The Linguistics Major (*updated Spring 2010*)
We here in the Linguistics Program may be biased, but we think linguistics is an ideal major at a liberal arts college. Our program examines significant aspects of human nature at several levels and via a number of methodologies. We look at human beings as expert learners and manipulators of extraordinarily complex species-specific systems called “grammars”. We examine the nature of languages using various mathematical techniques. Students are required to exercise their creativity by actively participating in the building of elaborate theories of the underlying cognitive structures humans routinely, though subconsciously, acquire. They ask how we might understand the concept of “meaning” and its linguistic communication. They ponder what the results of linguistic analysis reveals about long-standing problems in the philosophy of language and mind. They learn to “make sense” of what at first blush appear to be quite exotic examples of this fundamental human skill. The program includes courses which investigate the quite amazing area of speech production and recognition, and we ask what the characteristics of sound and gesture systems tell us about human beings and their cognitive evolution. Students probe the use of language in artistic settings. They look at how languages develop and change over time, and how they are realized in written form.
We think students emerge from our program with enhanced versatility, intellectual bravery, and an appreciation of the value of rigor. They are unafraid of complexity, know the joy of achieving insight into hard problems, and can speak lucidly in public under pressure. In short, they are ready for anything.
Beginning with the class of 2012, we offer a regular linguistics major.
The linguistics major consists of 69 credits, distributed as follows:
I. Required Courses (51 credits)
A. Two gateway courses (12 credits)
One drawn from the following:
Linguistics 100: A&I seminar in Linguistics
Linguistics 110: Introduction to Linguistics
and
Linguistics 115: Introduction to the Theory of Syntax, offered every fall and winter
B. Two intermediate level courses (12 credits)
Linguistics 216: Morphosyntax, offered every spring (prerequisite: 115)
Linguistics 217: Phonetics and Phonology, offered every fall (prerequisite: any gateway course)
C. Three advanced courses, drawn from the following (18 credits)
Linguistics 315: Topics in Syntax, offered every other fall (prerequisite: 216)
Linguistics 316: Topics in Morphology, offered every other year (prerequisite: 216)
Linguistics 317: Topics in Phonology, offered every other winter (prerequisite: 217)
Linguistics 325: Syntax of an Unfamiliar Language, offered every other fall (prerequisite: 216)
Linguistics 340: Semantics, offered every other year (prerequisite: 216)
D. Comprehensive exercise (9 credits)
399: Senior Thesis (3 credits)
400: Comps (6 credits)
II. Elective courses (18 credits)
A. At least two in Linguistics, drawn from the following:
Asian Languages 111: Writing Systems
Linguistics 220: Case and Agreement
Linguistics 250: Linguistics and the Literary Art
Asian Languages 260: Historical Linguistics
Linguistics 265: Language and Brain
Linguistics 270: Language, Speech and Evolution
Linguistics 275: Language Acquisition
Linguistics 280: Field Methods
Linguistics 285: The Linguistics of the Japanese Writing System
Linguistics 286: The Structure of Japanese
B. At most one course in a related field, drawn from the following:
Cognitive Science 232: Cognitive Processes
Computer Science 254: Automata and Computability
Computer Science 322: Natural Language Processing
Philosophy 110: Evolution and Mind
Philosophy 210: Logic
Philosophy 220: Philosophy of Language
Philosophy 253: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Psychology 234: Psychology of Language
Psychology 364: Psychology of Reading Words
Psychology 366: Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychology 375: Language and Deception
SOAN 274: Language, Culture and Society
Of course, students may take more than one of these courses, but only one of them can count towards the Linguistics Major.
We also encourage joint (special) majors with other departments. The Linguistics Program maintains active collaborations with many other departments on campus, including Asian Languages, Biology, Classics, English, Mathematics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Psychology, and Women’s Studies.
