Linguistics Major - Language Studies

The Language Studies major provides students with a solid foundation in linguistics combined with the study of a language of choice. Students acquire general skills in linguistic analysis, which are in turn applied to the language of choice. Students deepen their knowledge of the language through literature classes, and gain interdisciplinary perspectives from area studies classes in other departments focusing on the country or setting where the language is spoken. Languages that students have selected in the past include American Sign Language, French, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
It is recommended that language studies majors participate in education abroad.

*Students whose language of concentration is American Sign Language will need to consult the faculty advisor for individualized requirements and substitutes for some classes; these students may also consider an exchange year at Gallaudet University.

Major requirements (Worksheet):

• Completion of 12 upper division courses with C- or better (exception: one quarter of LIGN199 taken for pass/no pass may count toward the major)
• Two years of language instruction in the language of concentration, or equivalent proficiency
• Lower-division prerequisites for upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration

A. 6 core courses:
i. LIGN 101 - Introduction to the Study of Language

ii. 3 courses chosen from:
LIGN 110: Phonetics
LIGN 111: Phonology
LIGN 120: Morphology
LIGN 121: Syntax
LIGN 130: Semantics
LIGN 145: Pidgins and Creoles
LIGN 150: Historical Linguistics

Students are advised to take these classes as early as possible, especially LIGN101, which is a prerequisite for most linguistics classes. LIGN110 is required for LIGN111, and LIGN111 and LIGN121 are recommended for LIGN120.

iii. 1 structure of language X course chosen from:
LIGN 140: The Structure of American Sign Language
LIGN 141: Language Structures (languages selected vary)
LIGN 143: The Structure of Spanish

If no such course is available, the student must consult with the undergraduate advisor regarding a possible substitution.

iv. 1 additional upper-division elective LIGN course.

B. 2 upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration
 
C. 4 upper-division linguistics, literature or area studies courses. Literature and Area studies courses must deal with the language of concentration or the corresponding culture/area studies, subject to approval of the faculty advisor.
 

Approved courses for this requirement include the following. Note: some of these courses may have prerequisites:

American Sign Language (ASL)

COHI 124: Voice: Deaf People in America

Chinese

ANRG 170/ ANSC 136: Traditional Chinese Society
ANRG 173/ ANSC 137: Chinese Popular Religion
HIEA 120: Classical Chinese Philosophy and Culture
HIEA 121: Medieval Chinese Culture and Society
HIEA 122: Late Imperial Chinese Culture and Society
HIEA 131: History of the Modern Chinese Revolution: 1911–1949
HIEA 132: History of the People’s Republic of China
HIEA 133: Twentieth Century China: Cultural History
HIEA 137: Women and Family in Chinese History
HIEA 167: Special Topics in Modern Chinese History
POLI 130B: Politics in the People’s Republic of China
POLI 131C: The Chinese Revolution
POLI 132B: Politics and Revolution in China and Japan
SOCD 188B: Chinese Society

French

HIEU 129: Paris, Past and Present
HIEU 131: The French Revolution: 1789–1814
POLI 120C: Politics in France

German

HIEU 132: German Politics and Culture: 1648–1848
HIEU 154: Modern German History
HIEU 155: Modern Austria
HIEU 177: Special Topics in Modern German Thought
PHIL 106: Kent
PHIL 107: Hegel
POLI 120B: The German Political System
POLI 120D: Germany: Before, During, and After Division

Hebrew

ANRG 150/ ANAR 142: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Israel
HINE 102: The Jews in Their Homeland in Antiquity
HINE 103: The Jewish Diaspora in Antiquity
HINE 170: Special Topics in Jewish History
HINE 186: Special Topics in Middle Eastern History
POLI 121: Middle East Politics

Italian

HIEU 119: Modern Italy: From Unification to the Present
HIEU 120: The Renaissance in Italy
HIEU 121: Early Modern Italy
POLI 120I: Politics in Italy

Japanese

ECON 163: Japanese Economy
HIEA 110: Japan Through the Twelfth Century
HIEA 112: Japan: From the Mid-Nineteenth Century through the U.S. Occupation
HIEA 113: The Fifteen-Year War in Asia and the Pacific
HIEA 114: Postwar Japan
HIEA 115: Social and Cultural History of Twentieth-Century Japan
HIEA 116: Japan-U.S. Relations
HIEA 160: Colloquium on Modern Japanese History
POLI 132B: Politics and Revolution in China and Japan
POLI 133A: Japanese Politics: A Developmental Perspective
POLI 133E: Public Policy in Japan

Russian

HIEU 134: Russia: Ninth Century to 1855
HIEU 156: Russia: 1855 to the Present
HIEU 178: Special Topics in Modern Russian History
POLI 126AB: Politics and Economics in Eastern Europe
POLI 130AA: The Soviet Successor States
POLI 130AC: Seminar: Post-Soviet Politics
POLI 130AD: The Politics of the Russian Revolution

Spanish

COSF 140C: Comparative Media Systems: Latin America and the Caribbean
COCU 110: Cinema in Latin America
ECON 161: Global Integration of Latin America
ECON 162: Economics of Mexico
ETHN 129/USP 135: Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
ETHN 132: Chicano Dramatic Literature
ETHN 133: Hispanic-American Dramatic Literature
ETHN 135A: Early Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1848–1960
ETHN 135B: Contemporary Latino/a- Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1960 to Present
ETHN 136: Topics in Chicano/a-Latino/a Cultures
ETHN 138: Chicano/a and Latino/a Poetry
ETHN 145: Spanish Language in the United States
ETHN 180: Topics in Mexican American History
HIEU 138: Imperial Spain, 1476–1808
HIEU 151: Spain since 1808
HILA 100: Latin America-Colonial Transformations
HILA 101: Latin America: The Construction of Independence 1810–1898
HILA 102: Latin America in the Twentieth Century
HILA 103: Revolution in Modern Latin America
HILA 108: Economic History: Continuity and Change in Latin America
HILA 112: Economic and Social History of the Andean Region
HILA 113: Lord and Peasant in Latin America
HILA 114: Dictatorship in Latin America
HILA 115: The Latin American City, A History
HILA 116: Encounter of Two Worlds: Early Colonial Latin America
HILA 120: History of Argentina
HILA 121: History of Brazil
HLA 122: Cuba: From Colony to Socialist Republic
HILA 126: From Columbus to Castro: Caribbean Culture and Society
HILA 131: A History of Mexico
HILA 132: A History of Contemporary Mexico
HILA 161: History of Women in Latin America
HILA 162: Special Topics in Latin American History
HILA 163/263: The History of Chile, 1880–Present
HILA 164/264: Women’s Work and Family Life in Latin America
LATI 120: Special Topics in Latin American Studies
THHS 109: African Heritage in Contemporary Drama: African, Caribbean, and African-American
THHS 110: Chicano Dramatic Literature
THHS 111: Hispanic-American Dramatic Literature
POLI 134B: Politics in Mexico
POLI 134D: Selected Topics in Latin American Politics
POLI 134I: Politics in the Southern Cone of Latin America
POLI 146A: The U.S. and Latin America: Political and Economic Relations
SOCC 151M: Chicanos in American Society
SOCD 188D: Latin America: Society and Politics