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Three Linguistics Minors

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Linguistics Minor - General

The general linguistics minor provides students with a foundation in the field of linguistics. Students take core courses focusing on language data from a variety of languages, which teach analytical and writing skills. Students may acquire knowledge of the theoretical issues in language processing, language acquisition, and language in society. These courses develop writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Course Offerings

Minor Requirements

  • Completion of 7 linguistics courses with at least a C- letter grade (exception: one quarter of LIGN199 taken for pass/no pass may count toward the minor)
  • Required course: LIGN101 – Introduction to the Study of Language
  • Six other linguistics courses, two of which may be lower-division
See the list of linguistics courses for available classes.

Linguistics Minor - Language Studies

The Language Studies minor provides students with a 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 a literature class, 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 minors 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; these students may also consider an exchange year at Gallaudet University.

Minor Requirements

  • Completion of 7 courses (two may be lower-division language courses) with at least a C- letter grade (exception: one quarter of LIGN199 taken for pass/no pass may count toward the minor)

Specific requirements include:

A. Two lower-division prerequisites for upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration

B. LIGN101 – Introduction to the Study of Language

C. 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)

D. 1 upper-division literature course in the language of concentration
(note: this will require language proficiency as well as lower-division prerequisites. At most two lower-division courses in the language of concentration may count towards the minor. American Sign Language students should take LIGN 144 or LIGN 146. Portugese Language students may be able to take UD Lit. at SDSU. See Langauge Studies major page for more details.)

E. 2 additional courses in linguistics, literature or area studies.
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. Please see the list of approved upper-division classes for the Language Studies major.

Linguistics Minor - Speech and Language Sciences

The speech and language sciences minor is designed for students considering careers in speech-language pathology (SLP). Students take core courses in general linguistics, as well as courses that provide knowledge and theoretical perspectives on disorders of speech, language, and hearing.

Minor requirements:

  • Completion of 7 courses and 1 lower-division statistics course for a letter grade of C- or better.

Lower-division Requirement

Statistics

One lower division statistics course to be chosen from:

  • COGS 14B. Introduction to Statistical Analysis
  • PSYC 60. Introduction to Statistics

Upper-division Requirement

Linguistics Core

Three required linguistics courses:

  • LIGN 101. Introduction to the Study of Language
  • LIGN 110. Phonetics
  • LIGN 111. Phonology

Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders

One course in speech, language and hearing disorders:

  • LIGN 112. Speech Sounds and Speech Disorders
  • LIGN 113. Hearing Science and Hearing Disorders
* Students interested in SLP are highly encouraged to take both courses. In that case, one will count as an elective.

Language and Development Disorders

One course in language development and disorders to be chosen from:

  • LIGN 119. First and Second Language Learning: From Childhood through Adolescence
  • LIGN 171. Child Language Acquisition
  • LIGN 179. Second Language Acquisition Research

Neurobiology of Language

One course in neurobiology of language to be chosen from:

  • LIGN 180. Language Representation in the Brain
  • LIGN 181. Language Processing in the Brain

Speech and Language Science Electives

One speech and language sciences elective courses to be chosen from:

  • COGS 107A. Neuroanatomy and Physiology
  • COGS 107C. Cognitive Neuroscience
  • COGS 154. Communication Disorders in Children and Adults
  • COGS 179. Electrophysiology of Cognition
  • COMM 168. Bilingual Communication
  • COMM 169. Deaf Culture in the U.S.
  • EDS 125. History, Politics, and Theory of Bilingual Education
  • ETHN 185. Discourse, Power, and Inequality
  • LIGN 4. Language as a Cognitive System
  • LIGN 7. Sign Language and Its Culture
  • LIGN 119. First and Second Language Learning: From Childhood through Adolescence
  • LIGN 120. Morphology
  • LIGN 121. Syntax
  • LIGN 130. Semantics
  • LIGN 141. Language Structures
  • LIGN 146. Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities
  • LIGN 148. Psycholinguistics of Sign Language
  • LIGN 160. Pragmatics
  • LIGN 171. Child Language Acquisition
  • LIGN 175. Sociolinguistics
  • LIGN 177. Multilingualism
  • LIGN 179. Second Language Acquisition Research
  • LIGN 180. Language Representation in the Brain
  • LIGN 181. Language Processing in the Brain
  • MUS 175. Musical Psychoacoustics
  • PSYC 105. Cognitive Psychology
  • PSYC 108. Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSYC 128. Psychology of Reading
  • PSYC 138. Sound and Music Perception
  • SOC 117. Language, Culture, and Education
Exception: COGS 107C and PSYC 108 may not both be taken for credit toward the minor.

Additional Resources

More information on applying to SLP graduate programs

Are you a Linguistics minor interested in pursuing a Master’s degree (clinical or research) in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)? Learn more about the process of applying.

Questions?

Please contact Linguistics Advising in one of the following ways: