Linguistics Major, B.A.
Courses in linguistics are intended to open up systematic perspectives on the nature of human language by means of detailed studies of language structure, language change and language acquisition, the sound system of language, and the syntactic/semantic system of language. The major is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of modern linguistics for the student seeking a general education in the liberal arts as well as for the student preparing for graduate study.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the linguistics program, students should be able to:
- Use a linguistic analysis method (i.e., a formal model or a framework) correctly and apply it to a novel set of linguistic data
- Formulate and test hypotheses on the basis of a linguistic data set or information about language-related behavior
- Express their knowledge of some linguistic topic clearly and effectively in a written assignment of term-paper length
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Course | ||
| LING 101 |  Introduction to Language (with a grade of C or better) H | 3 |
| Core Requirements | ||
| One course each from three of the following four pairs (total of three courses): 1 | 9 | |
| Phonology | ||
or LING 520 | Linguistic Phonetics | |
| Syntax | ||
or LING 537 | Semantic Theory I | |
| Linguistic Variation and Language Change | ||
or LING 541 | Sociolinguistics | |
| Language Acquisition and Development | ||
or LING 427 | Morphology | |
| Five additional linguistics courses chosen from the following lists: | 15 | |
Up to five LING courses numbered 200 to 699, excluding LING 400 2 | ||
No more than two courses chosen from: | ||
| Introduction to the Languages of Africa | ||
| America's Threatened Languages | ||
| Chinese Language and Society | ||
| Models of Languages and Computation | ||
| History of the English Language | ||
| Grammar of Current English | ||
| History of the German Language | ||
| Structure of German | ||
| Old Norse I (Old Icelandic) | ||
| Old Norse II (Old Icelandic) | ||
| Variation in German | ||
| Problems in Germanic Linguistics | ||
| History of the Italian Language | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| History of the Portuguese Language | ||
| Psychology of Language | ||
| Afro-Hispanic Language Contacts | ||
| Guaraní Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to Phonetics | ||
| Speech Science | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Language, and Hearing Mechanisms | ||
| Introductory Audiology I | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
- 1
With the instructor’s permission, students may take LING 523 instead of LING 200, LING 530 instead of LING 201, LING 525 instead of LING 202 or LING 528 instead of LING 203. Credit will not be granted for both the 200 level course and its graduate level counterpart noted here. However, students may receive credit for both courses in the pairs noted above (LING 200/LING 520; LING 201/LING 537; LING 202/LING 541; LING 203/LING 427), one as a core class and the other as an elective.
- 2
No more than six (6) combined credit hours from LING 395, LING 493, and LING 495 can be counted toward the major (with no more than 3 credit hours of LING 493).
Thus, the major requires nine courses, including LING 101. Students majoring in linguistics may concentrate entirely in linguistics, or they may select their major courses to include a field related to linguistics, such as linguistic anthropology, computer processing of language data, philosophy of language, psychology of language, sociology of language, speech and hearing sciences, or study of a particular language or language family. Any such second-field option should be planned in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students interested in a career in speech pathology may pursue a minor in speech and hearing sciences through the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the UNC School of Medicine.
Students interested in the linguistics major are encouraged to consult with the department’s director of undergraduate studies. Additional information about the major is provided on the department’s Web site; select the link for the undergraduate program.
Linguistics (LING) course descriptions.
Dual Bachelor’s–Master’s Degree Program
The dual B.A.–M.A. program offers highly motivated undergraduates the opportunity to earn an M.A. in less than the usual time by completing some of the M.A. requirements while still an undergraduate. Students must have a grade point average of 3.3 overall and 3.5 in linguistics. Students interested in pursuing this program should consult the department’s director of undergraduate studies, Professor David Mora-Marín, to assess feasibility.
Additional information can be found on the program website.
Special Opportunities
Honors in Linguistics
Any linguistics major with a cumulative total grade point average of at least 3.3 and at least 3.5 within the linguistics major is eligible to attempt a degree with honors in linguistics. To graduate with honors, a student must work with a faculty supervisor, enroll in LING 691H and LING 692H during the senior year, and complete and defend an honors thesis according to departmental and Honors Carolina requirements. Interested students should contact the honors advisor, Professor Katya Pertsova, during their junior year.
Departmental Involvement
Many linguistics majors and minors join Underling, the undergraduate linguistics club, which sponsors a variety of educational, outreach, social, and career-development events each year.
Study Abroad
Students in linguistics are encouraged to consider study abroad. Courses that can be applied toward the linguistics major and minor are available through many of the programs administered by the Study Abroad Office.
Internship Course
Students interested in receiving credit for participating in an internship that involves a linguistic component can enroll in LING 493. LING 493 can be applied towards elective credit in the major or minor. The work includes an academic component. Please contact the director of undergraduate studies well in advance to discuss options for internships and specific requirements.
Undergraduate Awards
The Marc Adam Eisdorfer Award recognizes the graduating senior judged most outstanding in academic achievement in linguistics. It was established in 1998 by Sandra Eisdorfer in memory of her son, a graduate of the class of 1984.
Department Programs
Major
Minor
Graduate Programs
Chair
Misha Becker
