Linguistics Major

As an increasingly interdisciplinary field, Linguistics is closely related to many other academic fields including Autism Studies, Classical and Modern Languages, Communication Sciences & Disorders, 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, audiologists, 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.  Students who are also particularly interested in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) have the option of completing a TESOL minor or pursuing a TESOL concentration as part of the Linguistics major.  Refer to the TESOL Concentration tab above for more information.  

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.

Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements

Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements.  See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.

First Year Course Requirements
ENG 101Craft of Language3
World History Course Area
HIS 101Globalization in World History3
or HIS 102 Movements in World History
or HIS 103 Empires in World History
Philosophy Requirements
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course.
Philosophy Level One3
Philosophy Level Two3
Theology & Religious Studies Requirements
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course.
Theology3
Religious Studies3
Diversity & INT 151 Requirements
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years
Diversity3
INT 151Inequality in American Society1
Math & Natural Science Requirements
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements.
Mathematics3-4
Natural Science4
Social Science Requirement3
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Non-Native Language Requirement3-4
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement.
Literature Requirement3
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement3
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Overlay Requirements
Writing-Intensive3
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition).
Mission-Overlay3
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science.
Total Hours47-49

Recommended CCC Courses

Diversity
Sociolinguistics
Language Matters
Social Science
First Language Acquisition
Mission-Overlay
Language and the Law

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 psycholinguistics, a course on second language acquisition, a language teaching methods course and phonetics.

Please note that students may also choose to double major in Linguistics and Communication Sciences & Disorders or 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).  

Please note that students may also choose to combine a major in Communication Sciences & Disorders with a double major or minor in Linguistics.  

1

Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.

Required Courses for the Linguistics Major:
LIN 101/PHL 102Language and Communication (Will also count for CCC Philosophy Level One Non-Ethics)3
LIN 110Language Games3
or LIN 250 Social Media Discourse
or LIN 251 Language & Health Professions
or LIN 340 Communication in Soc Contexts
LIN/ENG 203English Grammar3
LIN/SOC 260Language and the Law (Counts for CCC: Ethics and Social Justice)3
LIN/PSY 261Psycholinguistics3
LIN/PSY 262First Language Acquisition (Counts for CCC: Social Science)3
LIN 280Second Lang Acquis & Lrning3
or LIN 301 Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad
LIN 320Phonetics3
Any 2 additional courses including those below or approved by the Linguistics Program Director:6
Language Games
Language Matters (Counts for CCC: Diversity)
Intro Communication Disorders
Topics in Linguistics
Anat&Phys of Speech&Hearing
Logic
Symbolic Logic
Social Media Discourse
Language & Health Professions
Topics in Linguistics
Second Lang Acquis & Lrning
Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad
Sociolinguistics (Counts for CCC: Diversity)
Tour of the Brain
Communication in Soc Contexts
Special Topics in Linguistics
History of the Eng Language
Bilingualism & Lang Diversity
Topics in Linguistics
Language and Thought
Language and Meaning
Translation 1
Intro to Spanish Linguistics 1
Spanish Phonetics & Phonology 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 Hours30
1

Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.

Free Electives

To be awarded a bachelor's degree at Saint Joseph's University, students must complete at least 120 total credits. As such, elective credits may be required in addition to Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) and major requirements. Any credits necessary to reach at least 120 total credits outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives. Under the CCC, there are no fixed number of electives required. A student's total number of electives will vary based on major requirements, transfer credits, as well as math and language placement. 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
LIN 101 Language and Communication 3
Non-Native Language 3
ENG 101 Craft of Language 3
Mathematics 3
Natural Science 4
 Hours16
Spring
LIN XXX 3
World History 3
Theology 3
INT 151 Inequality in American Society 1
Free Electives 6
 Hours16
Sophomore
Fall
LIN 280
Second Lang Acquis & Lrning
or Psycholinguistics
or Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad
3
LIN Major Course Requirement 3
THE 154
Catholic Theological Tradition
or Moral Foundations
3
Math Beauty 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
LIN 261 Psycholinguistics 3
 Hours3
Junior
Fall
LIN major course requirement 3
PHL Anthropology or Religious Difference 3
Faith & Reason 3
DGNW Overlay 3
Integrative Learning Course 3
 Hours15
Spring
LIN 320
Phonetics
or Spanish Dialectology
3
Fine & Performing Art or Literature 3
Integrative Learning Course 3
PHL Anthropology or Religious Difference 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
Spring
LIN major course requirement 3
Free Electives 12
 Hours15
 Total Hours125

Linguistic Major with TESOL Concentration

LIN 101/PHL 102Language and Communication (Counts for CCC: Philosophy Level One Non-Ethics)3
LIN/ENG 203English Grammar3
LIN/PSY 261Psycholinguistics3
LIN 280Second Lang Acquis & Lrning3
LIN 301Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad3
LIN 320Phonetics3
Select four of the following:12
Language Games
Language Matters (Counts for CCC: Diversity)
Logic
Social Media Discourse
First Language Acquisition
Tour of the Brain
Communication in Soc Contexts
Bilingualism & Lang Diversity
Translation 1
Intro to Spanish Linguistics 1
Spanish Phonetics & Phonology
Spanish Dialectology
Lang Contact & Pol in U.S. 1
Topics in Spanish Linguistics 1
Total Hours30
1

Please note that students who are double majoring/minoring may count a maximum of 3 courses toward requirements in each area.