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Bachelor of Arts

Linguistics

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Pave Your Career Path through the Art of Language

Gain insight into how we interact with others through the study of linguistics. You will develop essential problem-solving, critical-thinking and clarity-of-expression skills by understanding the intricacies of language structure and use.

Foundational groundwork that focuses on the history, structure, function and evolution of language will prepare you for careers in areas like public relations, education, machine learning, speech pathology, translation, technical writing, publishing and foreign services with a bachelor’s in linguistics from the University at Albany.

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Applied Learning

Qualified students will have the option to apply for the Honors track within the major. The Honors track provides access to higher-level courses like the honors thesis, a project that students complete under the supervision of a faculty member.

 

In addition to doing your own research in the Field Methods in Anthropological Linguistics course, you will have the opportunity to work with faculty on joint research projects and presentations at national meetings.

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Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Option

You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. 

Combine your Linguistics degree with the MS in Information Science program. This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.

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Career Outcomes

The bachelor’s in linguistics program at the University at Albany gives you the experience you need to confidently succeed in fields that require analytical, communication and research skills like technology, academia, publishing and government.

Potential job titles include:

  • Speech and language therapist
  • Teaching English as a second language
  • Translator
  • Copy editor
  • Technical writer
  • Lexicographer
  • Foreign language teacher
  • Artificial Intelligence computational linguists

 

 

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Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts
  • Acquire ability to collect data from a primary source (native speaker) and analyze it using techniques learned from previous coursework.
  • Acquire ability to effectively collect linguistic data from secondary sources such as grammars, dictionaries, other linguistic sources.
  • Acquire oral and written presentation skills to present linguistic analysis.
  • Understand and critically evaluate descriptions of grammatical structure from the linguistic literature.
  • Understands basic principles, assumptions and terminology used in major sub-areas: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, acquisition and sociolinguistics, and apply this knowledge to analysis of data within theoretical frameworks for phonological, morphological and syntactic analyses and their applications and contributions.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

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Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

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Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies