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Linguistics

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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 119Introduction to World Languages3
LING 207Introduction to Symbolic Logic3
LING 219Introduction to Linguistics3
LING 220Descriptive English Grammar3
LING 371Phonetics and Phonology3
LING 413Psychology of Language3
LING 420History of the English Language3
LING 437Grammatical 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 320Topics in Linguistic Structure3
LING 331Theory of Computing3
LING 410Language as Data3

Second Language Studies

ENGL 322Language and Society3
ENGL 324Introduction to Teaching ESL Literacy3
ENGL 325Teaching Methods for ESL Learners: Oral Communication Skills3
LING 425Second Language Learning and Teaching3

Sociolinguistics and Language

ENGL 319Studies in Language and Diversity3
ENGL 322Language and Society3
LING 422Women, Men, and the English Language3

Spanish Linguistics

LING 351Introduction to Spanish-English Translation3
LING 352Spanish Pronunciation3
LING 354Introduction to Spanish-English Interpretation3
LING 462Contrastive Analysis of Spanish/ English for Translators3
LING 463Contemporary Spanish Linguistics3

Additional courses in linguistics include ANTHR 309 and special topics offered through LING 319 and LING 320, which are repeatable for different topics. They also include courses for study abroad, especially LING 395, and independent studies through LING 490. 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 250.

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
Continuing Communication Proficiency is based on one course from ENGL 314; WLC 370A, 370B or 370C.

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 300/400 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. 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 1503LING 1011
LIB 1601Humanities Choice3
World Language/Elective4Math Choice3
LING 1193PSYCH 1013
Natural Science Choice3World Language/Elective4
 14 14
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 2503LING 3713
LING 2193World Language 2024
ANTHR 2013LING 2203
Humanities Choice3Humanities Choice3
World Language 2014Social Science Choice3
 LAS 2031
 16 17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LING 3093LING 2073
LING 4373LING 4133
ENGL 305, 314, or WLC 3703LING 4203
Natural Science Choice3Natural Science Choice3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LING Area of Concentration3LING Area of Concentration3
U.S. Diversity3Electives9
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 300. 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 219 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 BA 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 BA 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 300+
  • 36 credits in major (6 graduate credits can double count with graduate degree requirements)
  • 9 credits English communication (such as ENGL 314 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:

MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics

**6 credits (including 510) can count as an elective in the BA 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 511Introduction 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 511Introduction to Linguistic Analysis3
LING 537Corpus 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.