Undergraduate Linguistics Program

About the Major | About the Minor

About the Major

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The structure of a wide variety of languages is looked at, not to learn these languages, but to learn about them in order to understand the universal properties of human language.

The linguistics program offers coursework in all areas of linguistic analysis, the core areas of phonology, syntax, semantics, and historical linguistics, and interdisciplinary areas such as applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, bilingualism, computational linguistics, and the linguistics of certain languages and language families.

Preparation for the Major

Linguistics 101 (3 units)

Courses

A minimum of 27 upper division units is required: at least 21 of these must be in Linguistics (and those 21 must include Linguistics 420 or 501; 521, 522, and 525; and cannot include more than nine units from 300-level courses); with the approval of the adviser, up to six units may be selected from related fields.

About the Minor

The linguistics minor offers a substantial introduction to linguistics, with maximum student choice, guided by the adviser. The minor fits especially well with language majors and majors in such fields as computer science, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, literature, and ethnic or women's studies.

The minor in Linguistics consists of a minimum of 15 units, 12 of which must be upper division and at least 12 of which must be linguistics courses.

Required: Linguistics 101 or 420 or 501. No more than one course may be applied to the minor from Anthropology 410, Chinese 352, Communication 530, French 561, German 505, Philosophy 531, Spanish 448.

Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.