Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [Linguistics] From Northwestern University

Language is a complex, species-specific system made up of several components (sound, sentence structure, and meaning). The study of linguistics gives us a unique window on the structure of the human mind and the mind's activity. Furthermore, there are many real world applications of linguistics (e.g., natural language technologies). Additional information can be found at the?Linguistic Society of America.

Linguistics students will develop critical, scientific thinking skills through learning across several core subfields in linguistic science. Through?course work, students will gain a solid understanding of scientific approaches to the study of language: students will be able to understand scientific arguments; construct arguments; identify regularities and patterns in language; use a variety of linguistic data to test hypotheses. Courses in the linguistics program are designed to present students with information about the main subfields in linguistic science (Morphology, Phonetic, Phonology, Pragmatics, Semantics, and Syntax). Once presented with this information, students will be able to utilize this knowledge to understand, construct and verify arguments (hypotheses and evidence) in each subfield. Specific training in linguistics courses includes how to test theories using empirical methodologies (designing and conducting experiments, looking for naturally occurring linguistic data to verify hypotheses etc.).

Exposure to a scientific approach to language will help students develop critical thinking skills. Students will learn to be soundly skeptical about scientific theories. They will see and learn how to construct arguments for or against these theories. Once students learn scientific and critical thinking in linguistics, they will have a chance to put their experience into practice. For example, students in the linguistic program have the opportunity to get involved in research projects led by faculty members.