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Academic Course Map for Linguistics (B.A.)
In the Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics (LING) at CU Boulder, you will study everything from the way we form sounds and gestures, to the way we perceive speech, to the meanings that language expresses, to the use of language as a signal of group identity. Language is something that we have and something that we do. It is a fundamental part of the human experience and indispensable to human progress. Language is a cultural and interactive tool, and it is also a major part of the way we think and reason.
Linguistics graduates have built careers in foreign service, law, international business, translation and interpreting, lexicography, teaching English as a Second Language in the US and abroad, information technology, technical writing and publishing. Students who augment their linguistics training with computer science coursework are highly valued by companies that develop natural-language processing tools for speech recognition, speech synthesis, automatic translation and information retrieval. Even if you do not intend to work in a language-related profession, the linguistics major can benefit you: business and industry employers are increasingly aware that linguistics majors have well developed skills in complex problem solving.
Admission Requirements
Students who begin at a Colorado Community College can transfer directly to CU Boulder to finish their degree in any of the programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences’ Colorado Community College webpage for more information detailed information admissions requirements for students transfering from a Colorado Community College.
Transfer Recommendations
To graduate in a 4-year time frame, it is important that students follow the recommended schedule. Students who wish to continue their education at the community college beyond the number of credits specified below should explore with both community college and CU Boulder staff how their graduation timeline, COF stipend, and financial aid will be affected.
Suggested Four-Year Course Plan for the Linguistics (LING) major
This is a suggested guide of coursework only and is subject to change. Always consult your academic advisor for graduation planning purposes. Depending on a student’s situation, a different plan might be more applicable.
Community College (first two years)
Fall Semester 1
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 121/1021* | English Composition I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
|
MAT 120/1240 |
Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) or any other GT-MA1 course | 3 |
|
|
5 | |
|
Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4) |
3 | |
| Total Credits | 14 |
Spring Semester 1
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 122/1022 | English Composition II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
|
COM 115/1150 OR |
Public Speaking OR |
3 |
|
2nd semester World Language course |
5 | |
| Guaranteed Transfer History Course (GT-HI1) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 14 |
Fall Semester 2
| Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|
|
3rd semester World Language course |
3 |
| 2nd Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course from a different GT-AH category than the 1st. | 3 |
|
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2 or GT-SS3) |
3 |
|
Guaranteed Transfer Natural & Physical Sciences Course (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester 2
| Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|
|
4th semester World language course |
3 |
|
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2 or GT-SS3) |
3 |
|
Guaranteed Transfer Course from any of the GT-AH, GT-HI or GT-SS categories |
3 |
| Guaranteed Transfer Natural & Physical Sciences Course (GT-SC1 or SC2) | 4 |
| Transfer Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Total credits at community college: 60
Completion of the four semesters of coursework above fulfills the requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree a Colorado community college and fulfills the General Education requirements at CU Boulder.
CU Boulder (last two years)
Fall Semester 3
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
LING 2000 |
Intro to Linguistics |
3 |
|
|
5th semester World Language if the student’s language is French or Spanish*** | 3-5 |
|
|
3 | |
| Lower- or Upper-Division Nonmajor Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Nonmajor Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15-17 |
Spring Semester 3
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
LING 3100 |
Language Sound Structures |
3 |
|
|
6th semester World Language if the student’s language is French. | 3 |
|
|
Lower- or Upper-division LING Major Elective |
3 |
|
Upper-Division Nonmajor Elective |
3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Semester 4
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LING 3430 | Semantics | 3 |
| Upper-Division LING Major Elective | 3 | |
|
Upper-Division LING Major Elective |
3 | |
|
Upper-Division Nonmajor Elective |
3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 4
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
LING 4420 |
Morphology and Syntax |
3 |
|
|
Upper-Division LING Major Elective | 3 |
|
|
Upper-Division Nonmajor Elective |
3 |
| Upper-Division Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Total credits at CU Boulder: 60
Completion of all eight semesters of coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Linguistics CU Boulder.
*For community college courses, the first course number is previous to summer 2022, and the second course number is the new number starting in summer 2022..
**Students need to complete one of the following 16-credit world languages sequences; FRE 111, 112, 211, 212 (French); JPN 111, 112, 211, 212 (Japanese), or SPA 111, 112, 211, 212 (Spanish) OR the 15-credit American Sign Language sequences: ASL 121, 122, 123.
***Completion of four semesters of Japanese language courses or three semesters of American Sign Language courses at a community college fulfills the Natural Language requirement for the Linguistics major at CU Boulder. Students who have completed the Natural Language requirement should replace credits from the 5th and/or 6th semester World Languages course with upper-division electives.
****Students a can used their LING major electives to complete one of the optional tracks in the major.