Bachelor of Arts

B.A. Major

The department offers a B.A. in Linguistics. Please refer to the B.A. Sample Degree Plan and the curriculum as described below.

1. Required Core Courses (27 units):

• Core Area A - Pick one:
  • LING 200 (How) Language Matters (3)
  • LING 230 Forbidden Language: Swearing and Taboo Language (3)
  • LING 250 Language(s) in California (3)
• Core Area B - Pick one:
  • LING 310 Language and the Law (3)
  • LING 325 Language, Gender, and Identity (3)
• Core Area C - Pick one:
  • LING 309 Language and Social Interaction (3)
  • LING 427 Languages in Contact (3)
  • LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
  • LING 447 Bilingualism in the U.S. (3)
• Core Area D - All Required:
  • LING 300 Approaches to Linguistic Analysis (3)
  • LING 402 Phonetics and Phonology (3)
  • LING 403 Morphology (3)
  • LING 404 Syntax (3)
  • LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics (3)
  • LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

2. Electives (12 units)

Choose 4 courses. Two courses must be from Group A. All four courses may be from Group A.

Elective Group A

• LING 200 (How) Language Matters (3)
• LING 230 Forbidden Language: Swearing and Taboo Language (3)
• LING 240 Language and Music (3)
• LING 250 Language(s) in California (3)
• LING 309 Language and Social Interaction (3)
• LING 310 Language and the Law (3)
• LING 325 Language, Gender, and Identity (3)
• LING 330 Fundamentals for TESL (3)
• LING 331 Grammar for Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
• LING 407 Language Varieties (3)
• LING 411 Historical Linguistics (3)
• LING 427 Languages in Contact (3)
• LING 430 Linguistic Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)
• LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
• LING 447 Bilingualism in the U.S. (3)
• LING 455 Computational Linguistics (3)
• LING 495A-Z Selected Topics in Linguistics (3)

(Note: A course counted as required cannot double count as an elective.)

Elective Group B

• AFRS 395 Bilingualism in the African-American Community (3)
• ANTH 310 Language in Culture: Anthropological Linguistics (3)
• CHS 333 Language and Society: Chicanas/os and Other Minority Children (3)
• CHS 433 Language Acquisition of the Chicana/o and ESL Speakers (3)
• CHS 482 Language of the Barrio (3)
• CD 442 Speech Science (3)
• CD 462 Language Disorders 1 (3)
• COMP 310 Automata, Languages, and Computation (3)
• COMP 333 Concepts of Programming Languages (3)
• COMP 410 Logic Programming (3)
• COMP 469 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
• COMS 350 Nonverbal Communication (3)
• COMS 356 Intercultural Communication (3)
• COMS 450 Communication Research Methodology (3)
• DEAF 484 Structure of American Sign Language (3) (Taught in ASL)
• DEAF 485 Issues in American Sign Language (3) (Taught in ASL)
• ENGL 400 History of the English Language (3)
• ENGL 405 Language Differences and Language Change (3)
• LING 303. Human Language: Defining Our Biological Identity (3)
• PHIL 445 Philosophy of Language (3)
• PSY 367 Cognitive Psychology (3)
• SPAN 400 Structure of the Spanish Language (3)
• SPAN 401 Language and Culture (3)
• SPAN 425 Spanish Phonetics (3)
• SPAN 497 Comparative Structure of Spanish and English (3)

Studies in a Language other than English (6 Units)

Undergraduate majors are required to complete two progressive semesters (or the equivalent of two 3-unit progressive semesters) of one language other than English. Students with prior language experience can pass all or part of the language requirement by examination or other evidence at the discretion of the department.

Minor in Linguistics

Required Courses (21 units):

• LING 300 Approaches to Linguistic Analysis (3)
• LING 402 Phonetics and Phonology (3)
• LING 403 Morphology (3)
• LING 404 Syntax (3)
• LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics (3)
• LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
• Pick one:
  • LING 309 Language and Social Interaction (3)
  • LING 427 Languages in Contact (3)
  • LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
  • LING 447 Bilingualism in the U.S. (3)

Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language

The TESL minor program in the College of Humanities provides foundational and introductory preparation for teaching English to speakers of other languages by gaining an understanding of how languages are acquired; through knowledge of English forms, meanings and uses; and by developing the skills needed to teach English.

Requirements for the Minor

1. Core Courses (12 Units)

• LING 300 Approaches to Linguistic Analysis (3)
  or ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
• LING 330 Fundamentals for TESL (3)
• LING 331 Grammar for Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
  or ENGL 302 Introduction to Modern Grammar (3)
• LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)

2. Electives (6 Units)

Choose two courses from the following:

• CHS 433 Language Acquisition of the Chicana/o and ESL Speakers (3)
• COMS 356 Intercultural Communication (3)
• ENGL 302 Introduction to Modern Grammar (3) (if not taken as a core course)
• ENGL 406 Advanced Expository Writing for Teachers (3)
• LING 309 Language and Social Interaction (3)
• LING 402 Phonology (3)
• LING 404 Syntax (3)
• LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics (3)
• LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
• LING 447 Bilingualism in the U.S. (3)
• SPAN 497 Comparative Structures of Spanish and English (3)

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the B.A. in Linguistics will:

1. Express what linguists mean by "knowing a human language" by demonstrating knowledge of such core fields as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
2. Verbalize what is involved in the acquisition and development of language and discuss its biological and social foundations.
3. Describe key concepts from such fields as pragmatics, and discourse analysis and relate them to language data.
4. Verbalize how sociocultural diversity manifests itself in language using methods and concepts from the field of sociolinguistics.
5. Read, evaluate, and write effectively about linguistic topics.
6. Define the connections between linguistic study and its practical applications.