Linguistics
Linguistics involves the study of language in many domains and from multiple perspectives. The core courses analyze speech sounds, words and the structure of language(s).
About This Major
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Minor and Certificate Program: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: www.lin.ufl.edu/undergrad.html
Overview
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.
Coursework for the Major
Students must earn a grade of C or higher within two attempts in a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Required Coursework
- Three required core courses (9 credits)
- Five or more 3000/4000-level linguistics classes (15-24 credits)
- Linguistics courses offered by the program or by an outside department (0-9 credits)
- Students may take six credits from a list of linguistically-oriented courses or a two-semester sequence of a non-Romance or non-Germanic language.
- 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) |
Choose five or more (15-24 credits)
| LIN 3611 Languages and Dialects (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| 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 4605 World Englishes |
| LIN 4656 Gender and Language (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4701 Psycholinguistics (prereqs: LIN 2000 or LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4702 Methods in Psycholinguistics (prereqs: LIN 4701, STA 2023 or equivalent) |
| LIN 4721 Second Language Acquisition (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4784 Writing Systems |
| LIN 4790 Brain and Language (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4803 Semantics (prereq: LIN 3010) |
| LIN 4930 Special Topics in Linguistics (prereq: LIN 3010) Note: Prerequisite changing soon to LIN 4803, PHI 2100 or PHI 3130 |
| LIN 4850 Formal Semantics (prereq: LIN 4803) |
| LIN 4905 Individual Studies |
| LIN 4970 Senior Thesis |
| TSL 3360 Introduction to TESL |
| TSL 3378 Pronunciation for TESL (prereq: TSL 3360) Note: Prerequisite changing soon to LIN 3010 |
Electives - Offered by the Program or Other Departments (0-9 credits)
| ARA 3840 History of the Arabic Language (LLC) |
| ARA 4820 Structure of an Arabic Dialect (LLC) |
| CHI 4850 Structure of Chinese (LLC) |
| ENG 4060 History of the English Language (English) |
| FRE 4780 Introduction to French Phonetics and Phonology (LLC) |
| FRE 4850 Introduction to the Structure of French (LLC) |
| GER 4450 German Phonetics and Pronunciation (LLC) |
| GER 4840 History of the German Language (LLC) |
| GER 4850 The Structure and Stylistics of German (LLC) |
| GEW 4930 Seminar in Germanic Languages and Literatures (LLC, with LIN approval) |
| HEB 3130 Biblical Hebrew (LLC) |
| JPN 3730 Language in Japanese Society (LLC) |
| JPN 4850 Structure of Japanese (LLC) |
| POR 4770 Portuguese Phonetics and Phonology (S and P) |
| POR 4840 History of the Portuguese Language (S and P) |
| RUS 4700 Structure of Russian (LLC) |
| RUS 4840 History of the Russian Language (LLC) |
| SPN 4780 Spanish Phonetics (S and P) |
| SPN 4822 Introduction to Sociolinguistics of Spain and Spanish America (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) |
| SSA 4750 Structure of an African Language (LLC) |
Electives - Related Courses or Foreign Language Courses (0-6 credits)
| 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 (PHY) | |
| SPA 3002 Survey of Communication Disorders (CD) | |
| SPA 3011 Speech Acoustics (CD) | |
| SPA 3032 Fundamentals of Hearing (CD) | |
| SPA 4004 Language Development (CD) | |
| SPA 4104 Neural Basis of Communication (CD) | |
| SPA 4402 Language Development and Disorders (CD) | |
| SPC 3331 Nonverbal Communication (CD) | |
| SPC 4301 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (W and O) | |
| SPC 4425 Small Group Communication (W and O) | |
| SPC 4710 Patterns of Intercultural Communication (W and O) | |
| Foreign Language | |
| A two-semester sequence of a non-Romance/non-Germanic language | |
| Appropriate languages include: Akan, American Sign Language (3-semester sequence), Amharic, Arabic, Czech, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, Vietnamese, Wolof, Xhosa, Yoruba, etc. | |
Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
Minors are offered in linguistics and in teaching English as a second language. An undergraduate certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language is also offered by UF Linguistics.
Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate: UF Linguistics offers an undergraduate certificate in teaching English as a second language. The certificate is designed for students who wish to teach English as a Second Language to adults, either overseas or in the US. The certificate is open to non-linguistics majors as well. Additional information on the certificate is available on the department website.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Maintain 2.0 UF GPA
Semester 3
- Complete 1 course in a foreign language sequence or a linguistics course with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional course in a foreign language or a linguistics course with a 2.75 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete LIN 3010 and the beginning sequence of a foreign language (if 4-3-3 option) with a 2.75 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Recommended semester plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math 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).
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language (non-Romance or non-Germanic recommended) | 4-5 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Electives | 7-4 |
| Foreign language (non-Romance or non-Germanic recommended) | 3-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 16-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| Electives (or non-Romance or non-Germanic foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 6 |
| Mathematics (PHI 2100 or 3130 recommended) (GE-M) | 3 |
| Physical Science (GE-P) | 3 |
| Science laboratory (GE-P or B) | 1 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Electives (LIN 3010, if possible) | 6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| LIN 3010 Introduction to Linguistics (GE-H) | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level outside of Linguistics) | 9 |
| Linguistics or linguistic-related course (3000 level) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| Choose two: LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language or LIN 3460 Structure of Human Language or Linguistics-related course (3000 level or above) | 6 |
| Elective (3000 level outside of Linguistics) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 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 (two at 4000 level) | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Electives | 6 |
| Linguistics courses (three at 4000 level) | 9 |
| Total | 15 |