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Linguistics

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Overview

Linguistics is a cross-disciplinary program designed to meet the needs of students interested in various aspects of language—its structure, history, varieties, meanings, and uses. The program includes courses in anthropology, computer science, English, psychology, and world languages and cultures, thus providing a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of human language.

Courses in linguistics serve as background for students interested in any career that involves working with language, such as teaching English as a first and as a second language, second language studies, speech-language pathology, cross-cultural communication, law, linguistic anthropology, computational linguistics, and psycholinguistics.

In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, courses in linguistics can be applied as electives or as part of the group requirements. They may also be used in a minor or in a major. Linguistics majors earn a Bachelor of Arts.

Learning Outcomes

Students who major in Linguistics at Iowa State University will be able to

  • display extensive knowledge of the primary areas of linguistics, especially syntax, morphology, and phonology/phonetics.
  • identify and analyze descriptive and prescriptive approaches to language description.
  • display a sophisticated understanding of the hierarchical and systematic nature of human language.
  • demonstrate skills in the intersection of language analysis and technology.
  • develop methodological skills for carrying out linguistic analysis, including;
    • analyzing organized and unorganized linguistic data.
    • conducting research, including carrying out literature searches and reviews, formulating testable questions, developing protocols for collecting data, and drawing conclusions based on research goals.
    • formulating effective linguistic arguments in spoken and written form.
  • display understanding of how languages change over time by appealing to examples of change in at least three languages.

Linguistics Degree Requirements

Majors in linguistics complete a minimum of 36 hours in linguistics with a grade of C or better in each linguistics course. Courses specifically required are:

LING 1190Introduction to World Languages3
LING 2070Introduction to Symbolic Logic3
LING 2190Introduction to Linguistics3
LING 2200Descriptive English Grammar3
LING 3710Phonetics and Phonology3
LING 4130Psychology of Language3
LING 4200History of the English Language3
LING 4370Grammatical Analysis3

In addition, linguistics majors must choose 12 credits of elective courses. Discuss choices with the advisor. Suggested areas of further study are:

Computers and Linguistics

LING 3200Topics in Linguistic Structure3
LING 3310Theory of Computing3
LING 4100Language as Data3

Second Language Studies

ENGL 3220Language and Society3
ENGL 3240Introduction to Teaching ESL Literacy3
ENGL 3250Teaching Methods for ESL Learners: Oral Communication Skills3
LING 4250Second Language Learning and Teaching3

Sociolinguistics and Language

ENGL 3190Studies in Language and Diversity3
ENGL 3220Language and Society3
LING 4220Women, Men, and the English Language3

Spanish Linguistics

LING 3510Introduction to Spanish-English Translation3
LING 3520Spanish Pronunciation3
LING 3540Introduction to Spanish-English Interpretation3
LING 4620Contrastive Analysis of Spanish/ English for Translators3
LING 4630Contemporary Spanish Linguistics3

Additional courses in linguistics include ANTHR 3090 and special topics offered through LING 3190 and LING 3200, which are repeatable for different topics. They also include courses for study abroad, especially LING 3950, and independent studies through LING 4900. Majors in linguistics must show proficiency in a second language equivalent to that achieved after two years of university-level study. Alternatively, majors in linguistics can demonstrate university-level study in two other languages of at least one year each.

Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500. 

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 2500H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
Continuing Communication Proficiency is based on one course from ENGL 3140; WLC 3700A, 3700B or 3700C.

For information about using linguistics courses in an interdisciplinary studies major, see Interdisciplinary Studies.

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Linguistics students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.

Linguistics, B.A.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 15003LING 10101
LIB 16001Humanities Choice3
World Language/Elective4Math Choice3
LING 11903PSYCH 10103
Natural Science Choice3World Language/Elective4
 14 14
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003LING 37103
LING 21903World Language 20204
ANTHR 20103LING 22003
Humanities Choice3Humanities Choice3
World Language 20104Social Science Choice3
 LAS 20301
 16 17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LING 30903LING 20703
LING 43703LING 41303
ENGL 3050, 3140, WLC 3700A, WLC 3700B, or WLC 3700C3LING 42003
Natural Science Choice3Natural Science Choice3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LING Area of Concentration3LING Area of Concentration3
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)3Electives9
Electives11 
 17 12

Undergraduate Minor in Linguistics

Minors in linguistics are individually tailored to the interests of the student, who consults with the linguistics advisor to develop the minor program of study. All minors must have a minimum of 15 credits in linguistics, of which 6 must be in courses numbered over 3000. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. All programs must include LING 2190 Introduction to Linguistics.

 

Minor in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language)

Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (Minor in TESL) is for undergraduate students.

The Minor in TESL provides concentrated coursework that prepares students to teach English to nonnative speakers of English, either in community programs in the United States or in an overseas location. Students from any program may complete the minor without further studies in linguistics.

For more information, please contact the Linguistics Undergraduate Advisor.

Concurrent B.A. in Linguistics and M.A. in TESL/Applied Linguistics

A concurrent B.A. in Linguistics and M.A. in TESL and Applied Linguistics offers well-qualified students the opportunity for accelerated study, achieving both degrees within a 5-year time frame. A student enrolled in this program pursues a graduate M.A. degree while simultaneously completing the requirements for the B.A. in Linguistics. Completing the concurrent degree program would enable students to enter the workforce one year earlier than through the traditional M.A. degree pathway. Up to six credits can be double-counted toward the requirements for both degrees. Students applying for the concurrent degree program should be motivated, focused, and able to handle a 16+ credit hour/semester schedule.

Eligibility (all qualifications must be met to apply):

  1. A minimum 45 credits in undergraduate program complete
  2. Two years of ISU foreign language study or bilingualism demonstrated by an approved language test (completed or in progress)
  3. At least 12 credits of Linguistics courses completed with a major GPA of 3.2 or higher,
  4. A minimum cumulative ISU GPA of 3.0

Timeline

Students should know by the middle of their sophomore year if they are interested in pursuing the concurrent program. We recommend that students plan ahead, and notify the undergraduate linguistics adviser as soon as they know of their intent to apply for the concurrent degree; if possible, the linguistics adviser should be notified of intent to pursue the concurrent degrees by the end of the 4th semester.

Students should apply for concurrent enrollment by the end of the 5th semester of study (and no later than the end of the 6th semester) by filing the Request for Concurrent Enrollment form from the Graduate College and submitting the application materials (listed below).

If accepted into the concurrent enrollment program, students should begin taking graduate courses (by the onset of the fourth year of study). Students accepted into the concurrent enrollment program will continue to work with the undergraduate linguistics adviser until the B.A. degree requirements are met. By the onset of the fifth year of study, students should have identified an area for their thesis/creative component and establish a program of study committee (including a major professor).

Students become full-time graduate students upon acceptance into the concurrent degree program. Students are eligible for research assistantships upon entry into the concurrent degree program, although it should be noted that these opportunities are rare. Student are eligible to apply for a teaching assistantship once all requirements for the B.A. degree are met; TA selection will follow the standard procedures for the department (including GRE scores).

How to Apply

The following components make up your application: 

  1. Fill out the Request for Concurrent Enrollment form from the Graduate College.  
  2. Write a statement of purpose, usually 1-2 pages, explaining why you want to pursue the M.A. degree.
  3. Obtain three letters of recommendation.
  4. Create a curriculum plan with the undergraduate linguistics adviser, who works closely with members of the graduate faculty.
  5. Writing sample (which can be a paper written for an undergraduate course at ISU).
  6. Submit your materials by e-mail to Teresa Smiley in the Graduate English Office at englgrad@iastate.edu.
  7. GRE scores (not required for initial application; required if applying for a teaching assistantship).

The admission criteria are generally the same as those required for all graduate students in the department. Application materials are reviewed by the graduate faculty in linguistics, the department’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE), and the department chair; their recommendations are forwarded on to the ISU Graduate College.

BA in Linguistics

120 credits

MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics

**6 credits (including 5100) can count as an elective in the B.A. degree

Graduate Minor

A graduate minor in linguistics permits students to investigate various aspects of linguistics, emphasizing the ability to think about language in a systematic and disciplined way and to apply the methods of the field to research problems in their own disciplines. Graduate courses for the minor may be cross-listed with courses in Anthropology, Communication Disorders, Computer Science, English, Psychology, and World Languages and Cultures.

For those pursuing a master’s degree, a declared minor in linguistics consists of 9 credits in linguistics including two foundation courses:

LING 5110Introduction to Linguistic Analysis3
One of the following:3
Sociolinguistics
Discourse Analysis
Corpus Approaches to Grammatical Analysis
And one elective from the list of courses approved for graduate credit3
Total Credits9

For those pursuing a Ph.D. degree, the minor consists of 12 credits in linguistics including:

LING 5110Introduction to Linguistic Analysis3
LING 5370Corpus Approaches to Grammatical Analysis3
And two electives from the list of courses approved for graduate credit6
Total Credits12

Additional courses beyond those listed below may be used as electives. The chair of the supervisory committee can provide information about these.

At least one member of the linguistics faculty will serve on a student’s program of study committee. A list of faculty members may be obtained from the Linguistics program website. Ph.D. candidates will write one section of the preliminary examination on an area of linguistics. Students in the Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language/Applied Linguistics are not eligible for a graduate minor in linguistics.