Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Brandeis University offers the Bachelor of Linguistics as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Waltham , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for linguistics and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 31, 2027.

    About Bachelor of Linguistics

    Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

    Linguistics is the scientific study of human language, aiming to answer the question "What do we know when we know a language?" Although language is involved in nearly every aspect of the human experience, most people know surprisingly little about how language works.

    Linguists research the components of human languages, including the sounds of speech; the organization of sound patterns, words, sentences, discourses, and meanings; variation and change in human languages; and the relationships between language and computation, cognition, and society.

    The undergraduate linguistics program at Brandeis offers an in-depth study of human language, and linguistics majors learn the methods, concepts, and theories that will enable them to recognize, explore, describe, and explain the complex patterning of human languages, and of their knowledge and use. Whether you major or minor in linguistics, you can complement your course of study by taking language-related classes in other disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, computer science, or neuroscience.

    Studying Linguistics at Brandeis

    At Brandeis, you will be part of a lively and close-knit community of students taught by research-active faculty dedicated to teaching and mentoring. Our faculty will encourage you to discover linguistic patterns for yourself, and to think deeply about language data and linguistic theories. Most of our classes beyond the introductory level are relatively small, allowing for active discussion and engagement with faculty as well as fellow students.

    Because of our emphasis on data-driven hypothesis testing, you will graduate with solid skills in data collection, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and written and oral communication. Our program complements its core focus on theoretical generative linguistics with flexibility in elective choices. We offer core courses on phonological theory, syntactic theory, formal semantics, and formal pragmatics, which students can supplement with a range of electives in linguistics and related disciplines that include computational linguistics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology, among others.

    While the emphasis within the major's required courses is on the core empirical and theoretical subfields of the field, Brandeis is unusual among other linguistics programs in having a full computational linguistics curriculum alongside our theoretical linguistics courses, run by the same set of faculty. Qualified undergraduate students interested in computational linguistics are invited to take courses from this curriculum, and to opt to apply to our five-year combined Bachelor's/Master of Science program in Computational Linguistics.

    The Linguistics major allows you to develop skills used in a broad range of careers.

    Academics, Teaching and Research

    Disciplines

    Linguistics and Computational Linguistics

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Entry Requirements

    • A completed Common Application.
    • $80 application fee (or fee waiver).
    • Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate and/or marks from any externally graded national exams. (If the original documents are not in English, please submit both original documents and English translations.) This should include transcripts for courses taken for credit outside your high school. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school.
    • A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.
    • High School Senior Grades: Send your senior midyear grades as soon as they become available. We understand this may not be until late January or early February for some students, though we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. For Early Decision applicants, submit first marking period grades, which may be first quarter or first trimester grades.
    • A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language or English). (Homeschooled students and those applying for the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, see the tabs below for more details.)
    • Optional standardized test scores: Learn more about our test-optional policy.
    • A completed Early Decision Agreement Form (pdf). If you're applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II.

    Additional Materials and Information

    • English Proficiency: If you're an international student for whom English is not your native language, you should submit results of an English proficiency exam. You have the choice of submitting scores from one of the following exams. Scanned copies of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment exams are accepted; Duolingo (DET) scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.
      • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 
      • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 
      • Duolingo English Test (DET) 
      • Cambridge Assessment English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
      • If you have spent four or more years attending a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English, you are exempt from this requirement, and may submit a request for a waiver in your DEISconnect portal after applying.
      • If you're applying directly from a United World College (UWC) campus, you are also exempt from this requirement.
    • Financial documentation:
      • If you are not applying for financial aid, you must submit:
        • The Certification of Finances for International Students through your DEISconnect portal.
        • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
      • If you are applying for financial aid, you must submit:
        • A completed CSS Profile.
        • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family can contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
    • Additional recommendations:
      • Visits: We encourage you to participate in a virtual visit and, if possible, schedule an interview with an admissions representative.
      • Third-party interviews: Interviews through services like InitialView or Vericant are also encouraged. Deadlines are as follows:
        • Early Decision I : Record and submit by November 15.
        • Early Decision II / Regular Decision: Record and submit by January 15.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 7
    • TOEFLMin 100

    Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Application Fee 80

    How to Apply for Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University

    Your roadmap to a complete application.

    Applying to Brandeis as a first-year student? Below, you'll find everything you need to include in your application.

    In addition to the core first-year applicant materials list, be sure to check out the additional guides below for more info, advice and supplementary information! And remember, we're always here to help.

    Bachelor of Linguistics at Brandeis University
    Brandeis University
    Brandeis University
    United States of America

    United States of America, Waltham

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