Linguistics is a field that focuses on the science behind language, its structure and analysis, and communication. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from anthropology, psychology, philosophy of language, history, and often, computational analysis/statistics. This combination of social and science makes it a prime candidate for a strong major within a liberal arts institution. We’ve gathered a list of the best linguistics majors and programs at small liberal arts schools throughout the U.S. below.
Swarthmore
Students can choose from either a traditional Linguistics major or Swarthmore’s unique Linguistics and Languages major, which has students add on an additional focus (three credits each) on at least two languages (ancient or modern). For the L&L major, if one or both of the languages selected are modern, then students are required to complete at least one semester in a relevant region of the world. The school also has had students create and participate in month-long “Linguistic Field Schools,” where students most recently created a talking dictionary for the indigenous languages of Zapotec.
Pomona
Although it’s a small major within the college (there are only 9 linguistics majors in the class of 2020), the linguistics department prides itself on the numerous research opportunities and hands-on experiences offered to its undergraduates. All linguistics majors must complete a senior exercise, which involves the completion of a mandatory one-semester senior seminar and senior seminar paper along with an optional senior thesis.
Carleton
Carleton’s linguistics department is comprehensive and has many of the offerings of other linguistics programs, but what makes the school unique is its Dakota Language Project. The DLP is a coordinated effort on behalf of a number of linguistics faculty members at Carleton to preserve and revitalize the Dakota language, an endangered language native now only to 50 speakers (the youngest of which is 60 years old) who live on the Lake Traverse Reservation which spans North and South Dakota. Faculty and select lucky students are working together to endeavor to keep the language alive by creating a database and ongoing educational materials.
Reed
Students at Reed who choose to major in linguistics must complete both a non-native language requirement and four units in an “allied field” which might include Anthropology, Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Classics, General Literature, or a language (English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian). They also have access to Reed’s Linguistics Lab which has a number of devices that enable transcription and data research for students.
Haverford
Students within the linguistics department at Haverford have some opportunities to take classes within the tri-college consortium (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore, all of this list), but Haverford affords their majors with some specific opportunities. These include but are not limited to, a junior research seminar that prepares students for their senior project requirement, and Haverford’s honor code, which enables students to complete exams unproctored and to gain access to research labs 24/7.
Macalester
Linguistics majors at Macalester are encouraged to pursue independent study opportunities with faculty advisors to further hone and specify their expertise in area(s) of the field. All majors must choose to concentrate in either the Cultural or Cognitive track. The cultural track focuses on the social aspects of language and communication, whereas the cognitive track is great for students who are more interested in specializing from a logical and psychological standpoint.
Pitzer
Students majoring in linguistics at Pitzer are required to complete comprehensive courses in at least three of the four core divisions of the linguistics department: 1) Phonetics/Phonology; 2) Syntax; 3) Semantics; and/or 4) Sociolinguistics. Pitzer also encourages and makes it easy for linguistics students to pursue dual-majors in related fields, including anthropology, english, foreign languages or psychology. Being a member of the Claremont Colleges, students are able to take advantage of the many opportunities afforded to students at Pomona (listed above) as well.
Middlebury
While Middlebury doesn’t offer a linguistics major, linguistics minors at Middlebury have the opportunity to participate in some programs that are worth highlighting. Middlebury has the unique MIIS+1 program, where linguistics minors can opt for accelerated entrance into a variety masters programs at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, including Masters in Teaching Foreign Language, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Translation & Interpretation, Conference Interpretation, and Translation & Localization Management. Minors can also complete senior theses in this area of interest.
Let us know if you have any questions or are having a hard time finding a major that aligns with your interests at a school that excites you. We want to help you find the best fit school for you.