Linguistics, BA

All programs

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics

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Typical path

+ First Year Seminar

+ Foreign language

+ SBC

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC

+ Foreign language

+ SBC ×2

+ Foreign language

+ SBC ×2

+ SBC

+ Upper-division SBC ×2

+ Upper-division SBC ×3

+ Upper-division Elective ×2

+ SBC ×2

+ Upper-division elective ×3

+ Upper-division Elective

All options

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Eight Additional Linguistics Courses

Pick 8 courses · 46 courses to choose from

100s

200s

300s

400s

Core Linguistics Courses

LIN 101Human Language3 cr
LIN 202Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology4 cr
LIN 203Introduction to Syntax and Morphology4 cr
LIN 431The Structure of an Uncommonly Taught Language4 cr

Catalog text

LIN 101 - Human Language 3 credits; LIN 202 - Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology 4 credits; LIN 203 - Introduction to Syntax and Morphology 4 credits; LIN 431 - The Structure of an Uncommonly Taught Language 4 credits

Eight Additional Linguistics Courses

Choose 8 courses

LIN courses

Excluding LIN 344, LIN 444, LIN 449, LIN 450, LIN 451, LIN 452, LIN 454, LIN 475, LIN 476, LIN 488, LIN 495, LIN 496; courses already counted toward “Core Linguistics Courses”, “Writing in Linguistics”.

At least 6 from LIN courses numbered 300 and above (excluding LIN 344, LIN 444, LIN 449, LIN 450, LIN 451, LIN 452, LIN 454, LIN 475, LIN 476, LIN 488, LIN 495, LIN 496).

At most 2 courses from LIN 355, LIN 356.

Catalog text

Eight additional linguistics courses, of which 6 must be upper-division (LIN 355 and/or LIN 356 may be taken up to two times for this requirement. LIN 344, LIN 444, LIN 449, LIN 450, LIN 451, LIN 452, LIN 454, LIN 475, LIN 476, LIN 488, LIN 495 and LIN 496 may not be used for elective credit)

Writing in Linguistics

LIN 405Writing in Linguistics2 cr

Catalog text

LIN 405 - Writing in Linguistics 2 credits In the junior or senior year, students must successfully complete LIN 405, a two-credit course. LIN 405 satisfies the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) learning objective WRTD.

Foreign Language

Two semesters of foreign language, or the equivalent, after completing DEC Entry Skill 3/LANG, or the equivalent. These may be either in the same language with which the entry skill was met, or in one or two other languages.

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Total Linguistics Credits

Completion of the major requires 41 credits in linguistics

Catalog text

Completion of the major requires 41 credits in linguistics and two semesters, or the equivalent, of a foreign language in addition to the University's language proficiency requirement.

Outside Linguistics-Related Courses

Students may count up to two linguistics-related courses from other departments toward the Linguistics major, with prior permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Catalog text

Students may count up to two linguistics-related courses from other departments toward the Linguistics major, with prior permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Sample schedule

Year 1 · Fall14 cr

First Year Seminar 1011
WRT 101Introductory Writing Workshop3
LIN 101Human Language3
Foreign language 1114
SBC3

Year 1 · Spring15 cr

First Year Seminar 1021
WRT 102Intermediate Writing Workshop3
SBC3
Foreign language 1124
LIN 201Phonetics4

Year 2 · Fall15 cr

LIN 307Sociolinguistics3
Foreign language 2113
LIN 345Writing Systems of the World3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 2 · Spring16 cr

LIN 356Topics in Language and Life in Europe3
LIN 311Syntax4
Foreign language 2123
SBC3
SBC3

Year 3 · Fall16 cr

LIN 330Language Acquisition3
LIN 301Phonology4
SBC3
Upper-division SBC3
Upper-division SBC3

Year 3 · Spring15 cr

LIN 405Writing in Linguistics2
LIN 431The Structure of an Uncommonly Taught Language4
Upper-division SBC3
Upper-division SBC3
Upper-division SBC3

Year 4 · Fall15 cr

LIN 425Special Topics in Linguistics3
Upper-division Elective3
Upper-division Elective3
SBC3
SBC3

Year 4 · Spring15 cr

LIN 426Special Topics in Linguistics3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division elective3
Upper-division Elective3

Program rules

Minimum grade
C or higher in “Core Linguistics Courses”, “Eight Additional Linguistics Courses”, “Writing in Linguistics”.

Notes

Admission: Honors: Linguistics majors with a 3.50 GPA in the major may graduate with departmental honors by submitting and presenting a senior thesis. A written thesis proposal must be submitted to a sponsoring faculty member in the semester before the senior year. LIN 495 and LIN 496 (two semesters, six credits total) are taken in addition to the major's credits. Honors are recommended if the thesis is accepted and the student keeps a 3.50 GPA in linguistics courses.
Note: TESOL teacher certification track (optional, not modeled as a requirement): Requires LIN 101, LIN 202 and/or LIN 203 with a grade of C or higher, an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA in the major of 3.0 for admission. The track adds LIN 307, LIN 405, LIN 431, five additional 3-credit linguistics courses (four upper-division), two years of language study, LIN 375 with LIN 449, LIN 378 with LIN 450, LIN 451, LIN 452, LIN 454, PSY 327, CEF 347, SSE 350 and LIN 344. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall and in the major, and TESOL-certification courses may not be taken Grade/Pass/No Credit. Consult the Director of TESOL Teacher Preparation and the Undergraduate Program Director.
Note: Five-Year Accelerated BA/MA in TESOL and Five-Year Accelerated BA/MAT in Linguistics and French, Italian, or Spanish are separate programs and are not modeled here. The BA/MA requires a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.3 in linguistics courses, an essay, two faculty recommendations, and interviews, and applications are due in the second semester of the sophomore year.
Advising: Many majors pursue a second major in a language or an adjacent field such as psychology or computer science. Students should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Jenny Singleton.
SBC: LIN 405 satisfies the WRTD learning objective.