Linguistics, B.A. Major in

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Professor Leonard, Program Director, 516-463-5440
Assistant Professor Gales, Program Adviser

Linguistics is the systematic, scientific study of language. Linguistics has many subfields, including the history and relationship among languages, the study of meaning, grammar and context, the sound patterns of language, the interplay between language and society, the role of language and cognition in human evolution, the importance of language in interpersonal and intergroup communication, and the significance of linguistic analysis in law. It is language that most clearly separates humans from all other species on the planet. Human affairs revolve around language. Linguistics enables students to understand the inner workings of this most special human tool: how and why communication happens or fails to happen, how language is used to support people in groups, how the structure of language is the structure of human intelligence.

Linguistics prepares a student for many possible occupations. Linguistics gives language students a deeper understanding of how their language works. Linguists often go into language and computer-related fields. TESOL students teach English at all levels, and all over the globe. Anthropologists consider linguistics to be one of the core fields of anthropology. Linguistics helps those in legal professions to use language more precisely, and to better understand manipulation and deception in legal applications.

B.A. Major in Linguistics:

consists of the successful completion of 30 s.h. as follows:

Required (12 s.h.)

LING 101 - (IS) Introduction to Linguistics Semester Hours: 3
LING 171 - (IS) Sociolinguistics Semester Hours: 3
or
LING 172 - (CC) Language and Society in Africa, Asia and Latin America Semester Hours: 3
SPCH 005A - Phonetics Semester Hours: 3
SPCH 102A - Normal Language Development Semester Hours: 3
or
SPCH 010 - (BH, CC) Multicultural Aspects of Communication and Communication Disorders Semester Hours: 3

9 s.h. in linguistics courses:

Of the remaining 18 s.h., at least 9 s.h. must be in LING courses. The final 9 s.h. must be taken as some combination of the following:

Additional LING courses

Additional LING courses.

Chosen from the following selection:

ASL 191 - American Sign Language I Semester Hours: 3
ASL 192 - American Sign Language II Semester Hours: 3
PHI 165 - Philosophy of Language Semester Hours: 3
SOC 004 - (BH) Contemporary Society Semester Hours: 3-4
SPCH 006 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanisms Semester Hours: 3
SPCH 008 - Introduction to Hearing Science Semester Hours: 3
SPCH 101A - Experimental Psycholinguistics Semester Hours: 3
SPCH 103 - Introduction to Speech Science Semester Hours: 3
RHET 033 - Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction Semester Hours: 3

Other appropriate courses

Specifically approved by a linguistics adviser.

Linguistics Subfields

We recommend (but do not require) that, through advisement, students choose a particular subfield to organize the remainder of their course selection for the major. Two possible subfields are cultural linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) linguistics. Other subfields may be delineated by advisement.

Cultural Linguistics:

Recommended courses:

ANTH 004 - (BH, CC) Cultural Diversity Semester Hours: 3
LING 171 - (IS) Sociolinguistics Semester Hours: 3
LING 172 - (CC) Language and Society in Africa, Asia and Latin America Semester Hours: 3
LING 181 - Special Studies in Linguistics Semester Hours: 1-3

TESOL Linguistics: