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Language Concentration

In addition to the basic language competency required of all majors, the language concentration requires an advanced level competency in a different language. This can be satisfied by 2 language courses taught in a language other than English at the 300 level or above, or equivalent. In addition to the 5 core courses, 4 advanced electives (300 level or above) are also required, which should be chosen in consultation with the Linguistics major adviser. Courses in the structure or the history of the languages studied are especially appropriate.

Cognitive Science Concentration

This concentration requires, in addition to the 5 core courses, 4 advanced Linguistics courses focused on the cognitive aspects of human language, selected from:

  • LING 306 Language, Thought, and Mind,
  • LING 309 Psychology of Language,
  • LING 315 Introduction to Semantics,
  • LING 411 Neurolinguistics,
  • LING 405 Discourse,
  • and 2 courses from cognitively-related disciplines (psychology, computer science, anthropology, philosophy) as approved by the Linguistics undergraduate adviser.

Language, Culture and Society Concentration

For an in-depth grounding in a particular language and culture, this concentration requires 2 language courses at the 300 level or above. The language may be the same as that used to satisfy the basic language competency. Besides the 5 core courses, the student must take 4 courses selected from:

  • LING 313 Language and Culture,
  • LING 406 Cognitive Studies,
  • LING 415 Sociolinguistics,
  • LING 419 Bilingualism,
  • LING 421 Sociolinguistics of Spanish,
  • LING 405 Discourse,
  • and 2 courses in sociocultural studies outside the department approved by the Linguistics major adviser. Examples of appropriate courses are ANTH 353 Cultures of India, ANTH 361 Latin American Topics, PSYC 202 Introduction to Social Psychology, HIST 250 Traditional Chinese Culture, or SOCI 386 African Americans in Society.

Second Language Acquisition Concentration

2 language courses at the 300 level or above are required; the language may be the same as that used to satisfy the basic language competency. In addition to the 5 Linguistics core courses, 4 additional courses are required, as follows:

  • LING 340 Theory and Methods of Teaching ESL,
  • one Structure of Language course (LING 394 Structure of English or other language equivalent such as LING 318 Structure of French, LING 370 Structure of Japanese, etc. as approved by the Linguistics major adviser),
  • and any 2 of the following:
    • LING 309 Psychology of Language,
    • LING 313 Language and Culture,
    • LING 415 Sociolinguistics,
    • LING 418 The Acquisition of L2 Spanish,
    • LING 419 Bilingualism,
    • LING 420 Cognition and L2 Acquisition,
    • LING 422 The Development of Tense and Aspect in Second Language Learning,
    • or LING 405 Discourse.

Speech Sciences Concentration

This concentration is designed for those who would like to pursue career paths in fields related to speech, language, and hearing. Medical-oriented fields under this rubric include speech pathology and audiology; speech technology fields include speech recognition and speech synthesis. The 5 core courses required for this concentration are:

  • LING 300 Linguistic Analysis,
  • LING 301 Phonetics,
  • LING 311 Phonology,
  • LING 415 Sociolinguistics,
  • and LING 405 Discourse.
In addition to these five core courses, students must take the 2-unit seminar LING 396 Professions in the Speech Sciences and 7 other upper-level courses as outlined below:

Speech Sciences: Medical Focus

For students planning careers in medically-oriented fields, the 7 additional courses must include:

  • LING 212 Speech Sciences,
  • LING 309 Psychology of Language,
  • and LING 411 Neurolinguistics.
Additionally, 4 courses are chosen as follows:
  • From Linguistics, one of the following:
    • LING 304 Introduction to Syntax,
    • LING 427 Advanced Phonology,
    • LING 428 Laboratory Phonology,
    • or LING 409 Special Topics, when on a topic deemed appropriate by the Speech Sciences adviser.
    From courses outside the department, 3 of the following:
    • EDUC 310 Introduction to Special Education
    • PSYC 321 Developmental Psychology
    • PSYC 339 Statistical Methods
    • PSYC 351 Psychology of Perception
    • BIOS 122 Intro Biology
    • KINE 301 Human Physiology
    • or NEUR 511 Integrative Neuroscience

Speech Sciences: Technology Focus

For students planning careers in speech technology, the 7 additional courses will include 4 of the following:

  • LING 212 Speech Sciences,
  • LING 304 Introduction to Syntax,
  • LING 309 Psychology of Language,
  • LING 427 Advanced Phonology,
  • LING 428 Laboratory Phonology,
  • or LING 409 Special Topics, when on a topic deemed appropriate by the Speech Sciences adviser.
The remaining 3 requirements should be chosen from the following courses from outside the department:
  • ELEC 301 Introduction to Signals,
  • ELEC 434 Digital Signal Processing Lab,
  • MECH 373 Acoustics,
  • COMP 200 Elements of Computer Science or COMP 210 Principles of Computing.
  • or PSYC 339 Statistical Methods

Further courses in the medical and the language technology areas will enhance students' preparation for these respective fields. Students contemplating careers in the speech sciences should consult with the Speech Sciences adviser and faculty in other relevant areas concerning course choice and career planning.