Major Requirements

The linguistics major curriculum provides a rigorous, comprehensive background in the core theoretical areas of linguistics, augmented by coursework in many applied areas from which students can freely choose. Training in methodology and a capstone course round up the BA degree.

Core courses (15 credits)

This group comprises the intro course followed by four courses on the theoretical foundations of linguistics:

  • LING 1000 Introduction to Linguistics
  • LING 1578 Phonetics and Phonemics (or LING 1878 "acccelerated" section)
  • LING 1579 Phonology (or LING 1879 "accelerated" section)
  • LING 1773 Morphology (or LING 1873 "accelerated" section)
  • LING 1777 Syntactic Theory (or LING 1877 "accelerated" section)

Core elective course: choice of one of the following (3 credits)

Two electives (6 credits)

Students are required to complete two (2) LING 1000-level elective courses. Please see this course listings. There is one exception: LING 1901 Independent Study does not count. Electives may be chosen from among graduate courses if the six basic courses from the first two headings above have been completed. Linguistics-focused courses offered by another department at Pitt or CMU may be used as a substitute; check with your advisor.

Methods course: choice of one of the following (3 credits)

  • LING 1269 Linguistic Variation and Change
  • LING 1340 Data Science for Linguists
  • LING 1441 Field Methods in Linguistics
  • LING 1810 Statistics for Research in Linguistics
  • LING 1820 Linguistics in the Lab
  • LING 1844 Research Methods in Applied Linguistics (See below about permission)

Capstone course: choice of one of the following 

Other requirements and rules for linguistics majors

  • 29 total credits are required, excluding the language requirement noted below.
  • In addition to the language requirement for all A&S majors, students need to take one semester of language study in some language that is not Romance (including Latin), Germanic, Slavic, or Greek.
  • A grade of C or higher for LING 1000 is required for the rest of the core courses.
  • CSD 1020 is considered an equivalent of LING 1000.
  • Four core courses have a designated "accelerated" counterpart (LING 1878, 1879, 1873, 1877), which is cross-listed with a grad section.  Students will need A- in intro, an overall GPA of 3.25 and a 3.75 average on all past linguistics courses to take them. Qualified students should ask an advisor for a permission number. This restriction may also apply to some grad-undergrad cross-listed courses including LING 1844 "Research Methods." 
  • Majors must have at least a 2.0 quality point average in linguistics courses.
  • No more than six credits may be taken on the S/NC basis.
  • Credit by examination is not available.
  • As an Arts and Sciences requirement, majors must complete one linguistics W-course. These courses are currently:
  • Graduating with Linguistics Honors: majors must have an overall GPA of 3.25 and a 3.75 average on all linguistics courses.