Overview of LTI Graduate Programs Alon Lavie (filling in for Robert Frederking) Language Technologies Institute Carnegie Mellon University August 2004

2 The LTI MS and PhD Degrees Master in Language Technologies (MLT): –Intended primarily as a professional degree –Curriculum designed for maximum flexibility; students allowed to be narrow in focus –1-2 year program PhD in Language Technologies: –Intended to create new LT advanced researchers in academia and industry –Designed to give broad, deep education; requires demonstration of research competence –Normally 4-6 year program

3 The LTI Student Body Statistics as of August 2003: –58 LTI PhD students 12 in “thesis mode” –32 MLT students 16 were expected to graduate by Spring 2004

4 Masters in Language Technologies LTI MS Requirements: –120 units of senior-to-graduate courses Including at least 6 LTI courses and 2 other “SCS” Can include 12 units of Directed Research –Within those units, student must pass: Both Alg for NLP and SoftEng I, and Either one lab, SoftEng II, or a project Masters Thesis One “Task Orientation Focus” course –Masters Thesis is optional!! (but propose by Oct. Y2) Bob’s recommendations: –If you want to apply for a PhD, research results are the most important thing Demonstrate either in directed research or

5 Masters in Language Technologies Typical Progression: Semester 1: two 12 unit course Semester 2: two 12 unit courses + one 6 unit lab Semester 3: two 12 unit courses + one 6 unit lab Semester 4: two 12 unit courses (+ 12 units of directed research (11-910))

6 PhD in Language Technologies: LTI PhD Requirements: –Course work: No more than 2 courses per semester (new!) At least 6 LTI courses and 2 other “SCS” courses Of those, at least one from each “Focus Area”, and at least two 6-unit lab courses (which are ½ course each) Senior level undergrad courses do not count –Proficiencies: Writing, Presentation, Programming, Teaching (2 TA-ships) –Thesis Proposal (one week advance notice) Thesis Committee: advisor, two other “LTI”, one external –Thesis Defense (one week advance notice)

7 PhD in Language Technologies General Recommendations: –Pick your advisor carefully Fairly easy (and not uncommon) to switch advisors, but… Switching after 2nd year will often delay progress –Spend at least ½ time on research, starting in the first semester

8 LTI Student/Advisor “Marriage” Process Formalizes a previously informal process Does not apply to already-funded MLTs The Process: –Student goes to all research talks, meets one-to-one with faculty of interest as soon as possible If you consider faculty outside of LTI, tell Bob immediately!! –Student indicates 1 st, 2 nd, and maybe 3 rd choice for advisor –Faculty indicates number of new students desired and preferences –Whole faculty meets as “Marriage Committee” to find optimum match Most students will get their preferred match (assuming the advisor wants them and can support them)

9 Funding Process for MLT Students No central “clearing-house” for matching students with advisors Students search for a project/advisor to fund them as an RA anytime after admission notification Common that some students arrive in the fall (i.e. now) without a project lined up to support them No guarantees, but most if not all students that need funding find a project within their first semester Go to IC research talks and talk with the faculty! Some matches are worked out during the PhD “marriage” committee meeting Bob Frederking is the “acting” advisor for all self-funded MLT students

10 Semi-Annual Student Evaluation aka “Black Friday” Faculty meeting at the end of each Fall and Spring semester to evaluate the progress of all students enrolled in our graduate programs Entire LTI faculty attends, every individual student is discussed A BF evaluation letter is sent to each student; short is good… Student “Statement for BF” filled out by all students at the end of the semester Your advisor is your advocate! –It’s important that your advisor know what you’ve been doing! –It’s important that your advisor think you are doing well!

11 General Issues Come see (or ) Chris or Bob at the start of each semester Everyone gets an advisor in first semester –Marriage Process Register for at least 48 units every semester –See LTI web pages for available courses: –At least 24 units of Directed Research ( “at least ½ time on research”). New version of : Directed Research. –ABD in absentia (ABS) is 5 units, after you defend somewhat new: “Research Speaking Requirement” somewhat new: 40-unit Summer Research course LTI Department Handbook is online (under “Education”) –Reasonable Person Principle

12 CMU Policy on Cheating/Plagiarism “In any presentation, creative, artistic, or research, it is the ethical responsibility of each student to identify the conceptual sources of the work submitted. Failure to do so is dishonest and is the basis for a charge of cheating or plagiarism, which is subject to disciplinary action. [etc.]” It’s generally good to build on the work of others, but you must cite them. For classes - follow the instructions about what is allowed and disallowed, especially for HW assignments! In case of doubt, ask the course instructor! –If you don't want to ask, it's probably wrong to do! There is a link to the unpleasant details from the LTI Handbook.

13 What to register for Fall Semester No more than 24 units first semester (plus 24 units of Research ) –Self-funded could register for 36, but plan on dropping one course if picked up by a project. –If you think you’re an exception, talk to Bob Frederking asap. Most students: and Speech-oriented: and IR-oriented: and /781 Masters students: –For most, also and – if you have little or no background in CS or Linguistics (or too weak for ) –Your advisor may have other specific suggestions.