Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

The BA in Linguistics offers students a comprehensive overview of the field with a strong foundation in the core areas of phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. In addition, students are encouraged to specialize in any of a number of different areas through the way they structure their elective courses. Students conduct original research in their senior Capstone course (akin to a senior thesis), which requires them to evaluate and report on existing findings, and to then argue for their original contributions based on interpretations of new or existing data.

Upon finishing the degree, students will have attained excellent writing and critical thinking skills, communication skills, complex problem-solving skills, exposure to both quantitative and qualitative methods, and exposure to the complexities of both linguistic and cultural variation. All told, the BA in Linguistics equips students with skills from both the traditional humanities as well as the sciences, and this allows them to be competitive for many different kinds of employment upon graduation.