Linguistics (BS)

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Affiliation: School of Arts & Letters

THE MAJOR

Linguistics is the study of human language. Students in the BS Linguistics program analyze the structure of language, study the relationship between language and society, gain insights into language development and learning, explore language and the mind, and investigate language in the context of culture.

NOTE: No grade of “D” in major courses is accepted toward a Linguistics degree. An overall cumulative grade point average of 2.5 is required in the major.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN LINGUISTICS

Seniors who wish to graduate with Honors in Linguistics must meet the following requirements. Students complete a senior capstone research project in conjunction with the senior seminar course. The capstone project is judged according to eight criteria:

Command of linguistic terminology;
Knowledge of linguistic theory;
Knowledge of previous scholarly work;
Scientific treatment of data;
Analysis of data;
Sensitivity to linguistic diversity;
Connection to other academic areas and real life endeavors; and
Command of academic discourse.

If the student’s major portfolio (compiled during the senior seminar course) is deemed proficient in all outcomes and excellent in four or more, and if the student has at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and a 3.70 GPA in the major at the time of graduation, s/he is awarded Departmental Honors in Linguistics.

LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION

All Linguistics majors will develop their skills as speakers and as writers. In one of our “Research on Language in Use” courses (LING 308, LING 324, LING 325, or LING 414), students learn how to find and ethically cite appropriate sources, and to follow APA style (which is the style required in most linguistics journals). Our senior capstone seminar in both Writing- and Speaking-enhanced: every student completes an original piece of research and produces a research paper (in successive stages, receiving and responding to formative feedback on earlier drafts), and presents their research at the English & Linguistic Senior Seminar conference. The presentation is practiced prior to the conference, so that students get feedback about content, organization, visual support, and delivery.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Dialogues Requirements: 42-61 Credits

Missouri Statute Requirement: 1-4 Credits

Bachelor of Science Requirement: 6-8 Credits

At least six (6) credits from at least two of the following four areas:

A Computer Science course numbered 170 or above
A Mathematics course numbered 192 or above OR a Statistics course numbered 220 or above
A science course not used to satisfy a Dialogues requirement
One course from the following:
- PHRE 342 - Symbolic Logic Credits: 3
- PHRE 355 - Truth and Dialog Credits: 3
- PHRE 370 - Epistemology Credits: 3
- PHRE 383 - Philosophy of Language Credits: 3
- PSYC 331 - Cognitive Psychology Credits: 3
- PSYC 332 - Child Development Credits: 3

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

The Linguistics major consists of two (2) parts: Required Support and Major Requirements. Each student must complete both parts.

Part I: Required Support: 0-6 Credits

Intermediate proficiency in ONE foreign language

Elective Courses:

Select from the following list, to total at least 30 credits in the major:

CML 308 - Principles of Second Language Teaching Credit(s): 3
ENG 332 - Old English Credit(s): 4
ENG 419 - Linguistics and Literary Criticism Credit(s): 4
JPN 350 - Service Learning In Japan Credit(s): 4
LING 224 - Topics in Linguistics Credit(s): 3 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 250 - English Linguistics for the Classroom Credit(s): 3
LING 308 - Principles of Second Language Teaching Credit(s): 4
LING 315 - Structure and History of Romance Languages Credit(s): 4
LING 318 - Structure and History of English Credit(s): 4
LING 319 - Structure and History of a Language or Language Family Credit(s): 4 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 324 - Sociolinguistics Credit(s): 4 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 325 - Language and Gender Credit(s): 4
LING 401 - Undergraduate Readings in Linguistics Credit(s): 1 to 4 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 412 - Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language Credit(s): 4
LING 413 - Advanced Linguistics: Topics Credit(s): 1-4 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 414 - Language and the Mind Credit(s): 4
LING 430 - Syntax Credit(s): 4
LING 432 - Phonetics and Phonology Credit(s): 4
LING 433 - Semantics and Pragmatics Credit(s): 4
LING 451 - Internship for Linguistics Credit(s): 1 to 4 May be repeated for a total of eight credits.
LING 452 - Internship Evaluation Credit(s): 1 to 3 May be repeated for a total of three credits.
LING 510 - Studies in the English Language Credit(s): 4 May be selected for credit more than once under different topics.
LING 520 - ESOL Assessment Strategies for K-12 Learners Credit(s): 3
The following courses will also count as linguistics major elective credit (and may double-count with another major or minor), but only one course from this list may be so counted:
FREN 425 - Phonology and Advanced Grammar Credit(s): 3
GERM 432 - Grimms’ Maerchen and German Dialectology Credit(s): 3
SPAN 364 - Spanish Phonetics and Phonology Credit(s): 3
SPAN 380 - Spanish Applied Linguistics Credit(s): 3
SPAN 456 - History of the Spanish Language Credit(s): 3
SPAN 503 - Topics in Hispanic Linguistics Credit(s): 3
Students may also elect one semester of a non-Indo-European language (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, American Sign Language) or a language structurally dissimilar to English (e.g., Russian, Ancient Greek) for linguistics major elective credit (which will not double-count with the language proficiency requirement of the major).

Linguistics (BS)

THE MAJOR

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN LINGUISTICS

LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Dialogues Requirements: 42-61 Credits

Missouri Statute Requirement: 1-4 Credits

Bachelor of Science Requirement: 6-8 Credits

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

Part I: Required Support: 0-6 Credits

Part II: Major Requirements: 30 Credits

Select one of the following Structure and History of Language Courses:

Select one of the following Research on Language in Use courses:

Select two of the following Core Areas of Analysis:

Elective Courses:

Electives to Total: 120 Credits