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Linguistics ProgramHonours ProgramHonours in LinguisticsWhat is Honours all about?The fourth year is intended to give students the opportunity to pursue their interests more deeply, through both subject work and a research thesis. The course comprises two Honours level units and a research thesis. The latter is an essay of 12,000 to 15,000 words. Research for the thesis extends through the Honours year and is undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor. An Honours degree offers great personal satisfaction. It is the necessary precursor to higher degree study, but it also makes graduates more attractive to employers in fields such as education and publishing. Honours graduates receive higher beginning salaries in the public service, and are more likely to be successful in obtaining this and other kinds of work. Honours is both a qualification in its own right, and a transition to more advanced study at the postgraduate level, including MA and PhD in Linguistics. At present, admission to DipEd at La Trobe for English as a Second Language requires an Honours degree with a good H2A result (equivalent to a high B). It is necessary to have a very good H1 Honours (equivalent to A) result, 85 or above, to have any likelihood of a postgraduate scholarship at La Trobe. What does Honours year involve?The Linguistics Honours course consists of a coursework component (50%) and a thesis component (50%). The coursework comprises two units, each 25% of the year's assessment (7,500 words equivalent each). All students must complete two Honours level courses. The current Honours level units are available on a rotating basis and are described below. The thesis is 15,000 words; following the Linguistics style guidelines. The thesis is due at the end of the final semester of enrolment in the honours program. Students are required to hand in three copies, one in a spring-back binder. It is also possible to combine Honours in two areas, for example Linguistics and LOTE, in which case the exact composition of the course varies: normally this comprises half of the coursework in one area and half in the other, and a thesis relevant to both areas, supervised by a staff member from each area, and marked by assessors from each area. Students are expected to attend the Linguistics seminars held approximately every two weeks, which provide the opportunity to hear visitors, staff and postgraduate students talking about their work. Every Honours student makes a presentation on their thesis in one of these seminars, a month before their thesis is due. Within the first month of enrolment students will submit a one to two-page thesis proposal which outlines the area they intend to work in for their thesis. Within this period, each student will be assigned to a supervisor who will be available to discuss their topic, provide references and advice, and comment on thesis drafts. Students should meet this supervisor about every two weeks from then on. Of course it is also possible to meet potential supervisors or any other staff member at any time, to discuss possible topics, obtain suggestions about what to read, and discuss plans for Honours. How do I apply?Entry to Linguistics Honours requires a Major in Linguistics with at least a 75% average. Students who have completed their degree with suitable results and registered their interest with the Linguistics Honours program will be sent an offer of enrolment from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in December, for enrolment on a specified date in the following semester. This offer may be deferred for a semester or a year. The enrolment is in fourth year Linguistics and does not specify what coursework is being taken. Students may later withdraw from Honours and receive their normal degree. A meeting for students interested in enrolling in the Linguistics Honours program is held late in second semester each year. Intending Honours students are invited to discuss their plans with the Honours co-ordinator (Dr David Bradley, phone 9479 2362, email: d.bradley@latrobe.edu.au) or another staff member. Honours theses from previous years may be borrowed from the Linguistics administrator to see what kind of work is expected in a thesis. A register of previous theses is available here. What kind of support is available to Honours students in Linguistics?Students who undertake Honours full-time may be eligible for Austudy. There is also a grant program to assist Honours students; information is posted on notice boards early in the year, with applications closing early in the academic year. In previous years, Linguistics Honours students have been partly supported to attend relevant conferences. If the thesis topic chosen requires the collection of data from people, the student must first obtain approval from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Human Ethics Committee before starting to collect data. The form must be filled out in conjunction with the supervisor, who also must sign it before it is submitted. Honours students are entitled to a CAVAL card, which enables them to borrow books from other university library in Melbourne, including the University of Melbourne (Parkville), Deakin (Burwood), Monash (Clayton) and so on. This card is available from the Library loans desk. Students may find that books on reserve at La Trobe are available for borrowing from other libraries. There is also a shared office available for Linguistics Honours students, with computer facilities and Internet access. Unit DescriptorsAdvanced Phonetics Advanced Phonology Morphosyntax Language families of the world Mark levels are Further InformationMore details on various aspects of the course are available in the Linguistics Honours Handbook (pdf, 112KB). If you require further information you should contact the Honours Coordinator, Dr. David Bradley Content Approved by: Head of School
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