Linguistics Major
As an increasingly interdisciplinary field, Linguistics is closely related to many other academic fields including Autism Studies, Classical and Modern Languages, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Education, English, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and TESOL. Students of Linguistics often pursue careers as clinical psychologists, educators, information technology specialists, lawyers, linguists, marketing and advertising consultants, social workers, speech pathologists, speech therapists, teachers, translators and interpreters. For that reason, several courses in other SJU programs count toward a major in Linguistics while fulfilling requirements in their respective programs.
Goal 1: Students will know what the field of linguistics is and understand how language works.
Outcome 1: Identify the main areas of linguistic analysis and analyze relevant examples.
Goal 2: Students will connect linguistic topics to real life.
Outcome 2: Explain linguistic topics in oral presentations.
Goal 3: Students will understand language differences that exist among speakers of the same and different languages.
Outcome 3: Analyze particular aspects of linguistic beauty and creativity.
Goal 4: Students will understand beliefs about language that exist among speakers of the same or different languages.
Outcome 4: Analyze their own language beliefs as well as those of others.
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
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Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three courses: | 9 | |
| Intro Autism Spectrum Disorder | ||
| Cognition & Learning w/ Field | ||
| Language and Culture w/ Field | ||
| Public Speaking & Presentation | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
MCL language courses beyong those used to satisfy the GEP language requirement (eg American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin or Spanish) | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Major Requirements
There are two ways to major in Linguistics:
1. Linguistics
2. Linguistics - TESOL Concentration
Course requirements for the Linguistics Major include a general introduction to the field and at least one course in several of the main areas of linguistics (applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, phonetics, and pragmatics). Specific course requirements and options are listed below. Course requirements for the Linguistics Major-TESOL concentration include a general introduction to the field of linguistics, an English grammar course, a course on language acquisition, a language teaching methods course and phonetics.
Please note that students may also choose to combine a major in Linguistics with a minor in TESOL (a total of at least 13 courses1) or to complete a double minor in both Linguistics and TESOL (a total of at least 9 courses1) or a double major in Linguistics and Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Please note that students may also choose to combine a major in Communication Sciences & Disorders with a double major or minor in Linguistics. A total of 3 courses may double count for the two majors.
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Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language and Communication | ||
| English Grammar | ||
| Second Lang Acquis & Lrning | ||
| First Language Acquisition | ||
| Psycholinguistics | ||
or PSY 229 | Psycholinguistics | |
| Phonetics | ||
| Pragmatics (at least one): | 3 | |
| Language and the Law | ||
or SOC 260 | Language and the Law | |
| Social Media Discourse | ||
| Communication in Soc Contexts | ||
Any LIN linguistics course | ||
| Logic | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Language and Thought | ||
| Language and Meaning | ||
| Translation 1 | ||
| Intro to Spanish Linguistics 1 | ||
| Advanced Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Methods for Teaching Spanish 1 | ||
| Spanish Dialectology 1 | ||
| Spanish Dialectology 1 | ||
| Lang Contact & Pol in U.S. 1 | ||
| Topics in Spanish Linguistics 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
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Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| LIN 101 | Language and Communication | 3 |
| Non-Native Language 1 | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| LIN 150 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| HIS 154 | Forging the Modern World | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LIN 250 |
Social Media Discourse or Language and the Law or Language and the Law or Communication in Soc Contexts |
3 |
| Non Native Language 2 | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| THE 154 or PHL 154 |
Catholic Theological Tradition or Moral Foundations |
3 |
| ENG 102 | Texts & Contexts | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| LIN 280 |
Second Lang Acquis & Lrning or First Language Acquisition or Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad |
3 |
| LIN Major Course Requirement | 3 | |
| THE 154 or PHL 154 |
Catholic Theological Tradition or Moral Foundations |
3 |
| Math Beauty | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LIN 317 |
Sociolinguistics or Psycholinguistics or Bilingualism & Lang Diversity |
3 |
| LIN Major Course Requirement | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive Overlay 1 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| LIN major course requirement | 3 | |
| PHL Anthropology or Religious Difference | 3 | |
| Faith & Reason | 3 | |
| DGNW Overlay | 3 | |
| Integrative Learning Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LIN 320 or SPA 466 |
Phonetics or Spanish Dialectology |
3 |
| Fine & Performing Art or Literature | 3 | |
| Integrative Learning Course | 3 | |
| PHL Anthropology or Religious Difference | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| LIN major course requirement | 3 | |
| Integrative Learning Course | 3 | |
| Free-Elective or 2nd Natural Science, if needed | 3 | |
| Ethics Overlay | 3 | |
| Free- lective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LIN major course requirement | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
TESOL Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language and Communication | ||
| English Grammar | ||
or ENG 203 | English Grammar | |
| Second Lang Acquis & Lrning | ||
| Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad | ||
| Phonetics | ||
| Select five of the following: | 12 | |
Any LIN linguistics course or | ||
| Language and Culture w/ Field | ||
| Tutor Prac, Writ Cntr Thry Pr | ||
| Logic | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Language and the Law | ||
| Sociolinguistics | ||
| Translation 1 | ||
| Intro to Spanish Linguistics 1 | ||
| Spanish Phonetics & Phonology | ||
| Advanced Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Methods for Teaching Spanish 1 | ||
| Spanish Dialectology 1 | ||
| Lang Contact & Pol in U.S. 1 | ||
| Topics in Spanish Linguistics 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
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Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.