Concentration in Speech and Language Science (BA Linguistics)
Career Options
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The linguistics major consists of linguistics courses designed to foster a deep understanding of human natural language, including an appreciation of the structure and organization of natural languages, the variety of natural languages, the commonalities that underlie the vast apparent differences among languages, the processes of language acquisition in children, the psychological and neurological bases of language use, and the form and significance of social variation in language.
The speech and language science concentration is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in speech-language pathology, audiology, or related disciplines.
The goals of the linguistics major are 1) to help each student develop an understanding of the nature of natural language, 2) to help each student develop a foundation of more specialized expertise relevant to the student’s career goals, and 3) to help each student compile a record of achievement that will facilitate the student’s search for employment or further education.
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Courses & Requirements
Checklist of Requirements
Speech and Language Science Concentration (51 Credits)
- LIN 185: Language, Mind, and Society
- LIN 201: Child Language
- LIN 211: Anatomy and Phsyiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- LIN 212: Speech Science
- LIN 213: Introduction to Audiology
- LIN 310: Signs of Language in the Brain
- LIN 311: Phonetics
- LIN 312: Phonology and Morphology
- LIN 313: Syntax
- LIN 314: Semantics
- LIN 315: Field Methods
- LIN 490: Introduction to Language Research
- One 4xx LIN course
- Languge Study: 4 semesters
For Linguistics in Speech and Language Science with Honors:
- G.P.A. of at least 3.7 in LIN courses
- Grade of at least 'B' in language courses for the major
- LIN 498 (Thesis), with grade of 'A'
- Portfolio
Language Component
Students pursuing the general linguistics major and speech and language science concentration must complete four semesters of a language or languages other than their native language. Students may choose to take four semesters of the same language or to divide the four courses among two or more different languages. The language courses may be waived on a case-by-case basis for students who demonstrate the equivalent degree of competency in a language or languages. In such cases, students replace the language course credits with other linguistics courses (or possibly with linguistics-related courses in other areas). The substitutions are made in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Suggested four-year plan for Linguistics Majors, Speech and Language Science Concentration:
There are many possible paths through the major. The listings below are suggestions that may or may not be appropriate for individual students. Courses do not have to be taken in the order shown here so long as the prerequisites for each course are met before it is taken.
See the departmental catalog listing for course prerequisites. Note especially that students must earn at least a 'B' in LIN 185 before enrolling in LIN 311, 312, 313, 314, or 315.
Note that many of the suggested semester schedules listed here do not make up a full course load. These semesters would need to be filled out with general education courses, electives, a minor, or possibly a second major.
Speech and Language Science Concentration:
(Courses in italics are required by many grad schools, but not for the major)
- Fall 1: LIN 185
- Spring 1: LIN 312, PSY 101
- Fall 2: LIN 201, LIN 211, LIN 311, Language 1
- Spring 2: LIN 212, LIN 314, Language 2, Biology
- Fall 3: LIN 310, 313, Language 3, MAT 120 (or PSY 105)
- Spring 3: LIN 213, LIN 4xx (such as 421 or 422), Language 4
- Summer 3: LIN 315
- Fall 4: Physics
- Spring 4: LIN 490, LIN 498 thesis (if doing honors)
Long-term scheduling
To help students plan their academic careers, we try to offer courses on a regular cycle. This is difficult and we cannot always offer courses when we, or our students, would most like them to appear. So, this listing should not be mistaken for a promise to offer any particular course in any given semester. Nevertheless, to the extent we can, we try to keep to the plan laid out below.
Offered every fall:
- ASL 101, 201
- ASL 401
- LIN 185
- LIN 211
- LIN 310
- LIN 311 (or every other fall)
- LIN 313
- LIN 331
- LIN 332
- LIN 334
Offered every spring:
- ASL 101, 102, 202
- ASL 402
- LIN 185
- LIN 201
- LIN 203
- LIN 305
- LIN 312 (or every other spring)
- LIN 333
- LIN 422
- LIN 435
Offered once a year, semester varies, sometimes summer:
- ASL 301 or 302 or 303
- LIN 213
- LIN 315
Offered once every two years in spring:
- LIN 212
- LIN 314
- LIN 421
- LIN 490
Offered every semester as independent learning options:
- LIN 395
- LIN 398
- LIN 498
Offered irregularly, depending on demand:
- LIN 405
- LIN 425
- LIN 426
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