Language studies is an interdisciplinary major and minor offered by the Linguistics Department. It is designed to equip students with competence in one or more foreign languages and, at the same time, provide them with an understanding of the general nature of human language—its structure and use. It requires (1) acquisition of demonstrable competence in a language other than English, (2) grounding in linguistics and (3) completion of a series of cultural context courses related to the language. Currently, majors may choose a concentration in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish. Interested students should contact the Linguistics Department office early in their college career to obtain essential information about requirements.
Students interested in spending a portion of a year or a full year in study abroad should consult the Global Learning Office. A senior year abroad is approved only when all of the language proficiency requirements have been satisfied and when it is clear that any remaining courses can be satisfactorily completed abroad. Courses taken abroad may be used to satisfy major requirements only if approved by the Undergraduate Program Director or a designated advisor.
Questions related to Language Studies degree requirements, linguistics classes, and independent study petitions sponsored by a linguistics instructor should be directed to the Linguistics department. The Linguistics and Language Studies Undergraduate Advising Office is located at 241 Stevenson (phone: 459-4988, email: ling@ucsc.edu)
Questions about language placement examinations, language classes, or independent study petitions sponsored by a language instructor should be directed to the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department (218 Cowell, 459-2054, languages@ucsc.edu). Further information can be found at http://language.ucsc.edu/
The undergraduate linguistics program at UCSC—a core component of the language studies program—is recognized as one of the best in North America. Our graduates are routinely admitted to top graduate programs. Undergraduate alumni from this department are on the faculty at the University of Chicago, University of Rochester, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Michigan. A language studies degree is excellent training for many careers.
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Major Qualifications
The Linguistics Department has adopted a major qualification policy for linguistics and language studies majors that is intended to encourage students to take their performance in the gateway courses seriously and to help them lay a solid foundation for further course work in the major.
To qualify for the major, a student must pass two gateway courses with a grade of C+ or better in each:
- Gateway Course 1: LING 50 Introduction to Linguistics
- Gateway Course 2: One from LING 53, LING 101, LING 112, LING 171
The intention of this major qualification policy is to help students lay a solid foundation for further course work in the major by encouraging them to take their performance in the gateway courses seriously.
Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal the decision within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. They should do this by submitting a formal letter, addressed to the department Undergraduate Program Director, to the Linguistics Department office (Stevenson 241 and 243), or via email to ling@ucsc.edu. This letter should explain any extenuating circumstances that influenced their performance in the gateway courses. For example, if some event led to weaker performance in both courses in a single quarter, a student has a potential case for appeal. In contrast, academic dishonesty or poor performance spanning multiple quarters will be considered evidence that a student is ill-suited for the major. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student of the decision.
Major Requirements
Successful completion of the language studies major leads to a BA degree in language studies. Language Studies majors must satisfy course requirements in languages and linguistics, and complete elective coursework in linguistics and/or the cultural context of the language of concentration.
The current Coursework Requirements for Language Studies Majors took effect in Fall 2021. Students who entered UCSC prior to that quarter may elect to follow either the current degree requirements or the degree requirements published at the time they entered UCSC. This is guaranteed by their “Catalog Rights,” and more information may be found at the Registrar’s web site.
Effective Fall 2021, Language Studies majors have to satisfy the following 4 requirements:
- Language Coursework Requirement
- Linguistics and Cultural Context Coursework Requirement
- Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
- Senior Exit requirement.
Language Coursework Requirement
Lower-Division
Language studies majors must achieve a level equivalent to six quarters in the language of concentration.
Upper-Division
One advanced language course after level 6 is required for students concentrating in French, German, Italian, or Spanish. Majors in Chinese and Japanese must take two advanced language courses after level 6, the second of which (and any subsequent) counts toward the cultural context course requirement.
Foreign language for transfer students. While it is not required for selection, junior-level transfer students are strongly encouraged to complete as much preparation as possible in the foreign language of their choosing. Transfer students in Japanese and Chinese who do not place into Level 4 or higher in a language placement test when they enter UCSC may not be able to complete the major within two years. Visit the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department website to find out about language placement, articulation, and course offerings.
Linguistics and Cultural Context Coursework Requirement
The Language Studies Major requires a minimum of 11 unique courses beyond the Language Coursework described above, consisting of 2 lower-division courses (LING 50, LING 53) and 9 upper-division courses.
2 Lower-Division Courses
- LING 50 Introduction to Linguistics
- LING 53 Semantics 1
3 Named Upper-Division Courses
- LING 100 Phonetics 1
- LING 101 Phonology 1
- LING 112 Syntax I, *or* LING 111 Syntactic Structures
1 Elective Upper-Division Course in Linguistics
Choose any one 5-unit upper-division course in linguistics (other than the named upper-division courses). This upper-division linguistics elective may serve as the capstone course for students completing Option 1 (Capstone Course) for the major’s senior exit requirement. Capstone electives for the language studies major will be offered every quarter during the academic year, in conjunction with LING 190, Senior Research. Please see the Comprehensive Requirement section, below.
5 Further Elective Upper-Division Courses
The major requires five upper-division elective courses in linguistics or the cultural context of the language of concentration.
Linguistics elective courses include any upper-division course offered by the Linguistics Department (except LING 100, LING 101, LING 111, and LING 112).
Cultural context courses are to be selected from among those approved by the department and include disciplines such as literature, history, and politics. These elective cultural context courses are related to the language of concentration. Further advanced (upper-division) courses in the language of concentration may also be used as electives for the major. A complete list of approved context electives is available in the UCSC General Catalog, organized by language of concentration.
List of Approved Context Electives in the Upcoming Quarter
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students must satisfy the major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in Language Studies is satisfied by completing LING 101 and either LING 111 or LING 112.
Senior Exit Requirement
In their senior year, Language Studies majors must satisfy the senior exit requirement in any one of three ways:
Option 1. Capstone course.
Successful completion of a capstone course. In order to satisfy the senior exit requirement, students must have senior standing and must have completed Linguistics 53, Semantics 1; Linguistics 101, Phonology 1; and either Linguistics 111, Syntactic Structures or Linguistics 112, Syntax 1. Students then complete a 2-unit senior research course, LING 190. Each instance of LING 190 is taught concurrently with one of the upper-division linguistics electives offered in that quarter. Students must enroll in both an instance of LING 190 and its associated upper-division elective. This elective can also serve as the one linguistics elective required for the major.
Option 2: Senior Thesis
Senior thesis supervised by a faculty member. The proposal for a senior thesis must be submitted for the approval of the department faculty at least three quarters prior to the quarter of graduation. The senior thesis is an original investigation of the major language in some relevant way, such as the linguistic structure or history of the language or its historical, literary, cultural, sociological, ethnographic, or political context.
Students who pursue this option may enroll in LING 195, Senior Thesis. Up to two quarters of LING 195 may be used as electives toward the major requirements.
Option 3: Graduate-level class (by exception)
Students in their senior year may enroll in a graduate-level linguistics class, by permission of the instructor. This option is for students who have performed exceptionally in the available undergraduate courses in a particular sub-discipline of the field. Under these conditions, a graduate-level course may serve as the student’s capstone course.
Sample Academic Plans for the Language Studies Major
The following is a recommended academic plan for four-year students who wish to pursue the language studies major.
Four-Year Students
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (frosh) | College 1 | WRIT 2 | |
| LING 50 | |||
| 2nd (soph) | LING 53 | LING 100 | LING 101 |
| Foreign language level 1 | Foreign language level 2 | Foreign language level 3 | |
| 3rd (junior) | Context 1XX upper-division elective | LING 112 | Context 1XX upper-division elective |
| Foreign language level 4 | Foreign language level 5 | Foreign language level 6 | |
| 4th (senior) | Context 1XX upper-division elective | Context 1XX upper-division elective or Foreign language 1XX upper-division language | LING 190* |
| Foreign language 1XX upper-division language | Context 1XX upper-division elective | ||
*This is a 2-credit course.
The second upper-division foreign language course is required only for students with a concentration in Chinese or Japanese. In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student must complete courses satisfying the general education requirements. The courses in the four-year planner cover at least the following general education requirements: C, CC, MF, SI.
The following is a recommended academic plan for junior transfer students who wish to pursue the language studies major.
Junior Transfer Students, Language Studies
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd (junior) | LING 50 | LING 100 | LING 101 |
| LING 53 | LING 112 | Context 1XX upper-division elective | |
| Foreign language level 4 | Foreign language level 5 | Foreign language level 6 | |
| 4th (senior) | Context 1XX upper-division elective | Context 1XX upper-division elective | LING 1XX capstone course |
| Foreign language 1XX upper-division language | Context 1XX upper-division elective or Foreign language 1XX upper-division language | LING 190* | |
| Context 1XX upper-division elective |
*This is a 2-credit course.
Note: this major planner presumes that the student enters UC Santa Cruz having already completed three quarters of foreign language or having equivalent proficiency. The second upper-division foreign language course is required only for students with a concentration in Chinese or Japanese. This planner also assumes that a student has completed any required GE courses — including UC Santa Cruz or community college GE requirements—before coming to UCSC. This can be accomplished by completing the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
Pre-Fall 2021 Major Catalog
The current Coursework Requirements for Language Studies Majors will take effect in Fall 2021. Students who entered UCSC prior to that quarter may elect to follow either the current degree requirements or the degree requirements published at the time they entered UCSC. This is guaranteed by their “Catalog Rights,” and more information may be found at the Registrar’s website.
The Language Studies major prior to Fall 2021 differed only in its Linguistics and Cultural Context Coursework Requirements. Prior to Fall 2021, Language Studies majors were not required to take LING 100 Phonetics 1 and instead were required to select two elective upper-division courses in Linguistics.
Pre-Fall 2021 Coursework Requirements
Two lower-division courses
- LING 50 Introduction to Linguistics
- LING 53 Semantics 1
Two named upper-division courses
- LING 101, Phonology 1
- LING 112, Syntax 1 or LING 111, Syntactic Structures
Two elective upper-division courses in linguistics
Choose any two 5-unit upper-division courses in linguistics (other than the named upper-division courses).
One upper-division course conducted in the language of concentration after level 6
Five further elective upper-division courses, in linguistics or cultural context
The major also requires five upper-division elective courses in linguistics or the cultural context of the language of concentration. Linguistics elective courses include any upper-division course offered by the Linguistics Department (except LING 101, 111, and 112). Cultural context courses are to be selected from among those approved by the department and include disciplines such as literature, history, and politics. These required cultural context courses are related to the language of concentration. Further advanced (upper-division) courses in the language of concentration may also be used as electives for the major. A master list of approved context electives is available in the UCSC general catalog, organized by language of concentration.
List of Approved Context Electives in the Upcoming Quarter
Minor Requirements
Language Studies minors must satisfy course requirements in languages and linguistics, and complete elective coursework in linguistics and/or the cultural context of the language of concentration.
Language Studies minors have to satisfy the following 2 requirements:
- Language Coursework Requirement
- Linguistics and Cultural Context Coursework Requirement
Language Coursework Requirement
Lower-Division
Language studies minors must achieve a level equivalent to six quarters in the language of concentration.
Upper-Division
One advanced language course after level 6 is required for students in all language concentrations.
Linguistics and Cultural Context Coursework Requirement
The Language Studies Minor requires a minimum of 5 unique courses beyond the Language Coursework described above, consisting of 1 lower-division course (LING 50) and 4 upper-division courses.
1 Lower-Division Course
- LING 50 Introduction to Linguistics
2 Named Upper-Division Courses
- LING 100 Phonetics 1
- LING 112 Syntax I, *or* LING 111 Syntactic Structures
2 Further Elective Upper-Division Courses
The minor requires two upper-division elective courses in linguistics or the cultural context of the language of concentration.
Linguistics elective courses include any upper-division course offered by the Linguistics Department (except LING 100, LING 111, and LING 112).
Cultural context courses are to be selected from among those approved by the department and include disciplines such as literature, history, and politics. These elective cultural context courses are related to the language of concentration. A complete list of approved context electives is available in the UCSC General Catalog, organized by language of concentration.
List of Approved Context Electives in the Upcoming Quarter
Further advanced (upper-division) courses in the language of concentration may also be used as electives for the minor.There are a total of five upper-division courses (25 units) required for the Language Studies minor. There is no senior exit requirement for the minor.
Pre-Fall 2021 Minor Catalog
The current Coursework Requirements for Language Studies Minors took effect in Fall 2021. Students who entered UCSC prior to that quarter may elect to follow either the current degree requirements, or the degree requirements published at the time they entered UCSC. This is guaranteed by their “Catalog Rights,” and more information may be found at the Registrar’s web site.
The Language Studies minor prior to Fall 2021 differed only in its upper-division coursework requirements. Prior to Fall 2021, Language Studies minors were not required to take LING 100 Phonetics 1, and instead were required to take LING 101, Phonology 1.
Honors and Highest Honors
Students who wish to be considered for honors should meet the deadline posted by the Office of the Registrar for declaring the intent to graduate. Determination of honors is based on the student’s grades and narrative evaluations for all courses relevant to the major and other factors relevant to an assessment of academic excellence, such as research papers of professional quality. Generally, honors in the major are awarded only to the top 10 percent of those graduating in the major. Only those students whose performance in coursework is excellent will qualify. Highest honors are rarely awarded, and then only to students whose performance in coursework is outstanding and who have completed an outstanding senior thesis.
Outside Courses
Students satisfy most major and minor requirements through regular Linguistics courses offered by the department. It is possible to satisfy requirements by other means, including:
- courses offered by other UCSC departments
- courses offered at other universities
- courses taken while studying abroad
- independent study courses
You should keep in mind the following restrictions, which apply to these outside courses:
- At most three outside courses can count toward the major, and two toward the minor.
- At most one independent study course (Linguistics 199) and two thesis research courses (Linguistics 195) can count toward the major or minor. (Only Linguistics 199 is relevant to the minor.) Keep in mind that independent study courses fall under rule (1) above also.
- Outside courses are normally used to satisfy elective requirements. Proposals to satisfy some named courses (e.g., Linguistics 101, 111, or 112) will be considered only under exceptional circumstances.
- There is a list of pre-approved outside courses available in the Course Substitution Policy section of the Language Studies catalog statement. The approved outside courses for the current quarter can be found here:
Approved Outside Elective Courses in the Upcoming QuarterAny other outside courses, including those taken abroad, are approved on a case-by-case basis. If you want to propose that a course be counted, provide the course information to the Undergraduate Advisor.
Senior Thesis
Students who have an exemplary record in their coursework may pursue the thesis option for the senior exit requirement.
Developing a thesis proposal
Students who wish to pursue a thesis should first consult with a faculty member about appropriate topics, ideally well before the end of their junior year. In consultation with this faculty advisor, they should then develop a thesis proposal, which meets the following guidelines:
- is 2-3 pages
- addresses the subject of the proposed research
- explains the methods that will be used
- predicts the results that are expected to be obtained
The proposal should be as specific as possible, and should be reviewed by the faculty advisor before being submitted.
Submitting a thesis proposal
Students should next contact the Undergraduate Advisor (ling@ucsc.edu) to obtain the Thesis Proposal Form. They should ask their proposed faculty advisor to sign this form. It is due, along with the thesis proposal and unofficial transcript, three quarters in advance of the student’s proposed graduation date. The full application should be submitted to the Undergraduate Advisor by email no later than 5 pm on the Friday of the sixth full week of instruction of that quarter.
The application is then reviewed by the department. If approved, a second faculty reader is selected at that time. The Thesis Proposal Form is signed by the second reader and the Chair, and a copy is given to the Undergraduate Advisor for placement in the student’s file.
Enrolling in an independent study
In quarters in which they are working on their thesis, students usually enroll in an independent study (LING 195: Senior Thesis). They must enroll in at least one quarter of LING 195.
Submitting the completed thesis
The completed thesis must be submitted to their faculty advisor by the end of the sixth week of the student’s final quarter. The faculty advisor and second reader review it and then bring it to the faculty for final discussion. If approved, the faculty advisor completes and signs the Thesis Evaluation Form. Once signed by the second reader and Undergraduate Program Director, it is filed by the Undergraduate Advisor in the student’s file.