Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Linguistics
Undergraduate Degrees
The Linguistics Department emphasizes the study of language both as an abstract system and in its psychological and social contexts. In addition to introductory linguistics and courses in linguistic analysis, students take courses in psycholinguistics (language acquisition, processing, and language disorders) and/or sociolinguistics (language and society). The undergraduate major in linguistics focuses on how the human mind structures, processes and acquires language as well as how similar communication goals are met by diverse means in the languages of the world. Students are encouraged to pursue combined majors in Linguistics/Philosophy, Linguistics/Psychology and Linguistics/East Asian Languages and Cultures, as well as double majors with computer science or a language department. Please contact the department adviser for more information.
Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics
| Required Courses, Lower Division | units | |
|---|---|---|
| LING 210 | Introduction to Linguistics | 4 |
| Required Courses, Upper Division | units | |
|---|---|---|
| LING 301 | Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology | 4 |
| LING 302 | Introduction to Syntax and Semantics | 4 |
| Elective Courses, Upper Division | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Select 16 units from the following | ||
| LING 380 | Languages of the World | 4 |
| LING 401 | Advanced Phonology | 4 |
| LING 402 | Advanced Syntax | 4 |
| LING 403 | Advanced Semantics | 4 |
| LING 405 | Child Language Acquisition | 4 |
| LING 406 | Psycholinguistics | 4 |
| LING 407 | Atypical Language | 4 |
| LING 410 | Second Language Acquisition | 4 |
| LING 412 | Linguistic Interpretation of the Law | 4 |
| LING 415 | Phonetics | 4 |
| LING 422 | Language Contact and Language Acquisition | 4 |
| LING 450 | New Horizons in Forensic Speaker Identification | 4 |
| LING 466 | Word and Phrase Origins | 4 |
| LING 485 | Field Methodology | 4 |
| LING 497 | Honors Thesis | 4 |
| One additional upper-division course in linguistics or a related field | 4 | |
Linguistics Major with Honors
The linguistics major with honors requires the student to complete the requirements for the major with a GPA of 3.5 or above and to complete in addition LING 497 Honors Thesis with a grade of B or better. Intent to complete the linguistics major with honors should be registered with the undergraduate adviser no later than the second semester of the junior year.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a Combined Major in Linguistics and Philosophy
For the lower division, LING 210 is required. For the upper division the following courses are required: LING 301 and LING 302; PHIL 350 and PHIL 465; two courses selected from LING 380, LING 401, LING 402, LING 403, LING 405, LING 406, LING 407, LING 410, LING 415, LING 422, LING 466 and LING 485; and three courses selected from PHIL 450, PHIL 460, PHIL 462 and PHIL 470.
Combined Major in Linguistics and Philosophy with Honors
The combined major in linguistics and philosophy with honors requires the student to complete the requirements for the major with a GPA of 3.5 or above and to complete in addition LING 497 Honors Thesis or PHIL 494 Senior Thesis with a grade of B or better. Intent to complete the major with honors should be registered with the undergraduate adviser no later than the second semester of the junior year.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a Combined Major in Linguistics and Psychology
For the lower division: LING 210, PSYC 100 and PSYC 274L are required. For the upper division the following courses are required: LING 301 and LING 302; PSYC 314L; two courses selected from LING 380, LING 401, LING 402, LING 403, LING 405, LING 406, LING 407, LING 410, LING 415, LING 422, LING 466 and LING 485; three additional courses selected from LING 406, PSYC 301L, PSYC 326, PSYC 336L, PSYC 337L, PSYC 424 and PSYC 433.
Combined Major in Linguistics and Psychology with Honors
The combined major in linguistics and psychology with honors requires the student to complete the requirements for the major with a GPA of 3.5 or above and to complete in addition either LING 497 Honors Thesis or PSYC 380 Junior Honors Seminar and PSYC 480 Senior Honors Seminar, with a grade of B or better. Intent to complete the major with honors should be registered with the undergraduate adviser no later than the second semester of the junior year.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a Combined Major in Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Cultures
For the lower division, LING 210 is required. For the upper division, the following courses are required: LING 301 and LING 302; EALC 470; two courses from LING 380, LING 401, LING 402, LING 403, LING 405, LING 406, LING 407, LING 410, LING 415, LING 422, LING 466 and LING 485; two courses selected from EALC 304, EALC 306, EALC 315, EALC 317, EALC 320, EALC 322, EALC 400, EALC 402, EALC 406, EALC 407, EALC 412ab, EALC 413, EALC 415, EALC 417, EALC 422, EALC 424 and EALC 426; one EALC literature, civilization or thought course from EALC 332, EALC 335, EALC 340, EALC 342, EALC 345, EALC 350, EALC 352, EALC 354, EALC 355, EALC 365, EALC 380, EALC 386, EALC 452, EALC 455 and EALC 460; two additional EALC courses from category IV or V. (After consultation with a department adviser, students may petition to use EALC courses not listed toward this requirement.)
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Archaeology
See Religion for a complete listing of requirements.
Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies
See the Department of Middle East Studies for a complete listing of requirements.
Linguistics Minor Requirements
Lower division: LING 210. Upper division: LING 301 and LING 302, one course in psycholinguistics (LING 405, LING 406 or LING 410) or in sociolinguistics (LING 375), and one additional upper-division course from LING 380, LING 401, LING 402, LING 403, LING 405, LING 406, LING 407, LING 410, LING 415, LING 422, LING 466 and LING 485.
Arabic and Middle East Studies Minor
The undergraduate minor program gives students the opportunity of supplementing their major with an emphasis in Arabic and Middle East Studies. The 20-unit interdisciplinary minor is designed for students who want to explore and develop a critical understanding of Middle East history, culture, religion and global issues as well as acquire excellent knowledge of the Arabic language.
| Required Courses, Lower-Division | units | |
|---|---|---|
| MDES 252 | Arabic IV | 4 |
| Required Courses, Upper-Division | units | |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 327 | Anthropology of the Middle East and Islam | 4 |
| POSC 351 | Middle East Politics, or | |
| IR 363 | Middle East Political Economy | 4 |
| REL 315 | Thought and Life of Islam | 4 |
| One course from the following:* | ||
| IR 362 | The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East | 4 |
| IR 363 | Middle East Political Economy | 4 |
| POSC 351 | Middle East Politics | 4 |
Middle East Studies Minor
See the Department of Middle East Studies.