preparation: 3.5 grade-point average. Requisite or corequisite: course 165A (or 200A) or 165B (or 200B). Recommended: completion of both courses 165A and 165B (or 200A and 200B) before or during term in which course 198A is taken. Limited to juniors/seniors. Development of honors thesis or comprehensive research project on linguistic topic selected by student under direct supervision of faculty member. Consult professor in charge to enroll. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. In Progress grading (credit to be given only on completion of course 198B).

    198B. Honors Research in Linguistics II
    Units: 2
    Tutorial, to be arranged. Requisite: course 198A. Limited to juniors/seniors. Completion of honors thesis or comprehensive research project begun in course 198A under direct supervision of faculty member. Consult professor in charge to enroll. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. Letter grading.

    Eligible Seniors conducting their own research can enroll into:
    199. Directed Research or Senior Project in Linguistics
    Units: 4
    Tutorial, to be arranged. Limited to senior Linguistics majors. Supervised individual research or investigation of linguistic topic selected by student under guidance of faculty mentor. Culminating paper required. Consult professor in charge to enroll. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. P/NP or letter grading.

    Note: Students who enroll into LING 197 (4 units), LING 198A/B, and/or LING 199 can use ONE of these courses as an upper division linguistics elective for their major requirements.