Linguistics

Discover the science of language and its impact on society, culture, and the mind.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics in the College of Letters & Science focuses on the scientific study of language. Students learn about sounds and their patterns (phonetics and phonology), word structure (morphology), sentence structure (syntax), meaning (semantics and pragmatics), and language and cognition; how languages evolve over time (comparative and historical linguistics); and how language is used in society (sociolinguistics and anthropological linguistics). The undergraduate Linguistics program offers students a unique opportunity to study an interesting and challenging discipline in one of the world's leading intellectual centers. Students benefit from an intense, personalized academic experience with smaller classes and opportunities to work with faculty and graduate students on original research projects.

Highlights

The staff, faculty, and graduate students have been personally invested in my development as a student. There is plenty of opportunity to get involved with research.
2017 Linguistics graduate

Undergraduate Program

Curriculum 

Linguistics students attain a basic mastery of the field of linguistics, and develop skills in critical thinking, in communication, and in the use of research methodologies. For students who entered UC Berkeley Fall 2022 or later, the Linguistics major curriculum includes a lower division Linguistics course followed by LINGUIS 100 Introduction to Linguistic Science. Students then choose from "binned" courses which cover language and mind, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax and semantics, as well as a broad range of electives. The binned courses allow students to master the primary subfields of the discipline, while electives allow students to investigate areas of particular interest. Linguistics majors also have access to the Linguistics Research Apprentice Practicum, study abroad programs, and an honors research program.

Learn more at lx.berkeley.edu/ugrad/program

Study Options

In addition to the major, the Department of Linguistics offers:

Many non-majors find it useful to take courses in Linguistics to complement their major work. A minor in Linguistics gives students official recognition for having completed a Linguistics sub-specialization.

Declaring the Major

Upon acceptance to UC Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. To declare the Linguistics major, you must complete LINGUIS 100 with a grade of “C” or higher, and then submit a Major Declaration Petition online or schedule an appointment with the Linguistics Undergraduate Major Advisor. 

If you entered UC Berkeley as a four-year student: you may declare during sophomore or junior year after meeting the prerequisites.

If you entered UC Berkeley as a transfer: complete LINGUIS 100 in your first semester (or summer) and declare as soon as grades are available.

What Can I Do With My Major?

Linguistics graduates go on to work in a variety of careers, including health services, speech technology, legal consulting, writing, teaching, data mining, lexicography, and translation. Alumni also pursue graduate programs in linguistics, anthropology, psychology, education, sociology, and other fields, along with professional degrees in areas such as speech language pathology, information management, library and information studies, accounting, museum studies, neuroscience, and law. 

UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Linguistics. The Linguistics Department hosts information on careers and graduate school. The Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program helps prepare students for internships and the job market. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.

Employment

Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include: 

  • Analytical Linguist
  • Assistant Language Teacher
  • Behavioral Interventionist
  • Biological Research Assistant
  • Content Manager
  • Educational Technology Editor
  • Forensic Linguist
  • Linguistic Localization Consultant
  • Litigation Paralegal Trainee
  • Research scientist
  • Site Reliability Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Technical Writer
  • UI/UX/Web Developer
  • User Experience Strategist
  • Video Editor

Graduate Study

Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:

  • Computer Engineering
  • Education
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Urban Community Planning

Spotlight

Bryce, class of 2023

Bryce Wallace (BA, English and Linguistics) transferred to UC Berkeley, where Professor Eve Sweetser’s class on metaphor got him into linguistics and led to participation in her URAP project analyzing public discourse. This research culminated in an honors thesis on the rhetoric of anti-vax websites.

Bryce was selected as a Sharer Scholar and recipient of the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad as well as the College Corps Fellowship for his commitment to community service. Bryce gained national recognition when he was named a 2023 Beinecke Scholar, and intends to use the Beinecke Scholarship to help fund a PhD in English.

Four-Year Student Timeline

First Year

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Fourth Year

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Summer

Transfer Student Timeline

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Second Semester

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Third Semester

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Fourth Semester

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Summer

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Undergraduate Advising

Have questions about Linguistics or choosing a major? 

The Department of Linguistics offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the major or minor. The Undergraduate Major Advisor assists students with declaring the major, tracking academic progress, navigating administrative concerns, preparing for graduation, and providing general information on Linguistics courses. The Faculty Undergraduate Advisor is available to discuss academic and career development, and assist with graduate school planning. For advising contacts, visit lx.berkeley.edu or email lingmajoradvisor@berkeley.edu.

The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.

Related Programs

Looking for programs similar to Linguistics? UC Berkeley also offers the following major, minor, and certificate programs: