The department offers a broad range of courses that provide a basic understanding of human language and communication. Linguistics courses examine features of language that underlie the human capacity to express concepts and communicate ideas. The courses address the connections between language, brain, culture, mind, and history. The major gives students a basic understanding of the human capacity to acquire, perceive, and produce language and of language’s role in contemporary society.
Linguistics is a superb preparation for careers that require expertise in the use of language as a means of communication, e.g., business, communications, personnel administration, teaching, health care, and social service. Many majors pursue graduate study in education, law, psychology, computer science, speech and hearing sciences, and languages.
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
BA or BGS majors must complete the following requirements:
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| |
| LING 106 | Introductory Linguistics | 3 |
| or LING 107 | Introductory Linguistics, Honors |
| |
| LING 110 | Language and Mind | 3 |
| or LING 111 | Language and Mind, Honors |
| |
| LING 305 | Phonetics I | 3 |
| |
| LING 312 | Phonology I | 3 |
| |
| LING 325 | Syntax I | 3 |
| |
| Second Language Acquisition I | |
| First Language Acquisition I | |
| |
| Psycholinguistics I | |
| Neurolinguistics I | |
| |
| Linguistic Analysis | |
| Language in Culture and Society | |
| Language in Culture and Society, Honors |
| Bilingualism | |
| Introduction to the Languages of Africa | |
| Language Variation and Change | |
| North American Indian Languages | |
| The Structure of Japanese | |
| The Structure of Chinese | |
| The Structure of: _____ | |
| |
| Phonetics II | |
| Phonology II | |
| Second Language Acquisition II | |
| Syntax II | |
| Morphology | |
| Semantics | |
| Psycholinguistics II | |
| First Language Acquisition II | |
| Field Methods in Linguistic Description | |
| Neurolinguistics II | |
| |
| Capstone: Research in Language Science | |
| Capstone: Typology-Unity and Diversity of Human Language |
Linguistics Language Proficiency Requirement
Students pursuing the B.A. degree in Linguistics must demonstrate fourth semester proficiency in a single non-English language, or third semester proficiency in a first non-English language and first semester proficiency in a second non-English language. This requirement may be met through coursework or examination by the appropriate language department.
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and GPA minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses, or 33 hours required if completing departmental honors course LING 496.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 24 junior/senior (300+) hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 24 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Linguistics can be found here: Linguistics, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Linguistics can be found here: Linguistics, or by using the left-side navigation.
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Departmental Honors
The Department of Linguistics Honors Program allows exceptional undergraduate students to work closely with faculty members on a research project. To graduate with honors in linguistics, a student must complete all requirements for the linguistics major and LING 496 Honors Essay in Linguistics (usually taken in the fall semester of the senior year). The student must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in Linguistics courses.
Contact the Linguistics Honors Director, Professor Utako Minai or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor John Gluckman for additional information. Prospective honors candidates are encouraged to select a thesis topic and thesis director by the end of the junior year.
