Linguistics and Cognitive Science
- Faculty
- General Information
- Careers
- Special Programs or Opportunities
- Degree Requirements for the Major in Linguistics
- Other Degree Requirements
- Honors Program
- Combined B.A./M.S. Program
- Courses
FacultyDistinguished Service Professor
Ernest A. Scatton, Ph.D.
Harvard UniversityProfessors
James Collins, Ph.D.
University of California, BerkeleyFrancine W. Frank, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
University of IllinoisRobert Meyers, Ph.D.
State University of New York at BuffaloJames Neely, Ph.D.
Yale UniversityRobert Sanders, Ph.D.
University of IowaFrank Vellutino, Ph.D.
Catholic University of AmericaAssociate Professors
Jeanette Altarriba, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt UniversityGeorge Berg, Ph.D.
Northwestern UniversityLee Bickmore, Ph.D.
University of California, Los AngelesGeorge Broadwell, Ph.D.
University of California, Los AngelesLaurie Feldman, Ph.D.
University of ConnecticutCynthia Fox, Ph.D.
Indiana UniversityAndrew Haas, Ph.D.
University of RochesterJohn Justeson, Ph.D.
Stanford UniversityMillicent Lenz, Ph.D.
Northern Illinois UniversityRonald A. McClamrock, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySilke Van Ness, Ph.D.
University at AlbanyRose-Marie Weber, Ph.D.
Cornell UniversityMaurice Westmoreland, Ph.D.
University of IllinoisAssistant Professor Emeritus
George Hastings, Ph.D.
University of PennsylvaniaThe linguistics major is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the natureof human language and the principles and methods of contemporary linguistic theories. The majoroffers a liberal education that combines the approaches of the humanities, the social sciencesand the sciences. It also provides appropriate preparation for those interested in pursuinggraduate work in linguistics or related disciplines. The Program in Linguistics and CognitiveScience and the Department of Educational Theory and Practice offer a combined B.A./M.S. programleading to a bachelor's degree in linguistics and a master's in teaching English to speakers ofother languages.
Careers
Linguistics majors compete favorably with those from other humanities and social sciencedisciplines for entry-level positions in public relations, commerce, publishing and other fieldsrequiring analytical, communication and research skills. Career opportunities for graduates alsoinclude computer programming, computer software development, editing, technical writing anddictionary-making.
Students planning to undertake professional study in such fields as law, public administration,public policy, speech pathology and education will find that course work in linguistics providesvaluable preparation in analytical skills as well as an understanding of the social implicationsof language and attitudes toward language. For suggested sequences of courses appropriate tospecific areas of advanced study or careers, consult the undergraduate adviser.
Special Programs or Opportunities
The possibility of studying a foreign language not regularly taught at the University isprovided by A Lin 289, Directed Study in Foreign Languages. This course is open to anyundergraduate student in the University. For current offerings, consult the undergraduateadviser.
The program also sponsors a minor in Linguistics and Cognitive Science (See Approved Minorssection of this bulletin for details).
Degree Requirements for the Major in Linguistics
General Program B.A.: 36 credits in the major field of study, including: A Lin 220M, 321, 322,421 or 422, 429; one year of a foreign language (or A Lin 423, Linguistic Structures)*, asadvised; additional credits, as advised, including a minimum of 3 credits at the 300 level orabove; these are to be chosen from courses offered by the Program in Linguistics and CognitiveScience and from approved courses in other departments.
*This language should be of radically different structure from the foreign language chosen forthe language proficiency requirement (See below.) Non-Indo-European languages are usuallyadvised. Credits earned in A Lin 289 may be counted toward the 36-credit requirement only ifused to fulfill this one-year language requirement.
Other Degree Requirements
Language Requirement: Majors are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign languageequivalent to two years of study of skill courses in a foreign language at the college level.This requirement may be satisfied by course work or the passing of the appropriate examination.Credits earned for the proficiency requirement are additional to the 36-credit requirementdescribed above.
Courses in other departments approved for the linguistics major. (Some of these courses may haveprerequisites within the departments offering them.) Consult the undergraduate adviser of theLinguistics and Cognitive Science Program for modifications in this list.
A Ant 424; A Clc 125; A Com 373, 465; A Csi 101N, 201N, 310; A Eng 311L; A Fre 306, 406, 450;A Heb 203; A Phi 210L, 332, 415, 432; A Por 402; A Psy 301, A Psy 365, 381; A Spn 401, 402, 405;one of the following: A Gog 396, A Mat 108, A Psy 210, or A Soc 221.
Honors Program
Declared majors in linguistics who have completed 12 or more credits of A Lin courses may applyto the program by letter to the director of the Program in Linguistics and Cognitive Science.The requirements are as follows:
- The major GPA must be at least 3.5, and the overall GPA must be at least 3.25.
- Students are required to take 39 credit hours. In addition to satisfying all thelinguistics major requirements, the 39 hours must include 12 credits of 400 level A Lincourses. Of these 12 credits, seven must come from A Lin 429 Field Methods in AnthropologicalLinguistics (4 credits) and A Lin 423 Language Structures (3 credits), which constitute aseven credit sequence involving original research projects. Three credits must come from A Lin495 Honors Thesis (described below). The remaining credits can come from any 400-level Lincourse.
- Students must take A Lin 495 Honors Thesis in which they write a major researchpaper. The paper can be based on new research or can be a major revision of a paper writtenfor a previous A Lin class or independent study. This course should be taken during the finalsemester of the student's senior year, under the supervision of an appropriate member of theLINCS faculty. All students in Lin 495 will make an oral presentation of their research beforesubmitting the final written version.
Combined B.A./M.S. Program
The combined B.A./M.S. program in linguistics and teaching English to speakers of otherlanguages provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educationalmaturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs fromthe beginning of their junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earnthe B.A. and M.S. degrees within nine semesters.
The combined program requires a minimum of 143 credits, of which at least 35 must be graduatecredits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and college requirements,including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minorrequirement, the minimum 90-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general educationrequirements and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.S., students must meet allUniversity and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin including completion ofa minimum of 35 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis,comprehensive examination, professional experience and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduatecredits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.S. programs.
Students are considered undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits andsatisfactory completion of all B.A. requirements. Upon meeting B.A. requirements, students areautomatically considered as graduate students.
Students may apply for admission to the combined degree program at the beginning of their junioryear or after the successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters ofrecommendation from faculty are required for consideration. Students will be admitted to the combined program upon the recommendation of faculties of the Program in Linguistics andCognitive Science and the Department of Educational Theory and Practice set up to administer thecombined degree program.