The major in linguistics is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the study of linguistics at both the structural and social levels. Coursework on the structural side focuses on the internal structures that make up language and the methods and theories used to identify and understand these core structures (for example, in courses covering phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics); while coursework on the social side emphasizes the methods and theories that are used to study and interpret patterns of social interaction at the linguistic level (for example, in courses covering language and culture, sociolinguistics, and language and gender). Additional coursework draws from related fields to further develop students’ understanding of the broad spectrum of language-related domains (for example, psycholinguistics, language acquisition, and historical linguistics, among other topics).

  • Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Linguistics Major Requirements

Foundational Courses
LING 1150Introduction to Language and Linguistics4
or LING 1449 English Now and Then
LING 2350Linguistic Analysis4
LING 3412Language and Culture4
Linguistic Structure
LING 3420Phonetics4
LING 3422Phonology4
LING 3424Morphology4
LING 3450Syntax4
LING 3452Semantics4
Language in Context
Complete one of the following:4
LING 3442
Sociolinguistics
LING 3456
Language and Gender
Language Change
Complete one of the following:4
LING 3454
History of English
LING 3460
Historical Linguistics
Research Experience
Complete one of the following:4
LING 3150
Field Linguistics
LING 4891
Research Seminar in Linguistics
With prior linguistics program approval, one of the following experiences can be used to fulfill the research experience:
LING 4970
and LING 4971
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
LING 4991
Directed Study Research
Linguistics Seminar
Complete at least one seminar (LING 4654 may be repeated with different topics):
LING 4654Seminar in Linguistics4
Linguistics Electives
Complete five electives from the following that have not already been taken to fulfill other major requirements:20
LING 3000 to LING 4999 1
Up to two electives may come from the following list:
DEAF 2700
ASL Linguistics
PSYC 4610
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4612
Laboratory in Cognition
PSYC 4658
Seminar in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4660
Seminar in Cognition
PSYC 4674
Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 4676
Seminar in Developmental Psychology
1

Please visit the Linguistics Courses page within this catalog to review the list of courses in the LING 3000–LING 4999 range.

Supporting Courses

Complete two courses in the same language with a grade of C or higher. Proficiency at elementary level 2 or higher is required.8

Linguistics Major Credit Requirement

Complete 76 semester hours in the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114LING 23504Vacation0Vacation0
INSC 10001Foreign language course4  
LING 11504LING elective4  
Foreign language course4NUpath or elective4  
NUpath or elective4   
 17 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
LING 34124EESC 20001Vacation0Co-op0
Linguistic structure course4Language in context course4  
Language change course4Linguistic structure course4  
NUpath or elective4Linguistic structure course4  
 Linguistics elective4  
 16 17 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33154NUpath or elective4Co-op0
 Linguistic structure course4NUpath or elective4 
 Linguistics elective4  
 NUpath or elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0Linguistic structure course4NUpath or elective4Co-op0
 Linguistics elective4NUpath or elective4 
 NUpath or elective4  
 NUpath or elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0Linguistics research experience course4  
 Linguistics seminar4  
 Linguistics elective4  
 NUpath or elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 130

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114LING 23504NUpath or elective4Vacation0
INSC 10001Foreign language course4NUpath or elective4 
LING 11504LING elective4  
Foreign language course4NUpath or elective4  
NUpath or elective4   
 17 16 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
LING 34124EESC 20001NUpath or elective4Co-op0
Linguistic structure course4Language in context course4NUpath or elective4 
Language change course4Linguistic structure course4  
NUpath or elective4Linguistic structure course4  
 Linguistics elective4  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33154NUpath or elective4Co-op0
 Linguistic structure course4NUpath or elective4 
 Linguistic structure course4  
 Linguistics elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1Hours 
Co-op0LING 46544NUpath or elective4 
 LING 48914NUpath or elective4 
 Linguistics elective4  
 Linguistics elective4  
 0 16 8 
Total Hours: 130