Linguistics

What You Will Learn

1. How to study language scientifically by using data to test a hypothesis and construct powerful arguments. 
2. How to question assumptions about language and think critically about what you learn. 
3. How to study language as a phenomenon that happens in our heads vs. how language is used in society. 
4. How languages and dialects play a role in social power dynamics.
5. In–depth knowledge about one subfield of linguistics.
6. How to conduct independent research focused on language. 

Students majoring in Linguistics are required to study three of the four core divisions of the field (Phonetics/Phonology, Syntax, Semantics and/or Sociolinguistics) and in addition to take a range of courses dealing with the variety of languages and variation within a language. There is also a Cognitive Science major offered through Pomona College. For more information, see the online catalog for the Linguistics and Cognitive Science Department at Pomona. Majors are required to take:

• LGCS 010 PZ 
• A basic upper-division course in three out of the four core areas: LGCS 108 PO – Phonology or LGCS 104 PO – Phonetics, LGCS 105 PO – Syntax, LGCS 106 PO – Semantics and/or LGCS 112 PZ – Language in Society.
• A course that looks at one language in depth or compares several languages. Sample courses that could fill this requirement include: LGCS 125 PO – Field Methods in Linguistics, ENGL 085 PO – History of the English Language, LGCS 101 PO – Comparative and Historical Linguistics, Spanish Linguistics, etc.
• At least three other Linguistics courses.
• (a) At least two years of a foreign language or (b) the equivalent in demonstrated competence.
• LGCS 190 PO – Senior Seminar: Students who wish to continue working on a thesis after the seminar can register for LGCS 191 PZ – Senior Thesis in the spring. Alternatively, students may substitute some other type of project if approved by the faculty adviser.

*Note: In the 5-College course schedule, Linguistics courses are listed as “LGCS” (Linguistics and Cognitive Science)

Honors

Honors in the major are awarded when the student meets the required GPA for honors at their particular college and completes a thesis which the faculty judges to be of honors quality.

Students interested in a combined major with another field, such as Anthropology, English, foreign languages or Psychology should see their adviser since the requirements will vary depending on the fields chosen.

Students who are pursuing a minor must take the following:

• LGCS 010 PZ – Introduction to the Study of Language 
• Three of the following core courses (LGCS 105 PO, LGCS 108 PO, LGCS 112 PZ or LGCS 125 PO)
• Three other courses in Linguistics