Linguistics Program

Three students smiling, talking and walking together on campus

A better understanding of language leads to a better understanding of ourselves.

The field of Linguistics studies human language: its structure, how it develops in children, how it changes over time, and how it is used in human society. Language is our most fundamentally human capacity, yet it represents the most intricate set of behavior patterns that humans exhibit. Language makes possible all we do: science, politics, literature, religion, history, education, and culture in general.

The Linguistics minor offers students the opportunity to add a specialization in language to their major. The minor especially complements majors in English; languages, cultures and religions; sociology, anthropology and gerontology; political science and philosophy; psychology; and communication, among others.

The minor is housed in the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. The Linguistics committee, made up of faculty from various departments and colleges, administers the program, provides advisement, and considers requests for elective substitutions.