Language is with you all day, every day of your life–it is central to the human experience. You use language to think, to learn new things, to get things done, to share your heart, and to engage with others more generally. In the Linguistics Department, you will be introduced to the science of language in a high-powered and welcoming research community. You will learn all about how language works, how it is learned, how it varies from society to society, and how it changes over time.
Work in linguistics cultivates key intellectual abilities: analytical skills, data analysis skills, reasoning and argumentation, and written and oral communication skills. A degree in linguistics prepares students for professions and/or further training in any number of areas that value these abilities. Those who pursue degrees in linguistics frequently go on to pursue careers in teaching (e.g., foreign language or ESL teaching in the US or abroad), the high-tech industry (e.g., software development and testing, speech analysis and synthesis), health sciences (e.g., speech-language pathology), or national security.