Linguistics, BA

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What Is the Study of Linguistics?

Linguistics, the science of language, is an interdisciplinary field which relates to the diversity of the cultures and languages of the world. It is an integral part of most serious pursuits dealing with aspects of language study and analysis. As the boundaries of the world change, an understanding of individual languages and cultures becomes increasingly important. Communication in this complex society requires knowledge of the workings of languages, as well as their interrelationship with their respective cultures.

Why Should I Consider this Major?

All Linguistics majors are expected to acquire knowledge of the functions of language at various levels and knowledge of the techniques and methods used in language analysis. A student of Linguistics will thereby significantly advance his or her appreciation of linguistic and cultural diversity. Students who major in linguistics acquire valuable intellectual skills, including analytic reasoning and argumentation, and learn how to study language scientifically. This means making insightful observations, formulating and testing clear hypotheses, making arguments and drawing conclusions, and communicating findings to a wider community. Linguistics majors are therefore well equipped for a variety of jobs and graduate-level programs.

How to Declare:

To declare, a student must have completed the following requirements:

  • LING 201 or ENGL 370 or TESL 401 with a grade of “B-” or better
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.

Students should contact the Linguistics Director when ready to declare the major.

Coursework

  • For native speakers of Indo-European languages, one year of a non-IE language (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, ASL, or other) or second year of an Indo-European language; alternative arrangements may be made for native speakers of non-Indo-European languages (12-15 credits)
  • One course from:
    • LING 201 Introduction to Linguistics Science (5)
    • ENG 370 Introduction to Language (5)
    • TESL 401 Introduction to English Linguistics for TESOL (4)
  • One course from:
    • LING 204 Sociolinguistics (5)
    • ENG 270 Introduction to Language and Society (5)
  • LING 314 Phonetics (4)
  • LING 315 Phonology (4)
  • LING 321 Syntax I (4)
  • LING 322 Syntax II (4)
  • LING 331 Semantics (4)
  • Two LING 400-level courses (LING 425 cannot count towards the major)
  • LING 099 Linguistics Colloquium A presentation or co-presentation at one of the scheduled student colloquia is a requirement for completion of the major. Students are required to enroll for LING 099 during the quarter in which the presentation is given.
  • Additional credit concentration with at least one additional upper division course in related department under advisement:
    • English option
      • Eng 370 (replaces Ling 201) (5)
      • Selected courses (may include Eng 436, 438, 439, 442) under departmental advisement
    • Anthropology option
      • ANTH 247 Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (5)
      • Electives under advisement to include anthropology linguistics courses
      • ANTH 347 The Ethnography of Communication (5)
      • ANTH 447 Anthropological Semiotics (5)
        • and select sections of ANTH 490 (5)
    • Communication Sciences and Disorders option
      • Selected courses under departmental advisement from:
        • CSD 352 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms (5)
        • CSD 353 Speech Science (5)
        • CSD 354 Speech and Language Development in Children (3)
        • CSD 356 Phonetics (3)
        • CSD 361 Language Disorders, Birth to Five (4)
        • CSD 373 Introduction to Phonology (3)
        • CSD 451 Language Disorders II (3)
    • Computer Sciences option
      • Applicable courses in computational linguistics under departmental advisement
      • Additional work under advisement
    • Modern and Classical Languages option
      • 314 course in the language (4 credits)
      • Additional credits under advisement; this may include a second foreign language, additional coursework in Linguistics or LANG 410
    • Philosophy option
      • PHIL 102 Introduction to Logic (3)
      • PHIL 202 Intermediate Logic (3)
      • PHIL 403 Philosophy of Language (3)
    • Psychology option
      • PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (5)
      • PSY 210 Cognition (5)
      • PSY 220 Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (5)
      • PSY 301 Overview of Research Methods (5)
      • PSY 318 Psychology of Language (5)
    • TESOL/Bilingual Education option
      • Completion of the TESOL/Bilingual Education Certificate or Minor, coursework under advisement.

GURs:

These courses are offered within this major and may be used to satisfy GUR or Writing Proficiency Requirements.

  • QSR: PHIL 102
  • HUM: ENG 270
  • SSC: LING 201, 204; ANTH 247; PSY 101
The Linguistics Program offers a multidisciplinary degree that prepares students for a variety of professional careers. Students can specialize in both applied and theoretical aspects of language study, and combine linguistic study with specialization in a dozen world languages, including English.

- Edward Vajda, Faculty

It was both my interest in Linguistics and the reputation of the Linguistics program at Western Washington University that motivated me to pursue the study of a field that has long been an area of strong interest for me. The Linguistics program has provided me with an outstanding level of academic challenge, intellectual stimulation, and the drive to continue my pursuit of the study of linguistics to the next level of graduate study. The professors who come together to offer the Linguistics courses have shown me an amazing level of dedication, expertise and crucial enthusiasm that have made my time studying at Western Washington in pursuit of a Linguistics degree seem like the best possible decision I could have made. The quality of this program has exceeded my admittedly high expectations, and I feel very fortunate to continue to study under the guidance of the talented, hard-working, and supportive team of professors in the Linguistics program.

- Scott Cawthon, Student

Notable Alumni

Chelsea Ashcraft

Accepted into graduate school at the University of Kansas to study Romance Linguistics.
 

Jeff Thiele

Microsoft

Sample Careers

  • Higher Education research and teaching:
    • linguistics
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • speech sciences
    • anthropology
    • computer science
    • English
    • modern and classical languages
  • K-12 Teaching (World Languages, ESL, literacy)
  • Computer Industry (speech recognition, natural language processing, AI)
  • Translating and Interpreting
  • Language documentation and fieldwork
  • Publishing (editing, writing)
  • Lexicography (dictionary research and editing)
  • Law (forensic linguistics)

Department

Contact

Linguistics Director:

Edward Vajda
360-650-4856
Miller Hall 217D
edward.vajda@wwu.edu