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The Summer Institute of Linguistics
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Application Form for Admission to SIL-UND (Stage 1)
Revised: 2008 Mar 28

The application for SIL-UND is handled in two stages. Stage 1 (this form) requests the information that is needed to evaluate your eligibility for the program. If you have not already done so, please read the overview of the application process before filling out this form.

You can submit this form electronically or by mail/fax:

  • Electronically (preferred): You must complete the entire form in one session, which takes 15-30 minutes; there is unfortunately no way to save your work between sessions. The form works best if you have scripting enabled in your browser.
  • By mail or fax: Complete the form on your computer and print it out; or print it out first and fill it in by hand. Then mail it to SIL-UND, 16131 N. Vernon, Tucson AZ 85739-9395, USA or fax it to 520-825-6116. Do not send this form to the University of North Dakota. (After May 1, contact us for special instructions if you want to submit the application by mail or fax.)

Spouses must complete separate stage 1 applications.

If you have questions about this form or any other aspect of the program, please contact us.

Items marked with an asterisk (*) are required information.

Personal information:

*
* If you have multiple family names (like many people from Spanish- or Arabic-speaking countries), please include all family names in this box—whatever appears on your passport or other official documents.

If you have taken classes from UND or any SIL school previously, and had a different name at that time (such as a maiden name), please supply it here.
* Sex      
* m/d/yyyy
 
* Country of Citizenship  
   

If you are not a U.S. citizen, will you need an I-20 form?

Most international students need an I-20 form from UND in order to obtain a student (F-1) visa. Canadian citizens do not need a student visa but should still obtain an I-20 to show to immigration officials when they enter the United States.
     

If you need an I-20 form, this application should be submitted by February 15 to allow adequate time for issuing the form and completing other special paperwork for international students. If visa processing in your country is slow, we suggest you start even earlier.

* What is your native language?      
If English is not your native language, what evidence can you provide of your competency in English? Students whose native language is not English must provide evidence of sufficient competency in English to study at the university level, such as a TOEFL score higher than 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test), or a comparable score from the internet-based TOEFL or the IELTS. If you have such a score, indicate it below and arrange for an official score report to be sent to us. Successful study at at a North American English-speaking college or university can also sometimes be used as evidence of English proficiency; if you have studied in the U.S. or Canada, please send us a transcript of your studies. Finally, competence can be demonstrated by completion of level 112 of the ELS. (It is helpful if you fax us copies of score reports and transcripts at the same time as you submit this application form, or scan them and send them by email. However, due to immigration requirements we will eventually need official copies, so please arrange to have them sent also.) This evidence should be submitted immediately (see contact information for addresses and fax numbers).
 
 
 
 
 

  

Contact information:

*
*
* 
*
* Country      
Please include area code and/or country code, whatever is needed for dialing from the U.S.
Please provide an email address if you have one, so we can communicate more easily with you about your application. We will not share it with anyone who is not involved in administering the program without your permission.

Please provide details here of any additional ways we can reach you before the beginning of the summer session, including reasons why we might want to use each one (e.g. permanent address, parents' phone, dates for a temporary address, alternate email addresses, etc.).

Registration status:

Previous coursework at UND * Have you taken courses at UND before (whether with SIL or otherwise)?
   
  If so, what was your most recent registration status?
 
 
 
 


Are you taking classes from UND during the spring semester just prior to SIL?
     

* Graduate vs. undergraduate status Will you have received a 4-year undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university (or equivalent foreign institution) before SIL-UND starts?


If so, you should register as a graduate student. Please answer the special questions for graduate students below. (This does not commit you to doing a graduate degree at UND, but leaves open the possibility of doing so. Regardless of how you plan to use the credits, the grading standards for graduate students taking undergraduate (400-level) courses are somewhat stricter than those for undergraduates in those courses.)


If so, you will register as an undergraduate student. Please answer the special questions for undergraduate students below. (You will be graded according to the standards for undergraduate students and you will not receive graduate credit for your courses. This means you will not be able to use your credits towards a graduate degree at UND or in most other graduate programs.)


If not, you will register as an undergraduate student. Please answer the special questions for undergraduate students below. (Graduate credit is not available to undergraduate students, even when taking graduate (500-level) courses.)
 
Special questions for graduate students: If the answer to the preceding question is Yes (you will have received an undergraduate degree before the summer) and you want graduate credit, please fill out this section.

Tell us about your undergraduate degree:




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If you have completed or are pursuing a graduate degree, please give details (name of institution, dates, degree, major, actual or estimated date of completion):


Transcripts are not required unless:
  • your degree is from outside the U.S.,
  • you will be applying to a UND graduate program, or
  • you are requesting a waiver of ordinary SIL admissions requirements.
If transcripts are required, you will be asked for them later. If you don't have a copy in your possession, it would be good to order one now, or at least find out how to do so.

In which UND graduate status do you want to register this summer?

  — I am not in a graduate program at UND and do not plan to apply to one before the summer session.
(This is the recommended choice for most new students. One summer of graduate credit taken as a nondegree student can later be used as part of a graduate degree at UND.)
  — I am already in a degree program at UND or am applying to enter one before the summer.
(In order to take classes this summer as a degree student in the M.A. program in linguistics, all materials required for acceptance in the program must be received by UND by April 15. If you miss this deadline, you will have to take classes as a nondegree student.)



     

 
Special questions for undergraduate students: If the answer to the question above about graduate vs. undergraduate status is No (you will not have received an undergraduate degree before the summer), or if you are choosing to enroll as an undergraduate student even though you have completed an eligible undergraduate degree, please fill out this section.

Places you have studied after high school and how long you have studied at each one.

  
  
  
  

If you have not completed at least two years of undergraduate study before the summer, you will need to obtain special permission to take SIL courses. Please write to the SIL-UND Director explaining why you think you are ready to take SIL courses, or include this information in the section on prerequisites below.

Transcripts are not required unless you are requesting a waiver of ordinary SIL admissions requirements.

Other academic information:

* Grade point average

If you do not have at least a 2.8 grade point average (or equivalent), you will need to obtain special permission to take SIL courses. Please write to the SIL-UND Director explaining why you think you are ready to take SIL courses, or include this information in the section on prerequisites below.


Explanation for international students: In the 4-point system normally used in U.S. universities, an A is 4 points, B is 3, C is 2, and D is 1. The grade point average is computed by averaging the points for all courses, weighted by the number of credits in each course. A C is considered passing work for undergraduate students and a B is passing for graduate students. If your grade point average is figured according to a different system, please make the necessary adjustments. Essentially, we are asking whether your grades are significantly above what would be considered the minimum passing level for undergraduates. If you don't know how to relate your grades to the U.S. system, please discuss this in the section on prerequisites below.

* Previous SIL courses Have you taken SIL courses previously (either courses offered at an SIL school or equivalent SIL-approved courses offered at another institution)?      


*

In about 100 words, indicate the use you intend to make of this training in terms of your general life purpose, including any present or anticipated employment or affiliation (if relevant).

Courses:

Please indicate the courses you plan to take this summer. We use this information only for planning purposes; your choices may be changed later. Official registration takes place in Grand Forks the day before classes begin.

To avoid scheduling conflicts, pick all your classes from the same course package. If you are interested in a combination of courses other than one of the normal packages, scheduling and other considerations sometimes allow you to do so, but we cannot promise that.

The maximum number of credits that you may sign up for is 10. Auditing of SIL-UND courses requires permission of the SIL-UND Director.

Package A: Language and Linguistics

Our most popular courses, for people

  • with little or no background in linguistics, or
  • whose prior linguistic study has not included a focus on self-directed language learning and fieldwork in minority languages

Most students take the standard package, but a few people may want to consider the following options:

  • Students have a choice of two courses in Phonetics, depending on whether they are primarily interested in spoken or signed languages. (The other three courses cover both types of languages and are suitable for both Hearing and Deaf students. ASL-English interpretation is available on request.)
  • Some people substitute Phonology I (from Package B) for Second Language Acquisition. However, before you do this, discuss your plans with the SIL-UND Director to avoid complications in your later studies.

 
     or   (2 credits)
  (3 credits)
  (2 credits)
  (3 credits)

Package B: Linguistic Fieldwork

For students who have taken Package A and are ready for a second summer to complete their basic preparation to do linguistic fieldwork.
  (3 credits)
  (1 credit)
  (3 credits)
  (3 credits)

General Advanced Courses

Advanced courses are for students with significant prior study of linguistics. These course tend to be more theoretical in nature than Package A and Package B and assume that students already have the practical skills developed in those packages. (See course descriptions for details on prerequisites.)

Some students postpone taking these courses until after they have a year or more of field experience. Students with field data may be able to take some courses in a workshop format, working on their own data in the class.

Advanced courses tend to have small class sizes; it is possible that individual courses may need to be canceled if less than five students express interest in them before April 1. If you want to take a particular course, let us know before April 1, and encourage other people to take it too and to apply early.

  (3 credits)
  (3 credits)
  (3 credits)
  (3 credits)
  (3 credits)
      (don't confuse this course with the Literacy Megacourse)

Advanced Courses in Signed Languages

These courses have important prerequisites. To take them, you must meet the following requirements:

  • have completed the courses from Package A above (including SL Phonetics)
  • at least one year of college study in a natural signed language or equivalent competence
    (Most students know ASL, but those who know other signed languages are welcome. Knowledge of manual codes such as SEE, SEE2, or LOVE, is not adequate preparation.)
  • ability to read English at the college level
    (If you are not a native English speaker, please fill in the information above about English competence.)

See course listings for details. For advice on what classes to take, please write to the SIL-UND Director.

Deaf students are especially encouraged to apply for these courses and for the courses in Package A. Classes may be taught in English, ASL, or both. Interpreters are provided between English and ASL whenever necessary.



  (2 credits)
  (2 credits)
  (1 credit)
  (3 credits)

Literacy Megacourse

(The Literacy Megacourse will not be offered in 2008; it is next planned for 2009. Those who are interested in literacy may want to consider the Introduction to Literacy Principles in the Advanced courses.)

M.A. courses

Generally, only students enrolled in the M.A. program in linguistics are eligible to take these courses. They are available year-round, not just in the summer.
  (1 credit)
  (readings, 1-4 credits)
  (1-6 credits)
  (1-6 credits)
  (4 credits)

Prerequisites:


Other information

Financial aid  

To be eligible for financial aid, the stage 2 application with payment of the application fee must be received by April 1. To ensure adequate time to process your application, we suggest you submit your stage 1 application (this form) by March 15.

Applications for financial aid will be evaluated based on academic ability, purpose, and financial need. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, and if you complete your application by April 1, we will send you a questionnaire about these matters in early April.

Have you been invited by the SIL-UND Director to serve on staff? If so, in what area of responsibility?
If you have any physical conditions (e.g. pregnancy, deafness, blindness, mobility limitations, epilepsy, learning disabilities) that may require adjustments in classes or living arrangements, you may note them here if you wish.

These conditions will not be considered in deciding whether to accept you as a student or whether to award you a scholarship, but only to help us provide you with the best possible experience at SIL-UND. If you choose not to tell us about any such conditions now, please inform us as soon as possible after you are accepted into the program, so that we have time to adequately prepare for your participation.

Problems you may have encountered in applying
Other messages

Before submitting this form, please check the calendar for the SIL-UND program, which differs from the regular UND summer session. By submitting an application and subsequently registering for SIL-UND classes, you are agreeing to this calendar.

To submit this form electronically, use the "Submit form" button below.

To submit the form by mail or fax, print it (with your answers) and mail it as indicated above.

We will notify you by mail or e-mail that we have received your application. We begin processing applications in January. After January 15, if you do not receive a confirmation within five working days from the date of electronic submission, please contact us to make sure your application was received. For applications sent on paper, please allow 10 working days for a response.

It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that there shall be no discrimination against persons because of race, religion, age, creed, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, veterans' status, or political belief or affiliation, and the equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all.

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