COURSE CURRICULUM

The Linguistics major is a 40–52 credit interdisciplinary program focused on the scientific and analytical study of language as a core human ability. It requires students to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in major coursework and is structured to build both theoretical knowledge and practical analytical skills across multiple areas of linguistics. Students begin with Introduction to Linguistics and then complete foundational coursework in three key domains: sounds of language (phonetics or phonology), sentence structure or meaning (syntax or semantics), and language variation or historical development (sociolinguistics or historical linguistics). These core areas ensure a strong grounding in how languages are produced, structured, and evolve across time and societies. In addition, students must complete significant foreign language study, typically equivalent to two years of college-level instruction, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on multilingual awareness and comparative analysis. A cognate requirement allows further specialization through either a second foreign language or coursework in psychology of language, linking linguistics to cognitive science and human behavior. The major also requires elective coursework chosen from advanced linguistics, English, psychology, anthropology, and related fields, with at least two electives at the 600- or 700-level, allowing students to deepen expertise in areas such as sociolinguistics, morphology, language acquisition, or language teaching. The capstone experience is fulfilled through Linguistic Field Methods or an honors senior project, where students apply their knowledge to original research involving data collection and linguistic analysis. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary connections with fields such as psychology, communication, education, and foreign languages, preparing students for careers in language education (especially ESL), speech and language services, research, translation, and graduate study in linguistics or related disciplines. Overall, the major develops strong analytical, research, and cross-cultural communication skills through a deep exploration of how language works and how it shapes human interaction.