Degree Planning

Completing the Linguistics degree requires some planning, as some of the required courses (particularly the advanced electives in Group A) have prerequisites which require careful sequencing. It is best in most cases to allow four semesters for completion of the degree after taking LING 3001 (Introduction to Linguistics, which is prerequisite for most other courses). It is possible to complete the degree in four semesters, including the semester of Linguistics 3001, if all non-major requirements have been completed, but it is not desirable, because students doing so will have several courses left to take concurrently with the Major Project Seminar and may therefore find themselves inadequately prepared for the work of the seminar.

Although most elective courses do not have prerequisites apart from LING 3001, required courses should not be put off but should be taken as soon as possible. These classes, especially Syntax (LING 4201), Phonology (LING 4302W), and Linguistic Analysis (LING 4002), provide the foundational analytic skills and practice in systematic thinking about language data that will enhance learning in any subsequent lingustics courses. Moreover, the elective courses in Group A all require prior completion of  Syntax, Phonology, or both.

The Course Offerings chart shows the semesters in which the specific courses required for the degree are generally offered and can be taken. Several Elective offerings from group B are available every semester.

The following are possible scenarios for graduation within four semesters after taking Ling 3001. These are only examples; other configurations are possible.

A.  If LING 3001 is  taken fall semester:

	FALL	SPRING
Year 1	LING 3001	LING 4201
		LING 4302W
		LING 3601
Year 2	LING 4002	Elective from Group A
	Elective from Group A	LING 4901W
		Elective  from Group B
Year 3	Elective from Group A
	Elective from Group B
	December Graduation

 

B.  If LING 3001 is  taken spring semester:

	FALL	SPRING
Year 1		LING 3001
Year 2	LING 4002	LING 4201
	Elective from Group B	LING 4302W
	Elective from Group B	LING 3601
Year 3	Elective from Group A	Elective from Group A
	Elective from Group A	LING 4901W
	Elective from Group B
	June Graduation