Linguistics studies language in many domains and from multiple perspectives. The core courses analyze speech sounds, words, and the structure of language(s).
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
The discipline also covers old and new languages, speech in ordinary conversation, the workplace and the classroom. Child acquisition of languages and adult acquisition of a second language are important topics. Linguists also study language in relation to gender, the brain and computers, and the interrelationship of languages and dialects.
Linguists analyze and contribute to mass communication, they testify about language meaning and use in the courtroom, and they analyze natural language processing. Their expertise helps all people communicate more effectively: patients and doctors, spouses and partners, students and teachers. Linguists also teach non-native speakers to speak, read, write and comprehend English and other languages.
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Coursework for the Major
Students must earn minimum grades of C within two attempts in a minimum of 33 credits.
Required Coursework
- LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics (3 credits)
- LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language (3 credits)
- LIN 3460 Structure of Human Language (3 credits)
- Linguistics electives at the 3000/4000-level (15 credits)
- Approved electives from a combination of the following options: (9 credits)
-
Additional
Linguistics electives at the 3000/4000-level
- Linguistics electives offered by other departments
- Up to 6 of the 9 credits may come from language-related courses OR a two-semester sequence of a non-Romance or non-Germanic language. (No more than six 6 language credits will apply to the major.)
Consult the undergraduate coordinator or program director for emphasis areas and electives. Courses must be completed at UF; if taken at another accredited university, they must be approved by the department.
Required Core Courses (9 credits)
| LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics |
| LIN 3201 The Sounds of Human Language (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 3460 The Structure of Human Language (prereq: LIN 3010) |
Linguistics Electives (15-24 credits)
| LIN 3680 Modern English Structure (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4033 Roots of English (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4205 Phonetics (prereqs: LIN 3010, 3201) |
| LIN 4320 Phonology (prereqs: LIN 3010, 3201) |
| LIN 4400 Morphology (prereqs: LIN 3010, 3460) |
| LIN 4500 Syntax (prereqs: LIN 3010, 3460) |
| LIN 4600 Sociolinguistics (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4656 Gender and Language (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4701 Psycholinguistics (prereqs: LIN 2000 or LIN 3010 or SPA 4004) |
| LIN 4702C Methods in Psycholinguistics (prereqs: LIN 4701, STA 2023 or equivalent) |
| LIN 4721 Second Language Acquisition (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4784 Writing Systems (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4790 Brain and Language (prereq: LIN 3010 or SPA 4004) |
| LIN 4803 Semantics (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4820 Meaning and Use (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4850 Formal Semantics (prereq: LIN 4803, PHI 2100 or PHI 3130) |
| LIN 4905 Individual Studies |
| LIN 4930 Special Topics in Linguistics (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4970 Senior Thesis |
| TSL 3360 Introduction to TESL |
| TSL 3378 Pronunciation for TESL (prereq: LIN 3010) |
Linguistics Electives Offered Other Departments (up to 9 credits)
| ARA 4850 Structure of Standard Arabic (LLC, prereq LIN 3010 or ARA 1131) |
| ARA 4930 Special topics in Arabic (LLC, with LIN approval) |
| FRE 4780 Introduction to French Phonetics and Phonology (LLC) |
| FRE 4822 Sociolinguistics of French (LLC) |
| FRE 4850 Introduction to the Structure of French (LLC) |
| GER 4850 The Structure and Stylistics of German (LLC, with LIN approval) |
| GEW 4930 Seminar in Germanic Languages and Literatures (LLC, with LIN approval) |
| HAT 3700 Introduction to Haitian Creole Linguistics (LLC) |
| JPN 3730 Language in Japanese Society (LLC) |
| JPN 4850 Structure of Japanese (LLC) |
| RUS 4700 Structure of the Russian Language (LLC) |
| SPN 4780 Spanish Phonetics (S and P) |
| SPN 4822 Sociolinguistics of the Spanish-Speaking World (S and P) |
| SPN 4830 Introduction to Spanish and Spanish-American Dialectology (S and P) |
| SPN 4840 Introduction to the History of the Spanish Language (S and P) |
| SPN 4850 Structure of Spanish (S and P) |
| SPN 4930 Revolving Topics in Linguistics and Culture (S and P, with LIN approval) |
| SSA 3730 Language in African Society (LLC) |
Language-Related or Foreign Language Courses (up to 6 credits may apply to Electives)
| ANT 3620 Language and Culture (ANT) |
| DEP 3053 Developmental Psychology (PSY) |
| DEP 4163 Cognitive Development (PSY) |
| DEP 4930 Psychology of Language Development (PSY) |
| EXP 3604 Cognitive Psychology (PSY) |
| PHI 4220 Philosophy of Language (PPY) |
| SPA 3002 Survey of Communication Disorders (SLHS) |
| SPA 3011 Speech Acoustics (SLHS) |
| SPA 3032 Fundamentals of Hearing (SLHS) |
| SPA 4004 Language Development (SLHS) |
| SPA 4104 Neural Basis of Communication (SLHS) |
| SPA 4402 Language Development and Disorders (SLHS) |
| SPC 3331 Nonverbal Communication (W and O) |
| SPC 4425 Small Group Communication (W and O) |
| SPC 4710 Patterns of Intercultural Communication (W and O) |
| OR |
| Foreign Language Courses |
| A two-semester sequence of a non-Romance/non-Germanic language. Students must complete two consecutive semesters of the same language for the courses to count towards the major. Appropriate languages include: Akan, American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Czech, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Lingala, Polish, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, Vietnamese, Wolof, Xhosa and Yoruba. |
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Combined Degree Program
Linguistics offers a combined-degree program that allows students to obtain a B.A. and an M.A. in five years. Students enroll in four graduate courses in their senior year (LIN 6084, LIN 6323, LIN 6402 and LIN 6501) that count toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees. Students need to apply by February 15 of the spring semester of their junior year. For more information, refer to http://lin.ufl.edu/undergraduate.
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Course Details
Linguistics offers a variety of courses and students are free to pick any combination. Suggested specializations within the major include:
- Theoretical linguistics, covering the theory of sounds (phonology), word structure (morphology), sentences (syntax) and meaning (semantics): LIN 4320, LIN 4400, LIN 4500, LIN 4803, LIN 4850
- Human language processing, dealing with how language is processed in the mind and brain -- LIN 4701, LIN 4205, LIN 4702C, LIN 4790
- Sociolinguistics, dealing with how language works in society: LIN 4600, LIN 4656
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Overseas Studies
Some study abroad programs that offer linguistics courses are the University of Mannheim (Germany), University of Haifa (Israel), University of Madrid (Spain), and the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands). For more information and programs, contact the linguistics undergraduate advisor.
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Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
Linguistics students may want to consider a minor or certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. More information is available on the department website.
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Research
Students are encouraged to engage in individual study with a faculty member or to volunteer in a laboratory. More information.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
- Complete 1 foreign language or linguistics course with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional foreign language or linguistics course with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete LIN 3010 with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
Biological or Physical Science
State Core GE-B or P |
3 |
| Electives |
7 |
Foreign language
Non-Romance or non-Germanic recommended |
3-5 |
| Total |
16-18 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
Electives or
Non-Romance or non-Germanic foreign language if 4-3-3 option |
6 |
Biological or Physical Science
Area not taken in semester 2; GE-B or GE-P |
3 |
Mathematics
PHI 2100, PHI 3130, or STA 2023 recommended; GE-M |
3 |
Science laboratory
GE-P or B |
1 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics
GE-H |
3 |
Biological Science
GE-B |
3 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language or
LIN 3460 Structure of Human Language |
3 |
Electives
3000 level, outside of linguistics |
9 |
Linguistics or linguistics-related course
3000 level or above |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language or
LIN 3460 Structure of Human Language |
3 |
Elective
3000 level, outside of linguistics |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
Linguistics or linguistics-related course
3000 level or above |
3 |
Physical Science
GE-P |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
Electives
3000 level, outside of linguistics |
6 |
Linguistics course
3000 level or above |
3 |
Linguistics courses
3000 level or above, 4000 level recommended |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Electives |
6 |
Linguistics courses
3000 level or above, 4000 level recommended |
9 |
| Total |
15 |
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Related Linguistics Programs
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