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| The Department | Undergraduate Degree | Graduate Degree | TEFL Sequence | News & Events |
Linguistics Department |
Undergraduate Degree Ohio University offers an undergraduate major in linguistics, the study of how languages are structured, acquired, and used. Consisting of 45 credits, the major can be completed in two years if a student begins the program in the fall of the junior year. (LING 270, an introductory course in the nature of language, does not count toward the major.) Qualified students can earn a Master of Arts degree in linguistics with one additional year of study beyond the B.A. A certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is also offered for individuals planning on teaching English overseas. This certificate does not have official transcript status, nor is it valid for teaching English in American public schools. Required courses are LING 350, 475, 480, 482 and 410. What Is Linguistics?Linguistics is the scientific study of the nature and development of language and how it is acquired and used. What Do Linguists Do?Linguists study both the universal properties and the particular structures of language. Some study the way in which children and non-native speakers acquire language. Linguists also study the geographical and social dialect variations of language. Bilingual and bicultural communication is of vital interest to those who specialize in teaching English to speakers of other languages, as well as to teachers of other languages. Some linguists explore the function of the brain and other biological mechanisms in linguistic communication, and some use computers to analyze languages and to model the way language users understand and produce linguistic communication. What Applications Does Linguistics Have?Linguistics has important applications to other professional fields. Rapid expansion in linguistics has involved fields such as anthropology, computer science, sociology, hearing and speech sciences, and education. Because linguistics plays a pivotal role in current studies dealing with the nature of the human mind, it finds particular application in the fields of psychology, education, and cognitive science. What Kinds of Jobs Do Linguists Get?Since linguistics is a relatively new field, there is no fixed area in which only linguists are employed. Most linguists are to be found teaching at universities or connected with organizations which involve research and teaching, development of teaching materials, or field study of the world's languages. A background in linguistics is useful in fields such as education, library science, artificial intelligence, psychology, and cognitive science. A degree or specialization in teaching English to speakers of other languages is valuable in obtaining employment both at home and abroad as a teacher of English as a second or foreign language (TESL/TEFL) or as a teacher of any other language. The need for bilingual education and English instruction in the public schools has led to a demand for trained linguists in many urban areas throughout the United States. Undergraduate ProgramsOhio University offers an undergraduate major in linguistics, the study of how languages are structured, acquired, and used. Consisting of 45 credits, the major can be completed in two years if a student begins the program in the fall of the junior year. (LING 270, an introductory course in the nature of language, does not count toward the major.) Qualified students can earn a Master of Arts degree in linguistics with one additional year of study beyond the B.A. A core program of 30 quarter hours is required of all majors; each student must take 15 additional hours of electives in linguistics. Areas of possible concentration include the teaching of English as a second or foreign language (TESL/TEFL), theoretical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and the use of computers in linguistic research or teaching. In addition, the major may be useful to students planning advanced study or careers in speech and hearing sciences, bilingual education, translation and interpretation, cognitive science, anthropology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. Unlike other majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, linguistics majors must complete three years of foreign language study and meet all general education requirements. Elective courses are recommended from the departments of English, modern or classical languages, psychology, cultural anthropology, international studies, education, and other disciplines. A typical program of study can be sequenced across the last two years of a student's college career. Some courses may be taken out of sequence, but prerequisites and descriptions of courses listed in the Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog should be carefully noted. All linguistics majors are required to complete an independent research project (LING 495) under faculty supervision. A minimum GPA of 2.33 is required in the major, with no grade below C- in the core courses. A minor in linguistics is also available, requiring a minimum of 24 hours and at least two courses at the 400 level. Areas of specialization include general linguistics, sociolinguistics, and teaching English as a second or foreign language. Courses offered are:LING 275 Language & Culture [4 ] Various kinds of financial aid are available. U.S. citizens should contact the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Ohio University, Chubb Hall 020, Athens OH 45701-2979. Students from other countries should write to the Director, Office of International Student and Faculty Services, Ohio University, Scott Quad 174, Athens OH U.S.A. 45701-2979. For further information, contact:Department of Linguistics |
| Department of Linguistics Gordy 383 - Athens, Ohio 45701 Tel: 740-593-4564 Fax: 740-593-2967 Email: linguisticsWeb@ohio.edu |
College of Arts and Sciences Tel: 740.593.2845 Fax: 740.597.1386 © Copyright 2007 OHIO University |
| This page last updated January 2, 2008 by John McVicker. | |