Linguistics

SWARTHMORE HOME | ACADEMICS | ADMISSIONS

Majors

The Department of Linguistics offers two major programs of study: Linguistics and Linguistics & Languages. Each may be taken as a course major or as an honors major.

Requirements for All Majors

Sounds LING 045 (Phonology)
Forms LING 050 (Syntax)
Meanings Either:
LING 040 (Semantics), or
LING 026 (Language & Meaning)
Structure of a
Non-Indo-European Language 		Any one of:
LING 061 (Structure of Navajo)
LING 062 (Structure of American Sign Language)
LING 064 (Structure of Tuvan)
LING 065 (Structure of Twi)
LINGH 282 at Haverford (Structure of Chinese)
Thesis Either:
LING 100 (for course majors), 2 credits, or
LING 195 (for honors majors), 2 credits

 

In addition to the above, students majoring in Linguistics or in Linguistics & Languages must fulfill the following requirements:

Linguistics Course Major

A total of at least 8 credits in Linguistics

Ling. & Lang. Course Major

A total of 6 credits in Linguistics
At least 3 credits in each of 2 languages, as follows:
For a modern language:
  • 1 composition & diction course
  • 2 literature courses
    (or 1 seminar)
For a classical language:
  • 1 intermediate-level course
  • 1 seminar

Linguistics Honors Major

A total of at least 8 credits in Linguistics
2 linguistics research papers, written in LING 199 (see below)
Separate oral honors exams on:
  • your thesis
  • linguistics research paper 1
  • linguistics research paper 2
  • (your minor subject)

Ling. & Lang. Honors Major

A total of 6 credits in Linguistics
At least 3 credits in each of 2 languages, as follows:
For a modern language:
  • 1 composition and diction course
  • 2 upper-level courses
    (or 1 seminar)
For a classical language:
  • 1 intermediate-level course
  • 1 seminar
2 linguistics research papers, written in LING 199 (see below)
1 research paper on a topic related to 1 of your languages (see below)
A single (long) oral honors exam with all four examiners, covering your thesis and all 3 papers

Honors Portfolio

Each linguistics research paper synthesizes concepts and material from a pair of courses taken in linguistics (e.g., Syntax & Semantics, or Phonology & Historical). The question each paper answers will be asked by your external examiner. These papers are written without faculty guidance or peer collaboration.

The research paper on a language is administered by the appropriate language department.