Three Linguistics Minors
Linguistics Minor - General
The general linguistics minor provides students with a foundation in the field of linguistics. Students take 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
NOTE: Students who enrolled at UCSD prior to Fall 2026 have the option to complete their degree under an earlier set of requirements. Please see these details about the old requirements and a list of frequently asked questions.
- Completion of 7 linguistics courses with at least a C- letter grade (exception: up to four combined units of LIGN-188R, LIGN-195, or LIGN-199 taken for pass/no pass may count towards the minor. In order to satisfy the upper-division course requirements, students who enroll in one of these courses for just two units are advised to enroll for another two units in any of these courses in a subsequent quarter.)
- Required courses:
- LIGN-102: Linguistic Analysis: Phonetics, phonology, and morphology
- LIGN-103: Linguistic Analysis: Syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
- 5 other linguistics courses, 2 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.
** At least half of the courses used for credit towards this minor (4 courses) must be taken in residence at UC San Diego.
Minor Requirements
NOTE: Students who enrolled at UCSD prior to Fall 2026 have the option to complete their degree under an earlier set of requirements. Please see these details about the old requirements and a list of frequently asked questions.
- Completion of 7 linguistics courses (two may be lower-division language courses) with at least a C- letter grade (exception: up to four combined units of LIGN-188R, LIGN-195, or LIGN-199 taken for pass/no pass may count towards the minor. In order to satisfy the upper-division course requirements, students who enroll in one of these courses for just two units are advised to enroll for another two units in any of these courses in a subsequent quarter.)
Specific requirements include:
- Two lower-division prerequisites for upper-division courses in the literature of the language of concentration
- 2 introductory courses in linguistic analysis:
- LIGN-102: Linguistic Analysis: Phonetics, phonology, and morphology
- LIGN-103: Linguistic Analysis: Syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
- 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)
- LIGN-178: Spanish Sociolinguistics
- 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. Spanish students may use LIGN-178 to satisfy this requirement if they do not use it to satisfy their “structure of language X” requirement. Portuguese Language students may be able to take UD Lit. at SDSU. See Language Studies major page for more details.)
- 1 additional course 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 courses in general linguistics, as well as courses that provide knowledge and theoretical perspectives on disorders of speech, language, and hearing.
Minor requirements:
NOTE: Students who enrolled at UCSD prior to Fall 2026 have the option to complete their degree under an earlier set of requirements. Please see these details about the old requirements and a list of frequently asked questions.
- 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
- CSS-002: Data and Model Programming for Computational Social Science
- HDS-060: Statistical Analysis
- PSYC-060: Introduction to Statistics
Upper-division Requirement
Linguistics Analysis
Three courses in linguistic analysis
- LIGN-102. Linguistic Analysis: Phonetics, phonology, and morphology
- LIGN-103. Linguistic Analysis: Syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
- LIGN-110. Phonetics
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
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-170: Psycholinguistics
- LIGN-180: Language Representation in the Brain
- LIGN-181: Language Processing in the Brain
- COGS-107A: Neuroanatomy and Physiology
- PSYC-108: Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSYC-169: Brain Damage and Mental Function
Speech and Language Science Electives
One speech and language sciences elective courses to be chosen from (courses that were used to satisfy one of the above requirements cannot be used again):
- 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-111: Phonology I
- LIGN-112: Speech Sounds and Speech Disorders
- LIGN-113: Hearing Science and Hearing Disorders
- LIGN-119: First and Second Language Learning: From Childhood through Adolescence
- LIGN-120: Morphology
- LIGN-121: Syntax I
- LIGN-130: Semantics
- LIGN-141: Language Structures
- LIGN-143: The Structure of Spanish
- LIGN-146: Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities
- LIGN-148: Psycholinguistics of Sign Language
- LIGN-160: Pragmatics
- LIGN-170: Psycholinguistics
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: