Introduction to the Major
Linguistics(link is external) is the scientific study of language. Linguists seek to understand the use, structure, and meaning of language by investigating languages from around the world, how languages change over time, and the relationship of language to society and cognition. Linguistics is interdisciplinary, drawing on and contributing to work in anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and computer science. Through a strong tradition of research collaboration, linguists at Berkeley conduct cutting-edge research on language, deepening and enriching our understanding of this unique human trait.
The Major Curriculum
Students in linguistics benefit from an intense, personalized academic experience through smaller classes and ample opportunities to work with faculty and graduate students on research projects.
The four main components of the major(link is external) are: 1) The Lower Division Requirement, 2) The Prerequisite to Declare, 3) The Binned Courses Requirement, and 4) The Upper Division Electives Requirement.
The foundational course is LINGUIS 100 (“Introduction to Linguistic Science”), a general survey of linguistics. Students then take upper division courses which focus on different aspects of language.
Amplify Your Major
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Join a student organization such as the Society of Linguistics Undergraduate Students (SLUgS)(link is external)
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Work directly with a graduate student on research through the Linguistics Research Apprentice Practicum(link is external)
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Visit the California Language Archive(link is external), a catalog of indigenous language materials.
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Participate in the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Linguistic Institute(link is external).
The Linguistics major provides a variety of career and graduate school possibilities. Graduates go on to work in a range of fields, including health services, speech technology, legal consulting, writing, teaching, data mining, lexicography, and translation.
Jobs and Employers
- Analytical Linguist, Google
- Assistant Language Teacher, JET
- Behavioral Interventionist, Ctr. for Autism and Related Disorders
- Biological Research Asst., UC Berkeley
- Content Manager
- Educational Technology Editor
- Forensic Linguist
- Linguist, Sensory, Inc.
- Linguistic Localization Consultant
- Litigation Paralegal Trainee, Computerlaw Group
- Professional Brand Namer
- Research scientist
- Site Reliability Engineer, Google
- Software Engineer, Abstract
- Technical Writer
- UI/UX/Web Developer, AXA Rosenberg
- User Experience Strategist
- Video Editor, Udemy
Graduate Programs
- Computer Engineering, Masters
- Elementary Education, Masters
- Law, JD
- Linguistics, PhD
- Spanish Language and Lit., Masters
- Speech-Language Pathology, Masters
- Urban Community Planning, Masters
Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey(link is external) of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Cal Day
Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House(link is external) in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more. Attend the “Ask a linguist” session to learn more about language and find out from current undergraduates what it's like to be a Linguistics major.
Golden Bear Orientation
Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation(link is external) program for all new students.
Events
Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit lx.berkeley.edu(link is external) for news and updates.
Advising
Students can schedule appointments or email general questions to the major advisor at LingMajorAdvisor@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
