Linguistics Major (B.A.)
Program Overview
The B.A. in linguistics offers an opportunity for students to pursue inherently interdisciplinary content in a single department. While opportunities abound for coursework in other departments, Linguistics offers a view of communication and language systems from multiple vantage points. Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics integrate the study of societal organization and psychological applications of language while theoretical study of Linguistics exposes students to discrete areas of language form and function across languages and within larger language families. Students can apply their developing understanding of language organization and utilization via application courses ranging from Forensic Linguistics to Historical Linguistics to Language Documentation. Language is presented as a tool for connecting, for identifying and for exposing less salient aspects of who and what we are as well as where we've been.
Additionally, the Linguistics department offers a minor in Linguistics and two different pre-service teacher preparation modules in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning.
Knowledge of foreign language equivalent to three years of college-level study is required.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
A degree in linguistics prepares students for career in a variety of different fields, including but not limited to advanced language study, translation, education, publishing, national security, international affairs, domestic/foreign policy, forensics, medicine and technology. Potential employers of linguists include public and private K-12 school systems, institutions of higher education,
language institutes, software developers, local, state, and federal government agencies, public health departments, rehabilitation centers, etc.
A bachelor's degree in Linguistics will also benefit those who have an interest in language acquisition research, language teaching, and the development of materials and tools for language teaching, assessment, and research. Students may also benefit from a specialization in teaching English to speakers of other languages, which is valuable in obtaining employment both at home and abroad as a teacher of English as a second or foreign language (TESOL/TEFL).
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