Linguistics

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 1190	Introduction to World Languages	3
LING 2070	Introduction to Symbolic Logic	3
LING 2190	Introduction to Linguistics	3
LING 2200	Descriptive English Grammar	3
LING 3710	Phonetics and Phonology	3
LING 4130	Psychology of Language	3
LING 4200	History of the English Language	3
LING 4370	Grammatical Analysis	3

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 3200	Topics in Linguistic Structure	3
LING 3310	Theory of Computing	3
LING 4100	Language as Data	3

Second Language Studies

ENGL 3220	Language and Society	3
ENGL 3240	Introduction to Teaching ESL Literacy	3
ENGL 3250	Teaching Methods for ESL Learners: Oral Communication Skills	3
LING 4250	Second Language Learning and Teaching	3

Sociolinguistics and Language

ENGL 3190	Studies in Language and Diversity	3
ENGL 3220	Language and Society	3
LING 4220	Women, Men, and the English Language	3

Spanish Linguistics

LING 3510	Introduction to Spanish-English Translation	3
LING 3520	Spanish Pronunciation	3
LING 3540	Introduction to Spanish-English Interpretation	3
LING 4620	Contrastive Analysis of Spanish/ English for Translators	3
LING 4630	Contemporary Spanish Linguistics	3

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 1500	Critical Thinking and Communication	3
ENGL 2500	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition	3
or ENGL 2500H	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
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
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 1500	3	LING 1010	1
LIB 1600	1	Humanities Choice	3
World Language/Elective	4	Math Choice	3
LING 1190	3	PSYCH 1010	3
Natural Science Choice	3	World Language/Elective	4
	14		14
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 2500	3	LING 3710	3
LING 2190	3	World Language 2020	4
ANTHR 2010	3	LING 2200	3
Humanities Choice	3	Humanities Choice	3
World Language 2010	4	Social Science Choice	3
		LAS 2030	1
	16		17
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
LING 3090	3	LING 2070	3
LING 4370	3	LING 4130	3
ENGL 3050, 3140, WLC 3700A, WLC 3700B, or WLC 3700C	3	LING 4200	3
Natural Science Choice	3	Natural Science Choice	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
	15		15
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
LING Area of Concentration	3	LING Area of Concentration	3
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)	3	Electives	9
Electives	11
	17		12

Undergraduate Minor in Linguistics

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 5^th semester of study (and no later than the end of the 6^th 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

• 45 credits at 3000+
• 36 credits in major (6 graduate credits can double count with graduate degree requirements)
• 9 credits English communication (such as ENGL 3140 Technical Communication)
• 12-16 credits of foreign language
• 29 credits in general education: 9 in A&H, 9 in SS, 8 in NS, 3 in math
• Possible linguistics electives:
  • LING 3090, LING 3180, LING 3190, LING 3200, LING 3220, LING 3240, LING 3250, LING 4220, LING 4250, 3000-level Spanish LING courses

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 5110	Introduction to Linguistic Analysis	3
One of the following:		3
LING 5140	Sociolinguistics
LING 5270	Discourse Analysis
LING 5370	Corpus Approaches to Grammatical Analysis
And one elective from the list of courses approved for graduate credit		3
Total Credits		9

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

LING 5110	Introduction to Linguistic Analysis	3
LING 5370	Corpus Approaches to Grammatical Analysis	3
And two electives from the list of courses approved for graduate credit		6
Total Credits		12

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.