Linguistics - Bachelor of Arts

Departmental Requirements

Single Major in Linguistics

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

The strong interdisciplinary nature of the major in Linguistics lends itself to combining with other programs. Students fulfilling the requirements for the major in Linguistics are encouraged to complete either a minor or an additional major to enhance their academic pursuits.

Prefix Title Credits
General Education
Area I: Communications
English Composition - Level 1
ENGL 1110GComposition I4
English Composition - Level 2
Select one from the following:3
ENGL 2130GAdvanced Composition3
ENGL 2210HProfessional and Technical Communication Honors3
ENGL 2210MProfessional and Technical Communication for Multilingual Students3
ENGL 2215GAdvanced Technical and Professional Communication3
Professional and Technical Communication Honors3
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science3
Oral Communication
Select one from the following:3
Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture3
Introduction to Communication3
Public Speaking3
Introduction to Communication Honors3
Area II: Mathematics
MATH 1130GSurvey of Mathematics 13
MATH 1220GCollege Algebra3
MATH 1250GTrigonometry & Pre-Calculus0,4
MATH 1350GIntroduction to Statistics3
MATH 1430GApplications of Calculus I0,3
MATH 1511GCalculus and Analytic Geometry I4
MATH 1521GCalculus and Analytic Geometry II4
MATH 2134GFundamentals of Elementary Math II3
MATH 2350GStatistical Methods3
MATH 2530GCalculus III3
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences10-11
Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics (requirement for major)3
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 2
Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences Course or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (4 or 3 credits) 2
Area V: Humanities 23
Area VI. Creative and Fine Arts 23
General Education Elective 23-4
Viewing a Wider World 36
These courses do not satisfy this requirement:
Departmental/College Requirements
Linguistics Sequence
LING 302VLanguage and Society3
LING 303Exploring Language Systems3
Select from one of the following:3
Topics in Linguistics3
Language and the Mind: Introduction to Psycholinguistics3
Independent Studies in Linguistics1-3
LING 455Research in Linguistics (Required for single majors)3
Electives
Select 12 credits from the following:12
Anthropological Linguistics3
Second Language Acquisition3
Compilers and Automata Theory4
Independent Study1-6
Compilers and Automata Transition3
Programming Language Structure I3
Special Topics1-12
Persuasion Theory and Practice3
Organizational Communication3
Communication and Culture3
Conflict Management3
Interpersonal Communication3
Small Group Communication3
Political Communication3
Communication Technologies3
Strategic Communication3
Deception and Communication3
Family Communication3
Nonverbal Communication3
Leadership Communication3
Sports Communication3
International Communication3
Environmental Communication3
Health Communication3
Independent Study1-3
Selected Topics1-6
Communication Internship3
French Phonetics3
Special Topics in French1-3
Special Topics in German1-3
Independent Studies in German1-3
Topics in Linguistics3
Independent Studies in Linguistics1-3
Formal Logic3
Philosophy of Language3
Philosophy of Mind3
Independent Luso-Brazilian Studies1-3
Directed Readings1-3
Variations in Spanish3
Introduction to Spanish Linguistics3
Introduction to Translation and Interpretation3
Independent Studies in Literature, Language, or Culture1-3
Topics in Applied Spanish Linguistics3
Introduction to Spanish Phonetics3
Pragmatics3
Semantics3
Special Topics3
History of the Spanish Language3
Structure of Spanish3
Espanol de los Estados Unidos3
Communication and Autism3
Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms3
Phonetics3
Speech and Hearing Science3
Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan3
Audiology3
Neural Bases of Communication Disorders3
Second Language Requirement (required - see below)0-14
Electives (to bring the total credits to 120) 443-58
Total Credits155-163
1

MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1130G first.

2

See the General Education Section of the catalog to view the full list of courses that can be selected to complete this requirement.

3

See the Viewing a Wider World Section of the catalog to view the full list of courses that can be selected to complete this requirement.

4

Elective credit may vary based on second language requirements, prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework.  The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree.  However, students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.

Second Language Requirement

For the Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, there is a two-year second language requirement.  The options to complete this requirement are listed below.  The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with.  Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.

Option 1:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete one of the following sequences:
French
French I
and French II
and French III
and French IV
3-14
German
German I
and German II
and German III
and German IV
3-14
Japanese
Japanese I
and Japanese II
and Japanese III
and Japanese IV
3-14
Portuguese
Portuguese I
and Portuguese II
3-6
Spanish
For Non-heritage Speakers
Spanish I
and Spanish II
and Spanish III
and Spanish IV
3-14
For Heritage Speakers
Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I
and Spanish for Heritage Learners II
and Spanish for Heritage Learners III
3-9

Option 2:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better):
SIGN 1110American Sign Language I3
SIGN 1120American Sign Language II3
SIGN 2110American Sign Language III3
Completing SIGN 2110 fulfills second language requirement (with a C- or better).

 Option 3:

Prefix Title Credits
Challenge one of the following courses:
FREN 2120French IV3
or GRMN 2120 German IV
or JAPN 2120 Japanese IV
or PORT 1120 Portuguese II
or SPAN 2120 Spanish IV
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III

Option 4:

Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.

Option 5:

Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.

Option 6:

By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native-American language from the American Indian program director. 

Option 7:

By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.

Option 8:

In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.

Double Major in Linguistics

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include:  General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.  Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

Students who are completing a different major in a separate field of study can double major in Linguistics and this program may be serve students by completing this program as a double major.  Double major students are required to complete the same course sequence as single majors in Linguistics except that there is no requirement to take LING 455 or similar Linguistics course with a research component, rather this is an option for double majors in Linguistics.  At least 3 elective credits must be at the 400 level.  No more than 6 credits may be from the department where the student is obtaining his/her major.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student placement in ENGL 1110G Composition I and MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics.  The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in English and Mathematics.  It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract.  Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.

Plan of Study Grid
FreshmanCredits
ENGL 1110G Composition I 4
MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics 1 3
Second Language: Placement Level or HS Waiver (C- or better) 4 3-4
Area 1: Communications 3
Select one from the following:
Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture
Introduction to Communication
Public Speaking
Introduction to Communication Honors
LING 2110G Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics 4 3
Continued Language Sequence (C- or better) 3-4
Area V: Humanitites Course 3 3
Elective Courses 2 8
 Credits30-32
Sophomore
Select one from the following: 3
Professional and Technical Communication Honors
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science
Area III: Laboratory Science Course 3 4
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 3 3
Continued Language sequence (or al elective if the sequence is completed (C- or better) 6
Select one from the following: 3
Topics in Linguistics
Language and the Mind: Introduction to Psycholinguistics
Independent Studies in Linguistics
General Education Elective Course 3 3
Select either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course 3 3-4
LING 302V Language and Society 3
Elective Courses 2 2
 Credits30-31
Junior
Viewing a Wider World Courses 3 6
LING 303 Exploring Language Systems 3
Linguistics Elective Courses (select from list) 9
Elective Course (Upper Division) 2 6
Elective Courses 2 6
 Credits30
Senior
Linguistics Elective Courses (select from list) 6
LING 455 Research in Linguistics 3
Elective Course (Upper-Division) 2 18
Elective Courses 2 3
 Credits30
 Total Credits120-123
1

MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1130G first.

2

Elective credit may vary based on second language requirements, prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework.  The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree.  However, students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.

3

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

4

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog to see a full list of courses.  Please note that FREN 365VSPAN 364V and SPAN 365V do not fulfill this requirement.