Disqualification Policy

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The Linguistics Department has adopted a major disqualification policy for the Linguistics and Language Studies majors that is intended to encourage students to take seriously their performance in the introductory courses and to make a strong effort to pass those courses.

Students who receive more than one No Pass, D, W, and/or F in the following introductory courses will not be permitted to major in Linguistics or Language Studies:

• Ling 50, Introduction to Linguistics
• Ling 52, Syntax One
• Ling 53, Semantics One
• Ling 55, Syntactic Structures
• Ling 101, Phonology One

Students may appeal their disqualification by writing a formal letter to the department chair. This letter should explain any extenuating circumstances that influenced their poor performance in the introductory courses. For example, if some event led to poor performance in multiple courses in a single quarter, a student has a potential case for appeal. In contrast, academic dishonesty or poor performance spanning multiple quarters will be considered evidence that a student is ill suited for the majors.

The letter of appeal must be submitted to the Linguistics Department Office (Stevenson 241) no later than 15 days from the date the disqualification notice was mailed, or the 10th day of classes in the quarter of their disqualification, whichever is later. The Department will subsequently notify the student and the student's college of the appeal decision no later than 15 days after the submission of the appeal.