BA with a Major In Linguistics (effective Fall 2025)
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Linguistics degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Major Requirements | 27 | |
| General Education and Electives to Reach Minimum Total Hours | 93 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LING 150 | Introduction to the Study of Language | 3 |
| LING 160 | Language and Society | 3 |
| Select three of the following: a | 9 | |
| Introduction to Natural Language Syntax | ||
| Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology | ||
| Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse | ||
| Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism | ||
| Four additional LING elective courses | 12 | |
Of these 12 elective hours, at least 9 semester hours must be taken at the 300 level or above. At least 6 semester hours at the 300 level or above must come from LING. | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- a
All four of these options satisfy the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
- b
A maximum of 6 semester hours of LING 300 and a maximum of 6 semester hours of LING 459 may count toward this requirement. With advisor approval, a maximum of 6 semester hours of 300-level linguistic courses taught in Spanish may count toward this requirement.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| LING 150 | Introduction to the Study of Language | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning course | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| LING 160 | Language and Society | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Analyzing the Natural World (with Lab) General Education course | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| LING 210 |
Introduction to Natural Language Syntax or Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology or Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse or Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism |
3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Analyzing the Natural World (with Lab) General Education course | 4 | |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LING 210 |
Introduction to Natural Language Syntax or Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology or Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse or Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism |
3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| LING 210 |
Introduction to Natural Language Syntax or Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology or Semantics, Pragmatics, and Discourse or Language Acquisition, Language Contact and Bilingualism |
3 |
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| LING Elective b | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| LING Elective c | 3 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| General Education Core course | 3 | |
| LING Elective c | 3 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LING Elective c | 3 | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
LING 150 satisfies the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
- b
LING 160 satisfies the Understanding U.S. Society and the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education categories.
- c
12 semester hours of electives are required within the major, at least 9 hours of which must be taken at the 300 level or above. At least 6 semester hours at the 300 level or above must come from LING.