Linguistics Major - Language Studies
The Language Studies major provides students with a solid foundation in linguistics combined with the study of a language of choice. Students acquire general skills in linguistic analysis, which are in turn applied to the language of choice. Students deepen their knowledge of the language through literature classes, and gain interdisciplinary perspectives from area studies classes in other departments focusing on the country or setting where the language is spoken. Languages that students have selected in the past include American Sign Language, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and more!
It is recommended that language studies majors participate in Study Abroad.
*Students whose language of concentration is American Sign Language will need to consult the faculty advisor for individualized requirements and substitutes for some classes.
Course Offerings
Academic Advising Resources
- Linguistics Major Checklist
- Four-year Academic Plan
- Two-year Academic Plan (choose "Transfer Plan")
Linguistics Course Requirements
Major Requirements
- Completion of 12 upper division courses with C- or better (exception: up to four units of LIGN 199 taken for pass/no pass may count towards the major. In order to satisfy the upper-division course requirements, students who enroll in LIGN 199 for just two units are advised to enroll for another two units in a subsequent quarter.)
- At least 6 of the 12 major courses must be taken in residence at UC San Diego.
Language Proficiency Requirement
- Two years of language instruction in the language of concentration, or equivalent proficiency
- Lower-division prerequisites for upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration
Students should consult with the Linguistics Department's Undergraduate Advisors (linginfo-g@ucsd.edu) about this requirement.
Required Linguistics Courses
6 core linguistics courses
i. LIGN 101 - Introduction to the Study of Language
ii. 3 courses chosen from:
LIGN 110: Phonetics
LIGN 111: Phonology
LIGN 120: Morphology
LIGN 121: Syntax
LIGN 130: Semantics
LIGN 145: Pidgins and Creoles
LIGN 150: Historical Linguistics
Students are advised to take these classes as early as possible, especially LIGN101, which is a prerequisite for most linguistics classes. LIGN110 is required for LIGN111, and LIGN111 and LIGN121 are recommended for LIGN120.
iii. 1 structure of language X course chosen from:
LIGN 141: Language Structures (languages selected vary)
LIGN 143: The Structure of Spanish
LIGN 148: Psycholinguistics of Sign Languages (if your language of concentration is ASL)
If no such course is available, the student must consult with the undergraduate advisor regarding a possible substitution.
iv. 1 additional upper-division elective LIGN course.
Any upper division LING course.
Literature and Area Studies Course Requirements
2 upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration
(LIGN 144 and LIGN 146 should be taken if your language of concentration is ASL)
(Approved Portuguese literature courses available at SDSU: PORT 535. Portuguese Literature and PORT 540. Luso-Brazilian Literature)
4 upper-division linguistics, literature or area studies courses.
Literature and area studies courses must deal with the language of concentration or the corresponding culture/area studies, subject to approval of the faculty advisor.
Approved courses the area studies requirement include the following. Note: some of these courses may have prerequisites:
Arabic
ANSC 133: Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
ECON 165: Middle East Economics
HINE 114: History of the Islamic Middle East
HINE 118: The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
HINE 119: Contemporary Middle East Conflicts
POLI 121B: Politics in Israel
ECON 165: Middle East Economics
HINE 114: History of the Islamic Middle East
HINE 118: The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
HINE 119: Contemporary Middle East Conflicts
POLI 121B: Politics in Israel
American Sign Language (ASL)
See linguistics undergraduate adviser for options.
Chinese
ANSC 136. Traditional Chinese Society
ANSC 137. Chinese Popular Religion
ANSC 136. Traditional Chinese Society
ANSC 137. Chinese Popular Religion
HIEA 122. Late Imperial Chinese Culture and Society
HIEA 125. Women and Gender in East Asia
HIEA 126. The Silk Road in Chinese and Japanese History
HIEA 129. Faces of the Chinese Past
HIEA 130. End of the Chinese Empire, 1800–1911
HIEA 131. China in War and Revolution: 1911–1949
HIEA 132. Mao’s China, 1949–1976
HIEA 133. Twentieth-Century China: Cultural History
HIEA 134. History of Thought and Religion in China: Confucianism
HIEA 137. Women and Family in Chinese History
HIEA 138. Women and the Chinese Revolution
HIEA 163/263. Cinema and Society in Twentieth-Century China
HIEA 164/264. Seminar in Late Imperial Chinese History
HIEA 166/266. Creating Ming Histories
HIEA 168/268. Topics in Classical and Medieval Chinese History
HIEA 171/271. Society and Culture in Premodern China
POLI 113A. East Asian Thought in Comparative Perspective
POLI 113B. Chinese and Japanese Political Thought I
POLI 130B. Politics in the People’s Republic of China
POLI 131C. The Chinese Revolution
POLI 133D. Political Institutions of East Asian Countries
SOCI 188G. Chinese Society
VIS 127B. Arts of China
VIS 127C. Arts of Modern China
VIS 127D. Early Chinese Painting
VIS 127E. Later Chinese Painting
VIS 127GS. Issues in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
VIS 127N. Twentieth-Century Art in China and Japan
ANSC 137. Chinese Popular Religion
ANSC 136. Traditional Chinese Society
ANSC 137. Chinese Popular Religion
HIEA 122. Late Imperial Chinese Culture and Society
HIEA 125. Women and Gender in East Asia
HIEA 126. The Silk Road in Chinese and Japanese History
HIEA 129. Faces of the Chinese Past
HIEA 130. End of the Chinese Empire, 1800–1911
HIEA 131. China in War and Revolution: 1911–1949
HIEA 132. Mao’s China, 1949–1976
HIEA 133. Twentieth-Century China: Cultural History
HIEA 134. History of Thought and Religion in China: Confucianism
HIEA 137. Women and Family in Chinese History
HIEA 138. Women and the Chinese Revolution
HIEA 163/263. Cinema and Society in Twentieth-Century China
HIEA 164/264. Seminar in Late Imperial Chinese History
HIEA 166/266. Creating Ming Histories
HIEA 168/268. Topics in Classical and Medieval Chinese History
HIEA 171/271. Society and Culture in Premodern China
POLI 113A. East Asian Thought in Comparative Perspective
POLI 113B. Chinese and Japanese Political Thought I
POLI 130B. Politics in the People’s Republic of China
POLI 131C. The Chinese Revolution
POLI 133D. Political Institutions of East Asian Countries
SOCI 188G. Chinese Society
VIS 127B. Arts of China
VIS 127C. Arts of Modern China
VIS 127D. Early Chinese Painting
VIS 127E. Later Chinese Painting
VIS 127GS. Issues in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
VIS 127N. Twentieth-Century Art in China and Japan
French
HIEU 129: Paris, Past and Present
HIEU 130: Europe in the Eighteenth Century
HIEU 131: The French Revolution: 1789–1814
HIEU 142: European Intellectual History, 1780-1870
POLI 120C: Politics in France
TDHT 105: French Comedy
HIEU 130: Europe in the Eighteenth Century
HIEU 131: The French Revolution: 1789–1814
HIEU 142: European Intellectual History, 1780-1870
POLI 120C: Politics in France
TDHT 105: French Comedy
German
HIEU 130: Europe in the Eighteenth Century
HIEU 132: German Politics and Culture: 1648–1848
HIEU 142: European Intellectual History, 1780-1870
HIEU 143: European Intellectual History, 1870-1945
HIEU 145: The Holocaust as Public History
HIEU 154: Modern German History
HIEU 155: Modern Austria
HIEU 158: Why Hitler? How Auschwitz?
HIEU 172/272: Comparative European Fascism
HIEU 174/274: The Holocaust: A Psychological Approach
HIEU 177: Special Topics in Modern German Thought
PHIL 106: Kant
PHIL 107: Hegel
POLI 120B: The German Political System
POLI 120D: Germany: Before, During, and After Division
SOCI 178: The Holocaust
HIEU 132: German Politics and Culture: 1648–1848
HIEU 142: European Intellectual History, 1780-1870
HIEU 143: European Intellectual History, 1870-1945
HIEU 145: The Holocaust as Public History
HIEU 154: Modern German History
HIEU 155: Modern Austria
HIEU 158: Why Hitler? How Auschwitz?
HIEU 172/272: Comparative European Fascism
HIEU 174/274: The Holocaust: A Psychological Approach
HIEU 177: Special Topics in Modern German Thought
PHIL 106: Kant
PHIL 107: Hegel
POLI 120B: The German Political System
POLI 120D: Germany: Before, During, and After Division
SOCI 178: The Holocaust
Hebrew
ANRG 150/ANAR 142. The Rise and Fall of Ancient Israel
HIEU 159. Three Centuries of Zionism, 1648–1948
HIEU 176/276. Politics in the Jewish Past
HINE 162/262. Anthropology and the Hebrew Bible
HINE 170. Special Topics in Jewish History
HINE 186. Special Topics in Middle Eastern History
POLI 121. Government and Politics of the Middle East
POLI 121B. Politics in Israel
SOCI 188F. Modern Jewish Societies and Israeli Society
HIEU 159. Three Centuries of Zionism, 1648–1948
HIEU 176/276. Politics in the Jewish Past
HINE 162/262. Anthropology and the Hebrew Bible
HINE 170. Special Topics in Jewish History
HINE 186. Special Topics in Middle Eastern History
POLI 121. Government and Politics of the Middle East
POLI 121B. Politics in Israel
SOCI 188F. Modern Jewish Societies and Israeli Society
Italian
HIEU 120. The Renaissance in Italy
HIEU 172/272. Comparative European Fascism
POLI 120I. Politics in Italy
TDHT 104. Italian Comedy
VIS 122AN. Renaissance Art
VIS 122CN. Leonardo da Vinci in Context
VIS 122D. Michelangelo
VIS 122F. Leonardo’s La Gioconda
HIEU 172/272. Comparative European Fascism
POLI 120I. Politics in Italy
TDHT 104. Italian Comedy
VIS 122AN. Renaissance Art
VIS 122CN. Leonardo da Vinci in Context
VIS 122D. Michelangelo
VIS 122F. Leonardo’s La Gioconda
Japanese
HIEA 111. Japan: Twelfth to Mid-Nineteenth Centuries
HIEA 112. Japan: From the Mid-Nineteenth Century through the US Occupation
HIEA 113. The Fifteen-Year War in Asia and the Pacific
HIEA 114. Postwar Japan
HIEA 115. Social and Cultural History of Twentieth-Century Japan
HIEA 116. Japan-U.S. Relations
HEA 117. Ghosts in Japan
HIEA 125. Women and Gender in East Asia
HIEA 126. The Silk Road in Chinese and Japanese History
POLI 113A. East Asian Thought in Comparative Perspective
POLI 113B. Chinese and Japanese Political Thought I
POLI 133A. Japanese Politics: A Developmental Perspective
POLI 133D. Political Institutions of East Asian Countries
VIS 127F. Japanese Buddhist Art
VIS 127N. Twentieth-Century Art in China and Japan
VIS 127P. Arts of Japan
VIS 127Q. Japanese Painting and Prints
HIEA 112. Japan: From the Mid-Nineteenth Century through the US Occupation
HIEA 113. The Fifteen-Year War in Asia and the Pacific
HIEA 114. Postwar Japan
HIEA 115. Social and Cultural History of Twentieth-Century Japan
HIEA 116. Japan-U.S. Relations
HEA 117. Ghosts in Japan
HIEA 125. Women and Gender in East Asia
HIEA 126. The Silk Road in Chinese and Japanese History
POLI 113A. East Asian Thought in Comparative Perspective
POLI 113B. Chinese and Japanese Political Thought I
POLI 133A. Japanese Politics: A Developmental Perspective
POLI 133D. Political Institutions of East Asian Countries
VIS 127F. Japanese Buddhist Art
VIS 127N. Twentieth-Century Art in China and Japan
VIS 127P. Arts of Japan
VIS 127Q. Japanese Painting and Prints
Portuguese
San Diego State University (SDSU) courses:
PORT 306/LATAM 306. Portuguese and Brazilian Cinema and Culture
PORT 307/LATAM 307. Brazilian Music and Culture
PORT 443. Contemporary Luso-Brazilian Civilization
Russian
HIEU 134. The Formation of the Russian Empire, 800–1855
HIEU 178. Soviet History
POLI 126AB. Politics and Economics in Eastern Europe
POLI 130AA. The Soviet Successor States
POLI 130AD. The Politics of the Russian Revolution
HIEU 178. Soviet History
POLI 126AB. Politics and Economics in Eastern Europe
POLI 130AA. The Soviet Successor States
POLI 130AD. The Politics of the Russian Revolution
Spanish
ANAR 156. The Archaeology of South America
ANSC 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America
ANSC 142. Anthropology of Latin America
COMM 142. Cuban Cinema
COMM 155. Latino Space, Place, and Culture
COMM 104G. Comparative Media Systems: Latin America and the Caribbean
COMM 140. Cinema in Latin America
ECON 162. Economics of Mexico
ETHN 116. The United States–Mexico Border in Comparative Perspective
ETHN 129/USP 135. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
ETHN 132. Chicano Dramatic Literature
ETHN 133. Hispanic American Dramatic Literature
ETHN 135A. Early Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1848–1960
ETHN 135B. Contemporary Latino/a- Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1960 to Present
ETHN 136. Topics in Chicano/a-Latino/a Cultures
ETHN 138. Chicano/a and Latino/a Poetry
ETHN 145. Spanish Language in the United States
ETHN 148. Latino/a and Chicano/a Literature
ETHN 180. Topics in Mexican American History
HIEU 151. Spain since 1808
HILA 100. Conquest and Empire of the Americas
HILA 101. Nation-State Formation, Ethnicity, and Violence in Latin America
HILA 102. Latin America in the Twentieth Century
HILA 103. Revolution in Modern Latin America
HILA 114. Dictatorship in Latin America
HILA 121A. History of Brazil through 1889
HILA 121B. History of Brazil, 1889 to Present
HILA 122. Cuba: From Colony to Socialist Republic
HILA 123. The Incas and Their Ancestors
HILA 124A. History of Women and Gender in Latin America
HILA 126. From Columbus to Castro: Caribbean Culture and Society
HILA 131. A History of Mexico
HILA 132. Modern Mexico: From Revolution to Drug War Violence
HILA 134. Indians of Colonial Latin America
HILA 161. History of Women in Latin America
HILA 162. Special Topics in Latin American History
HILA 163/263. The History of Chile, 1880–Present
HILA 164/264. Women’s Work and Family Life in Latin America
HILA 167/267. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Colonial Period
HILA 168/268. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Nineteenth Century
HILA 169/269. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Twentieth Century
TDHT 110. Chicanx Theatre
TDHT 111. Latinx Theatre and Performance
POLI 134AA. Comparative Politics of Latin America
POLI 134B. Politics in Mexico
POLI 134D. Selected Topics in Latin American Politics
POLI 134I. Politics in the Southern Cone of Latin America
POLI 146A. The U.S. and Latin America: Political and Economic Relations
SOCI 182. Ethnicity and Indigenous Peoples in Latin America
SOCI 188D. Latin America: Society and Politics
VIS 126P. Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern, 1890–1950
VIS 126Q. Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern, 1950–Present
ANSC 131. Urban Cultures in Latin America
ANSC 142. Anthropology of Latin America
COMM 142. Cuban Cinema
COMM 155. Latino Space, Place, and Culture
COMM 104G. Comparative Media Systems: Latin America and the Caribbean
COMM 140. Cinema in Latin America
ECON 162. Economics of Mexico
ETHN 116. The United States–Mexico Border in Comparative Perspective
ETHN 129/USP 135. Asian and Latina Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
ETHN 132. Chicano Dramatic Literature
ETHN 133. Hispanic American Dramatic Literature
ETHN 135A. Early Latino/a-Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1848–1960
ETHN 135B. Contemporary Latino/a- Chicano/a Cultural Production: 1960 to Present
ETHN 136. Topics in Chicano/a-Latino/a Cultures
ETHN 138. Chicano/a and Latino/a Poetry
ETHN 145. Spanish Language in the United States
ETHN 148. Latino/a and Chicano/a Literature
ETHN 180. Topics in Mexican American History
HIEU 151. Spain since 1808
HILA 100. Conquest and Empire of the Americas
HILA 101. Nation-State Formation, Ethnicity, and Violence in Latin America
HILA 102. Latin America in the Twentieth Century
HILA 103. Revolution in Modern Latin America
HILA 114. Dictatorship in Latin America
HILA 121A. History of Brazil through 1889
HILA 121B. History of Brazil, 1889 to Present
HILA 122. Cuba: From Colony to Socialist Republic
HILA 123. The Incas and Their Ancestors
HILA 124A. History of Women and Gender in Latin America
HILA 126. From Columbus to Castro: Caribbean Culture and Society
HILA 131. A History of Mexico
HILA 132. Modern Mexico: From Revolution to Drug War Violence
HILA 134. Indians of Colonial Latin America
HILA 161. History of Women in Latin America
HILA 162. Special Topics in Latin American History
HILA 163/263. The History of Chile, 1880–Present
HILA 164/264. Women’s Work and Family Life in Latin America
HILA 167/267. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Colonial Period
HILA 168/268. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Nineteenth Century
HILA 169/269. Scholarship on Latin American History in the Twentieth Century
TDHT 110. Chicanx Theatre
TDHT 111. Latinx Theatre and Performance
POLI 134AA. Comparative Politics of Latin America
POLI 134B. Politics in Mexico
POLI 134D. Selected Topics in Latin American Politics
POLI 134I. Politics in the Southern Cone of Latin America
POLI 146A. The U.S. and Latin America: Political and Economic Relations
SOCI 182. Ethnicity and Indigenous Peoples in Latin America
SOCI 188D. Latin America: Society and Politics
VIS 126P. Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern, 1890–1950
VIS 126Q. Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern, 1950–Present
Interested in minoring in Linguistics? Check out the Language Studies Minor.
+ Global Concentration
- available for all linguistics majors
- a cluster of courses with an international or global focus that can be added to any linguistics major
- students that complete this concentration will have "Global Concentration" annotated on their transcript