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Linguistics Major B.A.
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Linguistics Major B.A.

The Linguistics major 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 weā€™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 TELT (Technology Enhanced Language Teaching).

Careers with a Linguistics Degree

A degree in Linguistics prepares students for careers in a variety of different fields, including but 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 bachelorā€™s degree in Linguistics also benefits 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).

Linguistics Careers & Internships

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Admission Requirements

This program has no requirements beyond University admission and transfer requirements.

OHIO Admissions

Linguistics B.A. Courses & Curriculum

Students complete a total of 34 semester credit hours of LING coursework, including these core courses:

  • LING 2700 - The Nature of Language
  • LING 3500 - Introduction to Linguistics
  • LING 3800 - Introduction to Psycholinguistics
  • LING 4600 - Introduction to Phonetics
  • LING 4700 - Syntactic Description of English or LING 4701 - Grammar and Syntax
  • LING 4750 - Language Learning
  • LING 4860 - How to Do Things with Words: An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics
  • LING 4901 - Sociolinguistics and Bilingualism
  • LING 4940 - Research Experience in Linguistics

Language Requirement: All Arts and Sciences B.A. students must complete two years of a foreign language. Linguistics majors must complete an additional year of the same or a different language.

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