Minors

The Language Science minor prepares students in the interdisciplinary scientific study and analysis of human language. The minor is directly applicable to students interested in computing and media, human-computer interaction, brain and cognition, language acquisition, human health, interpreting, relevant branches of engineering, and policy studies. Students can complete the minor requirements irrespective of their skills in languages other than English. Some courses in the minor include core linguistic principles, technology of language, psychology of language, and language in culture and society. Electives allow students to customize the minor to their interests and needs, with the support of a faculty advisor.

To complete the minor, a student takes fifteen semester credit hours distributed over five courses as follows:

Required core course
ENGL-310 Introduction to Language Science

Foundations course: one course in a foundation area is required (3 sch)
ENGL-371 Language, Dialects, and Identity
ENGL-351 Language Technology
MLXX-449 ST: Psycholinguistics
Elective courses: any three of these courses are required (9 sch)
A beginning ASL or foreign language course
ENGL-371 Language, Dialects, and Identity
ENGL-351 Language Technology
MLXX-449 ST: Psycholinguistics
ENGL-470 Evolving English Language
ENGL-482 Language and Brain
PHIL-414 Philosophy of Language
PSYC-331 Language and Thought
MLAS-596 Linguistics of American Sign Language
MLJP-351 Languages in Japanese Society
MLJP-451 Structure of the Japanese Language
Special Topic or Independent Study if approved by the steering committee

The following are possible clusters of courses that align with individual student interests within the minor.

Sample cluster for a student interested in language in culture and society:
ENGL-310 Introduction to Language Science
ENGL-371 Language, Dialects, and Identity
MLJP-351 Languages in Japanese Society
ENGL-470 Evolving English Language
ENGL-351 Language Technology

Sample cluster for a student interested in the psychology of language:
ENGL-310 Introduction to Language Science
MLXX-449 ST: Psycholinguistics
PSYC-331 Language and Thought v ENGL-482 Language and Brain
ENGL-351 Language Technology

Sample cluster for a student interested in general linguistics:
ENGL-310 Introduction to Language Science
MLXX-449 ST: Psycholinguistics
PHIL-414 Philosophy of Language
MLJP-451 Structure of the Japanese Language
MLAS-596 Linguistics of American Sign Language