The major in linguistics is intended to acquaint the student with the methods and findings of the scientific study of human language and its relationships to cognition, society, and history. It serves as a preparation for graduate training in linguistics or related areas, and as part of a rigorous general education. Linguistic training is relevant to work in anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and language and literature, as well as to careers in such fields as education, computer science, and law.

The Major in Linguistics

• All students in the major program are required to take 10 cu's in the linguistics department. One of these courses must be the Undergraduate Tutorial (Ling 300), which is taken in the fall semester of senior year. Requirements for the remaining 9 linguistics courses differ based on Class year. See links below for details.

• The remaining 4 cu's may be satisfied by courses in linguistics or by related courses in other departments. Related courses include perspectives on language in social, cultural, historical, or cognitive context; studies of a specific language or family; or the formal properties of human and other languages. Up to two language instruction courses can be counted toward the major, but not if also used to satisfy the College language requirement.