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Linguistics

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science

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DISCOVER LANGUAGE

Think linguists just speak lots of languages? Think again. Linguists are scientists who study language. Language is one of the most complex cognitive tasks that humans engage in, yet it is used effortlessly and subconsciously and is acquired by infants with no formal instruction. How can you effortlessly speak and understand without even being aware of what you are doing? As a student of linguistics, you will explore the answers to this question and many others.

The department also offers a Cognitive Science major.

AREAS OF STUDY

Endangered Languages
Language Acquisition
Neurolinguistics
Phonology and Phonetics
Psycholinguistics
Syntax and Semantics

CAREER OPTIONS

Data Analyst
Film and Television
Government
Interpreter
Language Teacher
Library/Information Science
Linguist
Professor
Psychologist

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Cognitive Science
Computer Science
Law School
Linguistics
Psychology
TESOL

What’s special about this program?

As a student of linguistics, you will learn the formal properties of language: sound systems, how words and sentences are put together and how meaning is computed from the parts. You will explore the diversity of languages across the globe and learn about their historical development (for example, did you know that English and Sanskrit are descended from a single language spoken 6,000 years ago in Asia?). You will also explore how infants acquire language, how language is represented in the brain and used in real time and how language is used in social contexts.

Get Involved

Undergraduate Research

The Phonology/Phonetics Lab

The Experimental Psycholinguistics Lab

Child’s Play, Learning, and Development Lab

The Language and Cognition Lab

Sample curriculum

FRESHMAN

ENGL110	Seminar in Composition
LING101	Introduction to Linguistics
LING202	Science of Language
MATH113	Contemporary Mathematics (or Higher)
UNIV101	First Year Experience
	University Breadth Courses
	Elective Courses

SOPHOMORE

CGSC170	Introduction to Cognitive Science
LING403	Introduction to Phonology
LING404	Structure of Language
PHIL205	Logic
	University Breadth Course
	Elective Courses