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​Linguistic Studies

Delve into the nature and use of language as you examine topics like anthropology, child and family studies, spoken languages, mathematics, psychology, speech pathology, and more.

Explore the roots of language and the mysteries of communication. Consider how linguistics applies to teaching language, educating people, advertising, computer programming, and other endeavors that incorporate different aspects of language.

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About the College of Arts and Sciences

The founding college of Syracuse University remains at the center of undergraduate learning. The College is divided into the natural sciences and mathematics, the humanities, and the social sciences, with the lattermost offered in partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Learn more about the linguistic studies program .

Courses

Sample courses for linguistic studies majors include:
  • Language Development in Children and Families
  • Universal Grammar and Second Language Acquisition
  • Introduction to Applied Phonetics
  • Language, Culture, and Society
  • Mathematical Logic
  • Introduction to Historical Language
Linguistic studies goes far beyond languages, literatures, and linguistics by offering an interdisciplinary curriculum. You’ll take classes from the departments of anthropology, child and family studies, cognitive science, communications sciences and disorders, communication and rhetorical studies, computer and information science, reading and language arts, information studies, philosophy, and Spanish.
View official major requirements .

Practical Experience

Seize opportunities for community volunteering and professional internships – on campus, off campus, or internationally. Academic counselors and faculty advisors will guide you in aligning your interests and academic path with opportunities for growth.
The College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for Innovative Learning (iLEARN) can help complement your traditional classroom and laboratory work with enhanced out-of-classroom learning experiences.
There are more than 350 student organizations at Syracuse University, and you can get involved with any of them. Explore themes like art, entertainment, advocacy, government, media, religion, and service.

Study Abroad

Broaden your perspective and enhance your resume with an international experience through  Syracuse Abroad , which features more than 100 programs in 60 countries. You can choose semester, summer, short-term, and yearlong options for international study. 
Linguistic studies majors most often go abroad to language-intensive programs, available in Florence, Madrid, Santiago, and Strasbourg; and at the following World Partners: Kansai Gaidai University (Osaka), Korea University (Seoul), Sciences Po (Paris), Colgate Freiburg University, Bard-Smolny Program (St. Petersburg), School of Russian and Asian Studies (St. Petersburg or Moscow), CET Brazilian Studies and Portuguese Language (Sao Paulo), AMIDEAST Area & Arabic Language Studies (Amman, Jordan or Rabat, Morocco)

Life After Syracuse University

As a College of Arts & Sciences graduate with a major in linguistic studies, you can explore such careers as: 
  • Speech language pathologist
  • Audiologist
  • Editor
  • Writer
  • Interpreter or translator
  • Anthropologist
You can also pursue graduate training in such areas as law, information and library science, language and information technologies, editing and publishing, and more. Recent graduates of the program have attended some of the top graduate schools in the U.S.