Linguistics Major

What is Linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of the nature, structure, grammar, history and function of language. It treats language as a fundamental human capacity and as a changing social institution. Linguistics contributes to and prepares students for professional fields such as law, because it uses a variety of rigorous methodologies for the analysis of language. It also supports law through the voice-print evidence assessment, the interpretation of the statutes and contracts. It clarifies ambiguities and presuppositions in the statutes and contracts and in testimony. Linguistics is a highly theoretical discipline, similar to and drawing from philosophy, computing and artificial intelligence, anthropology, and cognitive psychology. It is not a means to speak many languages. Linguistics considers questions such as: How are the speech sounds of language produced? What are the building blocks of language? How does language change over time? What do various languages have in common? How are they different? How do children acquire language? How does reasoning and inference underlie human communication? Linguistics majors often go on for advanced degrees in fields such as Anthropology, Business, Communications, Computer Science, Education (Language Arts and Language teaching), Journalism, Neurosciences (for the study of, e.g., dyslexia and aphasia), Speech and Hearing Sciences, Philosophy, and Psychology.

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What Kinds of Students Major in Linguistics?

Linguistics majors are intrigued by the study of one’s own and of foreign languages. Beyond simply learning how to speak a language, linguistics majors are interested in language as an object of study. This is a highly technical field in which mathematics, computing, psychology and sociology play significant roles. Linguistics integrates knowledge from many disciplines beyond those mentioned.

Is Linguistics the right major for you?
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What Courses Do Linguistics Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Linguistics majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

American Sign Language
Computational Linguistics
Grammar and Syntax
Language and Culture
Linguistic Analysis
Philosophy of Language
Semantics and Phonetics
Structure of Western Languages
Theory of Linguistics

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List of Potential Jobs in Linguistics

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Community College Instructor
Editor
English Teacher
Foreign Service
Intelligence Specialist
Research Analyst
Teacher of English as a Second Language
Technical Writer

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What is the Median Salary Range for Linguistics Careers?

Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Linguistics

universities with majors in Linguistics

2-year colleges with majors in Linguistics

MyMajors complete list has 1,169 schools in the USA with a major in Linguistics.
-View the national listing!

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For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their programs listed on MyMajors, contact for details.

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