The Department of Linguistics sponsors two undergraduate majors, linguistics and language studies. Both are focused and intense. The two majors are distinct in various ways but share a common goal: to understand the nature of language.
The linguistics major focuses on linguistic theory and the structure of language in general, while the language studies major combines the study of linguistics with the study of a particular language and its political, cultural, and historical context. Students can also minor in linguistics or language studies.
“Before taking any linguistics courses, I was just another student floating her way through the massive research institution that is UC. Having a major that was so academically challenging and rigorous finally held me accountable and really helped me find my place at UCSC. I learned more in the small interactive classes in the linguistics major than I ever could have in a large lecture format because I was held accountable to interact with the material.”
– A 2015 linguistics graduate
Program Learning Outcomes
The campus conducts regular and meaningful assessment of its undergraduate programs to lead to their improvement. The Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for the BA programs in linguistics and language studies are evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Students who complete a BA in linguistics or language studies emerge with the following knowledge and skills:
- Analytical thinking
Students will formulate testable hypotheses, and present them clearly and completely. Students will accurately and insightfully use relevant evidence to evaluate hypotheses and determine routes for future investigation. - Writing
Students will formulate well-organized written arguments. At the micro-level, sentences will be grammatical, follow appropriate conventions, and strike an appropriate balance of clarity and complexity. At the macro-level, sentences will be linked together into paragraphs, and paragraphs into logical sections of a larger document. - Properties of language
Students will apply analytical techniques to identify general properties of language, including but not limited to sound structure, word structure, sentence structure, meaning, use, and language processing. Students will explain the significance of relevant universal properties in some domain. - Linguistic theory and investigation
Students will demonstrate an active command of linguistic theory and linguistic investigation in at least one area of linguistic theory, including but not limited to morphology, phonetics, phonology, pragmatics, psycholinguistics, syntax, and semantics. - Second language proficiency or mathematics competency
Linguistics majors will demonstrate either competence in the mathematical foundations of theories used in linguistics or proficiency in a second language at or above the intermediate-high level and Language Studies majors will demonstrate proficiency in a second language at an advanced level.
Linguistics-MIIS Agreement
In November of 2022, the Department of Linguistics at UC Santa Cruz signed a renewed 3-year agreement with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), a graduate school of Middlebury College. The agreement guarantees a 35% reduction in tuition for graduates of the UC Santa Cruz Linguistics or Language Studies majors. Depending on the program they apply to and the courses they’ve taken, students may also be able to have specific MIIS courses waived, allowing them to finish the MIIS programs with fewer credits.
Once a UCSC Linguistics or Language Studies major has received their BA and has been admitted to Middlebury Institute’s MATESOL or MATFL program, they may ask MIIS to waive a limited number of semester credits toward the graduate requirement.
For UCSC coursework to be accepted, (a) the grade received must be B (3.0) or higher, (b) the course must have been completed no more than 5 years prior to the student’s application to Middlebury Institute, and (c) a copy of the agreement between the Linguistics Department and Middlebury Institute must be submitted with the application for admission.
To determine eligibility for Middlebury Institute’s Advanced Entry programs, consult the MIIS website.
A copy of the agreement can be found here.
Staying Connected
To stay in touch with the Linguistics Department and its activities, it is important that you read your UCSC email. This is the email account we will use to keep you updated regarding advising, orientation declaration meetings, career and internship workshops and opportunities, and other events that could benefit you. Also, if you need advising assistance over email, always use your UCSC email account when you write us, as we can only write back to your UCSC email address.
Weekly Department Newsletter
The department has a weekly newsletter, What’s Happening at Santa Cruz (WHASC), which announces upcoming department events, reports on the travels and accomplishments of students and faculty, and provides other information for the benefit of the linguistics community. WHASC is posted every Monday during the academic year. If you have an accomplishment or another news item which you would like to have posted, submit it to whasc@ucsc.edu.
Other Activities
The department’s undergraduate majors have pursued various group activities in the past, such as forming an undergraduate linguistics club and producing a quarterly publication (The Village Idiom). The department has some funds available to support such activities. Students interested in taking a leadership role in group activities related to linguistics or language studies should consult with the Undergraduate Advisor or Undergraduate Program Director.