Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Students of linguistics do not necessarily seek fluency in a second or third language. Instead, they study the components that make up any given language - the syntax, the grammar, the regional differences, the slang, the pronunciations, the symbols, the changes over time, how people learn a language, and more.
At UWM, Linguistics students can opt for a broad linguistics major which will touch on all aspects of language development and learning. Or, students can choose an applied linguistics major which will focus more on using the principles of linguistics in a business setting such as in the classroom to help students learn a second language, in a social service agency that deals with illiteracy, or at a software company working on search engine optimization terms.
Many students find that acquiring advanced fluency in a second or third language beyond their native tongue is helpful for understanding the commonalities and differences between languages. However, no additional foreign language is required beyond the standard requirement for Letters & Science students - four years in high school of the same language or four semesters in college of the same language.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
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Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) you will also complete the Language other than English requirement, to further develop your understanding of cultures through language.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the BA must fulfill the language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English (including all world languages and American Sign Language).
Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work. Proficiency tests approved by the Languages faculty may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement.
Completion of the L&S Language Requirement also satisfies the university-wide Language other than English GER, but not vice versa.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
Linguistics Major Requirements
The undergraduate major in linguistics may be obtained by pursuing either the general major option or the applied major option. Students must complete 30 credits in either the general major option or the applied major option. Students must complete at least 15 upper-division (numbered 300 and above) credits in the major in residence at UWM. The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. The College also requires students to complete a research experience in their major.
Major Options
General Linguistics Major Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Requirements | ||
| LINGUIS 350 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LINGUIS 450 | Introduction to Phonetics | 3 |
| LINGUIS 461 | Introduction to Phonology | 3 |
| LINGUIS 464 | Introduction to Syntax | 3 |
| Special Requirements | ||
| Select at least three of the following: | 9 | |
| First Language Acquisition | ||
| Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | ||
| Language and Society | ||
| Semantics | ||
| Language in its Various Forms: | ||
| Historical/Comparative Linguistics | ||
| Language Typology and Language Universals | ||
| Advanced Phonology | ||
| Advanced Syntax | ||
| Morphology | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits 1 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
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Coursework in linguistics and related areas, selected from the approved electives list (see below) in consultation with an advisor in the Linguistics program.
Applied Linguistics Major Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Requirements | ||
| LINGUIS 350 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LINGUIS 420 | Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| LINGUIS/ANTHRO 570 | Issues in Bilingualism | 3 |
| or LINGUIS 430 | Language and Society | |
| LINGUIS 450 | Introduction to Phonetics | 3 |
| LINGUIS 461 | Introduction to Phonology | 3 |
| LINGUIS 464 | Introduction to Syntax | 3 |
| Special Requirements | ||
| Select at least two of the following: | 6 | |
| Psycholinguistics | ||
| Introduction to TESOL Methods | ||
| Language in its Various Forms: | ||
| Advanced Second Language Acquisition: | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 6 credits 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Coursework in linguistics and related areas, selected from the approved electives list (see below) in consultation with an advisor in the Linguistics program.
Linguistics Major Approved Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| All linguistics courses not selected to meet a specific requirement in the option | ||
| All language courses (does not include literature courses) | ||
| The following courses offered by other units: | ||
| ANTHRO 105 | Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO 362 | System Failure: Globalization and Language Extinction | 3 |
| ANTHRO 641 | Seminar in Anthropology: (with linguistics subtitle) | 3 |
| COMMUN 320 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 350 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMSDIS 230 | Introduction to Phonetics | 4 |
| COMSDIS 240 | Normal Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| COMPSCI 132 | Introduction to Computers and Programming | 3 |
| COMPSCI 423 | Introduction to Natural Language Processing | 3 |
| COMPSCI 431 | Programming Languages Concepts | 3 |
| ENGLISH 211 | Aspects of the English Language: | 3 |
| ENGLISH/LINGUIS 400 | Introduction to English Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGLISH 402 | Theories of Language and Literature: (with language focus) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 403 | Survey of Modern English Grammar | 3 |
| FRENCH 392 | Phonetics | 3 |
| GERMAN 371 | German Phonetics | 3 |
| PHILOS 211 | Elementary Logic | 3 |
| PHILOS 212 | Modern Deductive Logic | 3 |
| PHILOS 511 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHILOS 516 | Language and Meaning | 3 |
| PHILOS 517 | Special Problems in the Philosophy of Language and Linguistics: | 3 |
| SPANISH 341 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 444 | Spanish Syntax and Morphology | 3 |
| SPANISH 541 | History of the Spanish Language | 3 |
Linguistics BA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Linguistics BA program will be able to:
- Apply problem-solving techniques to uncover patterns in both familiar and unfamiliar languages.
- Arrange and analyze data in a way that highlights its key tendencies.
- Reflect on the role of language in social interactions and behavior.
- Clearly communicate linguistic insights in writing and speaking.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors, and success coaches. Letters and Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional College Advisors and Faculty Advisors. L&S College Advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental Faculty Advisors focus on the major.
College Advisors are located in Holton Hall and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College Advisors will:
- assist you in defining your academic and life goals;
- help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals;
- assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures;
- provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate; and
- monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty Advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a Faculty Advisor when you declare your major. Faculty Advisors are an important partner and will:
- help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department;
- explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences; and
- serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their College Advisor and Faculty Advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.