Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Linguistics

 BA Degree with a Major in Linguistics

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Linguistics, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to perform independent research about languages and their speakers, including the ability to ethically complete field work, collect data, analyze data, utilize laboratory and computing technologies, draw meaningful conclusions from data, and convey research results effectively orally and in writing.
2. Identify and define the main approaches for researching language structure and use at all levels (sounds, words, grammar, meaning, social/cultural interaction), as well as be able to evaluate critically and apply the primary concepts, vocabularies, methods and theories in their own work.
3. Appreciate the diversity of language and the ways in which it changes over time. They will be able to analyze the diversity of sounds and grammar in the world’s languages. They will also understand the diversity of regionally-, socially-, and ethnically-defined varieties within a single language. Students will be able to explain why this diversity is relevant to everyday life and how it is crucial to fields both inside and outside of linguistics.
4. Understand the systematic relationships between language structure and language use, and how these in turn relate to cognition, culture, identity, and society.

BA Degree with a Major in Linguistics

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing BA degree with a major in Linguistics must complete:

• A minimum of 52 courses (36 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
• A minimum of 520 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 9 courses (27 credit hours) taken at 300-level or above.

Because human language is a multifaceted object of study, linguistics is, by its nature an interdisciplinary field. undergraduate major provides both an in-depth grounding in field as well as a cross-disciplinary breadth. Students beginning linguistics major should take LING 200, which is a prerequisite for many upper-level courses in department. All majors are required to take at least 9 courses (27 credit hours) in linguistics at 300-level or above, including 5 core courses as specified below. 

courses listed below satisfy this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document courses to be taken.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:

1. Completing at least two years of full-time study in an English language curriculum prior to submitting an application.

2. Submitting one of the following official test scores.

• The Coalition Application or the Common Application and Rice writing supplement
• $75 nonrefundable application fee (must be paid online)
• Official high school transcript in English (or a certified English translation)
• Recommendation Letters
  • School Counselor
  • Teacher 5
  • Teacher 2
• Demonstration of English proficiency
• International Student Financial Statement
• Architecture portfolio (Architecture applicants only)