Degrees

A major in linguistics offers students a liberal education and prepares them for graduate study in linguistics or related fields; it also develops the verbal and analytical skills that are valuable in a wide variety of professional careers. A Bachelor of Arts with a major in Linguistics is available. A minor is also available. Graduation Plan (in pdf).

The BA in Linguistics

For more information:

Professor Vicki Carstens, Chair
316G Tate Hall
573-882-8814
CarstensV@missouri.edu

Major core requirements.............21 credit hours

Introduction to linguistics: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 1060: Human Language
LINGST 2040: Anthropological Linguistics

Language structure: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 4600: Structure of American English
LINGST 4720: Structure of Modern French
LINGST 4721: Structure of Modern Spanish

Phonetics and phonology: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 3010: American Phonetics
LINGST 3720: French Phonetics
LINGST 3721: Spanish Phonetics
LINGST 4630: Phonology
LINGST 4850: Practical Phonetics for Field Work

Syntax: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 4640: Syntax

Semantics: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 2700: Mathematical Logic
LINGST 4100: Philosophy of Language
LINGST 4110: Formal Logic

Language variation: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 3470: Culture as Communication
LINGST 3710: Survey of Minority & Creole Languages
LINGST 4400: Language and Culture
LINGST 4412: Gender, Language and Communication
LINGST 4415: Language and Discourse
LINGST 4420: Historical Linguistics
LINGST 4610: History of the English Language
LINGST 4620: Regional and Social Dialects of American English

Capstone course: one or more courses such as the following.............3 credit hours

LINGST 4730: Linguistic Theory and Language Acquisition
LINGST 4810: Psycholinguistics
LINGST 4860: Techniques in Linguistic Analysis
LINGST 4870: Field Methods in Linguistics
LINGST 4960: Special Readings
LINGST 4970: Studies in Linguistics: Capstone

Options

Topics courses such as LINGST 2001, 3001 and 4001 may also satisfy course requirements. Substitutions may be approved for courses in one of the required areas if no courses are available in that area during a student's senior year.

Department Honors

A program leading to a BA with honors is also available.

Undergraduate Minor in Linguistics

Consistent with general guidelines for a minor, the minor in linguistics consists of at least 15 credits, including an introductory linguistics course such as one of the following:

LINGST 1060: Human Language
LINGST 2040: Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics

AND additional courses in language structure, phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, or language variation.

Graduate Minor in Linguistics

A graduate minor field in Linguistics is available to graduate students. It is comprised of 12 hours, two courses of which are required and two are to be selected from a list of upper level linguistics classes:

Required:

LINGST 7630: Phonology(3).
LINGST 7640: Syntax(3)

Sample list from which two additional courses will be selected (appropriate substitutes may be accepted at the discretion of the chair):

LINGST 7420: Historical Linguistics (3)
LINGST 7415: Language and Discourse (3)
LINGST 7600: Structure of American English (3)
LINGST 7610: History of the English Language (3)
LINGST 7620: Regional and Social Dialects of American English (3)
LINGST 7650: Principles of Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
LINGST 7400: Language and Culture (3)
LINGST 7870: Field Methods in Linguistics (4)
LINGST 7860: Techniques of Linguistic Analysis (3)

Graduate degrees in linguistics are not offered. MA and PhD degree programs with emphasis in linguistics and language are available in some cooperating departments (anthropology, communication, English, Romance Languages, philosophy).

The linguistics area program is staffed by faculty from various departments. Supporting course work may include foreign languages, literature, psychology, philosophy, English, education, speech, anthropology or South Asian studies.

Financial aid, when available, is arranged through the participating departments.

For further information, contact

Professor Vicki Carstens, Chair
316G Tate Hall
573-882-8814
CarstensV@missouri.edu

Forms:

Graduation Plan
(form in pdf)

Linguistics Minor
(form in pdf)