Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
BA Major
Students who select a major in Linguistics for the BA degree must complete 24 units of specific core courses and then complete the rest of their major units via either an "Elective Track" or a "Minor Track."
Required Core Courses (24 units):
- Introduction to Linguistics (3 units)
Select one of the following courses:- ANTH 310 Anthropological Linguistics
- ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics
- COMS 420 Language and Symbolic Processes (rarely offered at present)
- Core Courses in Linguistics (5 courses = 15 units)
- LING 402 Phonetics and Phonology
- LING 404 Morphology and Syntax
- LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics
- LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition
- LING 441 Sociolinguistics
- Studies in a Foreign Language (6 units)
Students should consult with the Linguistics Coordinator/Advisor concerning the completion of this requirement.
The Elective Track (15 units)
In consultation with the Coordinator/Advisor, a student will select coursework from the following set. Some courses in other Departments or Programs may have prerequisites. Students should seek advising from the appropriate advisor in that Department as they select courses.
Approved Elective Courses
(Choose 5 courses from this list, all 3 units)
- ANTH 476D Field Study: Linguistics
- ANTH 490D Seminar in Anthropology: Linguistics
- CHS 443 Language Acquisition of the Chicano and ESL speakers
- CHS 482 Language of the Barrio
- CD 340 Phonetics
- CD 442 Speech Science
- CD 462 Language Disorders
- COMP 232 Concepts of Programming Languages
- COMP 310 Automata, Languages, and Computation
- COMP 332 Programming Language Semantics
- COMS 350 Nonverbal Communication
- COMS 356 Intercultural Communication
- COMS 450 Communication Research Methodology
- ENGL 400 History of the English Language
- ENGL 405 Language Differences and Language Change
- FREN 389 French Phonetics
- FREN 400 Structure of the French Language
- ITAL 305 Structure of the Italian Language
- LING 407 Language Varieties
- LING 427 Languages in Contact
- LING 430 Linguistic Introduction to Cognitive Science
- PAS 395 Bilingualism in the African-American Community
- PHIL 330 Philosophy of Science
- PHIL 331 Symbolic Logic II
- PHIL 432 Semantic Theory
- PHIL 445 Philosophy of Language
- PHIL 495 Advanced Philosophy of Science and Inductive Logic
- PSY 320 Statistical Methods in Psychological Research
- PSY 462 The Development of Language and Thought in the Young Child
- SOC 364 Social Statistics
- SPAN 395 Spanish Phonetics
- SPAN 400 Structure of the Spanish Language
- SPAN 401 Language and Culture
- SPAN 497 Comparative Structure of Spanish and English
- SPED 484 Structure of the American Sign Language
- SPED 485 Issues in American Sign Language
The Minor Track (18-30 units)
In consultation with the Coordinator/Advisor, and with the selected Department or Program, a student may complement the Linguistics Core with one of the following minors or concentrations. Minors or concentration requirements are set by the department or program listed.
Approved Minors and Concentrations:
Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Chicano/a Studies, Classics,
Communication Disorders and Sciences, Communication Studies, Computer
Science, Deaf Studies, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese,
Philosophy (Minor II), Psychology, Russian, Sociology, or Spanish,
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
- TOTAL UNITS IN THE MAJOR: 39-54
Depending on a number of factors, including which field is selected for those opting for the Minor Track, the unit overlap with General Education will vary. Students should consult with the Program Advisor.
- GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: 46-52 UNITS
- TITLE V: 6 UNITS
- ADDITIONAL UNITS: 8-29 (Depending on track; please see the Program Advisor)
To help in making steady progress towards graduation, students may refer to one of the following one-page course sequencing outlines:
BA Minor
The Undergraduate Minor (21 units)
Students at California State University Northridge may earn a minor in Linguistics by completing the following:
- Introduction to Linguistics (3 units)
Select one of the following courses:- ANTH 310 Anthropological Linguistics
- ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics
- COMS 420 Language and Symbolic Processes (rarely offered at present)
- Core Courses in Linguistics (5 courses = 15 units)
- LING 402 Phonetics and Phonology
- LING 404 Morphology and Syntax
- LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics
- LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition
- LING 441 Sociolinguistics
- Electives (3 units)
One course, selected in consultation with the Coordinator/Advisor, from the list of Approved Elective Courses as found in the description of the BA Elective Track.
TOTAL UNITS IN THE MINOR: 21