B.A. in Linguistics

The focus of the Linguistics program does not lie alone in the acquisition of language skills, but rather in learning to analyze linguistic phenomena with a view toward making significant generalizations about the nature of language. Students majoring in Linguistics build their programs around a specific area of emphasis. A program of study tailored to the individual student’s interests and goals is designed in consultation with the faculty. Areas of emphasis include, but are not limited to, philology (the historical and comparative study of ancient languages), psycholinguistics, and language acquisition. A typical program for this major requires the following: •LING3101 General Linguistics (3 credits) •LING3102 Syntax and Semantics (3 credits) •LING3103 Language and Language Types (3 credits) •Two courses (6 credits) of a philological nature on the detailed structure of a language •Five additional Linguistics courses (15 credits) drawn from departmental offerings, supplemented by approved language-related courses in other departments. Linguistics majors should have proficiency in one foreign language and competence in at least one other language at a level appropriate to their career plans. Some exposure to a non-Indo-European language is desirable (e.g., Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean-all of which are taught within the Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literatures Department).