At the core of the program is a set of departmental courses on the structure of human language, including formal tools for collecting, describing, and analyzing linguistic data. The major also draws on courses offered by other departments and programs within the college, cutting across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Linguistics offers students an opportunity to engage in scientific study of human language. This includes the structures underlying sound (phonetics and phonology), form (syntax, morphology), and meaning (semantics, pragmatics). Our department emphasizes a balance of theoretical and empirical work that encourages the use of first-hand evidence and gives our students the ability to understand, challenge, and defend theoretical claims.