Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Linguistics B.A.Linguistics, Institute of
College of Liberal Arts
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Courses explore the principles governing the structure of natural languages, how languages are acquired by children and adults, the role of language in human cognition and social interaction, and how languages change over time.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
CLA BA degrees require 18 upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits outside the major designator. These credits must be taken in designators different from the major designator and cannot include courses that are cross-listed with the major designator. The major designator for the Linguistics BA is LING.
At least 15 upper-division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
Students may earn a BA or a minor in linguistics, but not both.
All incoming CLA first-year (freshmen) must complete the First-Year Experience course sequence.
All incoming CLA first-year (freshmen) students earning a BA, BS, or BIS degree must complete the second-year career management course CLA 3002.
All students must complete a capstone in at least one CLA major. The requirements for double majors completing the capstone in a different CLA major will be clearly stated. Students must also complete all major requirements in both majors to allow the additional capstone to be waived. Students completing an additional degree must complete the Capstone in each degree area.
Foundation Course
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 4 credit(s) from the following:
·
LING 3001 - Introduction to Linguistics
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 3001H - Honors: Introduction to Linguistics
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 5001 - Introduction to Linguistics
(4.0 cr)
Core Courses
Take exactly 4 course(s) totaling exactly 12 credit(s) from the following:
Syntax
Honors students may take LING 5201 in place of 4201.
·
LING 4201 - Syntax I
(3.0 cr)
or
LING 5201 - Syntactic Theory I
(3.0 cr)
·
Phonology
Honors students may take LING 5302 in place of 4302W.
·
LING 4302W - Phonology I
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
LING 5302 - Phonological Theory I
(3.0 cr)
·
Semantics
·
LING 5205 - Semantics
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Take 15 or more credit(s) from the following:
Lower-division linguistics courses
Take 0 - 4 credit(s) from the following:
·
LING 1701 - Language and Society
[DSJ]
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 1705W - World Englishes: The Linguistics of English-based varieties around the globe
[SOCS, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 1800 - Topics in Linguistics
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
LING 19xx- Freshman Seminar
Upper-division linguistics courses
Take 6 - 15 credit(s) from the following:
·
LING 3093 - Directed Studies for Honors Thesis
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 3101W - Languages of the World
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 3900 - Topics in Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5105 - Field Methods in Linguistics I
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 5106 - Field Methods in Linguistics II
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 5206 - Linguistic Pragmatics
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5207 - Advanced Semantics
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5461 - Conversation Analysis
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5462 - Field Research in Spoken Language
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5801 - Introduction to Computational Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5900 - Topics in Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 5993 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
Other Electives
As many as 6 credits from an allied discipline can count towards the Elective Requirement. This list is not exhaustive, courses not listed below must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
Take 0 - 6 credit(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 3005W - Language, Culture, and Power
[SOCS, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ANTH 4035 - Ethnographic Research Methods
(3.0 cr)
·
CPSY 4345 - Language Development and Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
FREN 3500 - Linguistic Analysis of French
(3.0 cr)
·
FREN 3521 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
FREN 3541 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
GCC 3036 - Seeking Connection through Decolonization: The Power of Indigenous Lands and Languages
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
GER 5711 - History of the German Language I
(3.0 cr)
·
GRK 5705 - Introduction to the Historical-Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3231 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5201 - Symbolic Logic I
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5202 - Symbolic Logic II
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5211 - Modal Logic
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 5054 - Psychology of Language
(3.0 cr)
·
SLHS 3303 - Language Acquisition and Science
(3.0 cr)
·
SLHS 3304 - Phonetics
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3701 - Structure of Spanish: Phonology and Phonetics
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3702 - Structure of Spanish: Morphology and Syntax
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3703 - Origins and History of Spanish and Portuguese
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3730 - Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 5701 - History of Ibero-Romance
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 5714 - Theoretical Foundations of Spanish Syntax
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 5716 - Structure of Modern Spanish: Pragmatics
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 5930 - Topics in Ibero-Romance Linguistics
(3.0 cr)
·
ANTH 3015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 5015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
FREN 3531 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
or
FREN 5531 - Sociolinguistics of French
(3.0 cr)
Capstone
The capstone in Linguistics consists of a 15-25 page research paper. Students typically expand and revise work done in a previous course. The previous work could be a term paper, squib, group project, or in some cases an oral presentation. The topic should be approved by the course instructor before registration for the seminar. Students taking LING 4901W must complete the course with at least an S grade.
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 3 credit(s) from the following:
Students who double major and choose to complete the capstone requirement in their other major may waive the Linguistics BA capstone, and they do not need to replace the 3 credits.
·
Capstone Seminar
·
LING 4901W - Capstone Seminar in Linguistics
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
Honors Thesis
Students seeking honors in Linguistics should take LING 3052V to fulfill the Linguistics capstone. Note: LING 3051H is a prerequisite for LING 3052V. LING 3051H counts towards the elective requirement.
·
LING 3052V - Honors: Thesis
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
ANTH 3005W - Language, Culture, and Power
[SOCS, DSJ, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
LING 3052V - Honors: Thesis
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 3101W - Languages of the World
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 4302W - Phonology I
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
LING 4901W - Capstone Seminar in Linguistics
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ANTH 3015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ANTH 5015W - Biology, Evolution, and Cultural Development of Language & Music
[SOCS, WI]
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 3001/3001H/5001 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 3001/3001H/5001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 3001/3001H/5001 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4201/Ling 5201 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4201/Ling 5201 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4302W/Ling 5302 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4302W/Ling 5302 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4202/Ling 5202 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4202/Ling 5202 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4303/Ling 5303 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4303/Ling 5303 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 20.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 15.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 5105/Ling 8105 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5461/Ling 5461 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5462/Ling 5462 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 10.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 3601/5601 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 3601/5601 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4202/Ling 5202 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4202/Ling 5202 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4303/Ling 5303 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4303/Ling 5303 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Prerequisites: | 3015 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Grk 5715/Lat 5715 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3701/Tldo 3236/Venz 3705 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3702/3802 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Fren 3531/5531 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phil 4231/Phil 5231 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phil 4231/Phil 5231 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ling 4302W/Ling 5302 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Anth 3015W/Anth 5015W |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |