Guide to Undergraduate Programs

The Majors

The department offers a Linguistics major, and nine interdisciplinary majors combining Linguistics with one of the following: Anthropology, Chinese, German, Japanese, Philosophy, Portuguese, Psychology, Russian or Spanish.

Common requirements for all majors: All majors must complete 12 courses (36 credits minimum).  Majors must complete the Junior Year Writing requirement. The departmental website, www.umass.edu/linguistics, lists courses that satisfy the requirement. All majors must also fulfill College of Humanities and Fine Arts requirements and the Integrative Experience requirement.

Linguistics
Required core:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Cross-linguistic requirement:
Two courses from the following list (see your ARR for a complete listing):
LINGUIST 350 Syntax and Dialects of English
LINGUIST 370 The Sounds of Englishes
LINGUIST 389 Introduction to African American English
LINGUIST 391B Indigenous Languages of North America
LINGUIST 391T Typology
LINGUIST 397S Linguistics of Sign Language
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods
LINGUIST 495C Morphology
LINGUIST 505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics
LINGUIST 594A African American English
ANTHRO 397MG Languages of Mexico and Guatemala

Linguistically-oriented courses on a language other than English at the 300-400 level.

Departmental electives:
Five elective courses are required. No course that is applied to the above requirements can be applied to this one. Otherwise, any linguistics course can be an elective, although no more than one 100-level linguistics course can be so used.

Students may select electives from certain related departments (see your ARR for a complete list).

Linguistics and Anthropology
14 courses (42 credits minimum) in Linguistics and Anthropology including all of the following:
ANTHRO 102 Archaeology and Prehistory or ANTHRO 103 Human Origins and Variation
ANTHRO 104 Culture, Society and People
ANTHRO 105 Language, Culture and Communication
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

One of the following courses:
ANTHRO 233 Kinship and Social Organization
ANTHRO 270 North American Indians
ANTHRO 271 Human Evolution
ANTHRO 397LS ST - Language and Social Interaction 

One of the following Field Methods courses:
ANTHRO 281 Research Methods in Anthropology
ANTHRO 394RI Ethnography in Action
ANTHRO 397EF ST-Ethnographic Field Methods
ANTHRO 497EN ST-Endangered Languages
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods

One of the following Comparative & Historical Linguistics courses:
ANTHRO 363 Linguistics and Anthropology-Comparing Dimesions
ANTHRO 397MG Languages of Mexico and Guatemala
LINGUIST 391B Indigenous Languages of North America
LINGUIST 495C Morphology
LINGUIST 505 Historical Linguistics

One of the following courses in Language & Society:
ANTHRO 297LR ST-Language and Racism
ANTHRO 360 Language in Culture and Society
ANTHRO 597LP Language Preservation

One of the following courses in Primate Behavior, Prehistory or Archaeology:
ANTHRO 269 North American Archaeology
ANTHRO 317 Primate Behavior
ANTHRO 368 Old World Prehistory

Two additional courses in Linguistics or Anthropology numbered 200 and above.

Linguistics and Chinese
The successful completion of four courses in Mandarin Chinese (24 credits): CHINESE 126, 246, 326, and 327, or the equivalent. 12 courses (36 credits minimum) distributed between Linguistics and Chinese, as follows:

Linguistics courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure or LINGUIST 370 The Sounds of Englishes

Three of the following:
LINGUIST 101 People and Their Language
LINGUIST 394BI Language and Cognition
LINGUIST 397S ST- Lingusitcs of Sign Langauge
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 412 Language Processing and the Brain
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 503 Intermediate Syntax
LINGUIST 505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Chinese courses:
CHINESE 375 Introduction to Chinese Linguistics
CHINESE 450 Elementary Classical Chinese

Three of the following, at least one of which must be CHINESE 575, 576, or 577:
CHINESE 575 Syntactic Structures of Chinese
CHINESE 576 History of the Chinese Language
CHINESE 577 Chinese Dialectology
CHINESE 426 Advanced Modern Chinese I
CHINESE 427 Advanced Modern Chinese II
CHINESE 432 Media Chinese
CHINESE 433 Business Chinese
CHINESE 451 Intermediate Classical Chinese
CHINESE 555 Classical Chinese Poetry
CHINESE 630 Introduction to Research Chinese Source Mat

One of the following:
CHINESE 138 Religion in Chinese Culture
CHINESE 140 Chinese Script I
CHINESE 150 Peoples and languages of China
CHINESE 153 Chinese Literature: Poetry
CHINESE 154 Literature: Tales, Short Stories, Novels
CHINESE 241 Contemporary Chinese Literature
HISTORY 114 Chinese Civilization: Ancient Origins to the End of the Mongol Era
HISTORY 115 Chinese Civilization: Early Modern to the Present

Linguistics and German
Successful completion of four courses in German (12 credits): 110, 120, 230 and 240 (or equivalent).  9 courses distributed between Linguistics and German, as follows.

Linguistics courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

German courses:
GERMAN 310 Advanced German I
GERMAN 320 Advanced German II
GERMAN 425 Advanced Composition
GERMAN 584 The German Language or GERMAN 585 The Structure of German

Students are encouraged also to take graduate courses in the older Germanic languages for undergraduate credit (e.g., German 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 810, 811, 812). They may also opt to take courses in German literature or civilization, and courses, including language instruction in Danish, Dutch, or Swedish.

Linguistics and Japanese
The successful completion of four courses in Japanese (24 credits): JAPANESE 126, 246, 326 and 327 (or the equivalent). 12 courses (36 credits minimum) distributed between Japanese and Linguistics, as follows:

Linguistics courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure or LINGUIST 370 The Sounds of Englishes

Three of the following:
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 412 Language Processing and the Brain
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 503 Intermediate Syntax
LINGUIST 505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Japanese courses: 
Three of the following:
JAPANESE 375 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
JAPANESE 556 Introduction to Classical Japanese I
JAPANESE 557 Introduction to Classical Japanese II
JAPANESE 575 Syntactic Structures of Japanese
JAPANESE 580 Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

Two of the following:
JAPANESE 426 Readings in Modern Japanese I
JAPANESE 427 Readings in Modern Japanese II
JAPANESE 430 Scientific and Technical Japanese
JAPANESE 497A ST-Readings in Modern Japanese I
JAPANESE 497B ST-Contemporary Japanese I
JAPANESE 497C ST-Readings in Modern Japanese II
JAPANESE 497D ST-Contemporary Japanese II
JAPANESE 498Y Practicum (3 credits)
JAPANESE 532 Media Japanese I
JAPANESE 533 Media Japanese II
JAPANESE 536 Advanced Japanese I
JAPANESE 537 Advanced Japanese II

One of the following:
JAPANESE 135 Japanese Art and Culture
JAPANESE 143 Literature: Classical and Medieval
JAPANESE 144 Literature: Modern
JAPANESE 560 Seminar in Japanese Literature

Some of the Japanese course requirements for this joint major are not currently being offered on a regular basis by University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty, but it is possible to arrange for coursework through the Five Colleges or by special arrangement with individual faculty, or by study abroad. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Advisor.

Linguistics and Philosophy
Courses are distributed between Philosophy and Linguistics, including those listed below.

Required Linguistics courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure

LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 509 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Required Philosophy courses:
PHIL 310 Intermediate Logic
PHIL 550 Epistemology or PHIL 551 Metaphysics

One of the following:
PHIL 511 Modal Logic
PHIL 512 Philosophy and Logic
PHIL 513 Mathematical Logic I
PHIL 514 Mathematical Logic II

One of the following:
PHIL 335 Contemporary Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 546 Topics in the Philosophy of Language
PHIL 553 Topics in the  Philosophy of Science

Linguistics and Portuguese

The successful completion of four courses in Portuguese (12 credits): 110, 120, 230, 240 (First and second year Portuguese or equivalent proficiency demonstrated by testing or high school work).  12 courses (36 credits minimum) distributed between Linguistics and Portuguese as follows:

Linguistics Courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure or LINGUIST 370 The Sounds of Englishes

Three courses chosen from the following:
LINGUIST 101 People and Their Language
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods
LINGUIST 413 Sociolinguistics
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 503 Intermediate Syntax
LINGUIST 505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics
LINGUIST 509 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Portuguese Courses:
PORTUG 301 Conversational Portuguese
PORTUG 311 Advanced Grammar
PORTUG 312 Composition

One of the following:
PORTUG 320 Introduction to Portuguese Literature I
PORTUG 321 Introduction to Portuguese Literature II
PORTUG 322 Introduction to Brazilian Literature

One Portuguese or Brazilian culture courses:
PORTUG 315 Portuguese Civilization
PORTUG 316 Brazil
PORTUG 497B ST-Brazilian Culture
PORTUG 697B ST-Brazilian Culture

One elective course in Portuguese at the 400 level or above

Linguistics and Psychology
12 courses (36 credits minimum) distributed between Linguistics and Psychology as indicated below. A senior thesis may contribute up to six credits toward this requirement.

LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure
PSYCH 100 Introductory Psychology
PSYCH 240 Statistics in Psychology
PSYCH 241 Methods of Inquiry in Psychology

One of the following:
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 414 Introduction to Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 509 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Two of the following:
PSYCH 315 Cognitive Psychology
PSYCH 330 Behavioral Neuroscience

One of the following:
LINGUIST 412 Language Processing and the Brain
PSYCH 318 Psychology of Language

Two electives 300-level or above, or a senior thesis.

Linguistics and Russian
Successful completion of four courses in Russian: RUSSIAN 110, 120, 230 and 240 (or equivalent). 10 courses (30 credits minimum) distributed between Linguistics and Russian, as follows:

Linguistics courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure or LINGUIST 370 The Sounds of Englishes
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists

Russian courses:
RUSSIAN 301 Advanced Russian I
RUSSIAN 302 Advanced Russian II
RUSSIAN 560 Russian Phonetics
RUSSIAN 561 Structure of Russian
RUSSIAN 563 Contrastive Structures of Russian and English

Currently, students can take Elementary and Intermediate Russian, as well as Heritage Russian, at the University. Advanced level Russian courses are offered through the Five Colleges https://www.fivecolleges.edu/reees/courses. It may be possible to arrange for coursework by special arrangement with individual faculty, or by study abroad. For more information, contact the Undergraduate Advisor.

Additional courses may be selected from the offerings of the Slavic languages departments in the Five Colleges.

Linguistics and Spanish
The successful completion of four courses in Spanish (12 credits): 110, 120, 230, 240 (First and second year Spanish or equivalent proficiency demonstrated by testing or high school work). 12 courses (36 credits minimum) distributed between Linguistics and Spanish as follows:

Linguistics Courses:
LINGUIST 201 How Language Works:  Introduction to Linguistic Theory
LINGUIST 401 Introduction to Syntax
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure or LINGUIST 370 The Sound of Englishes

Three courses chosen from the following:
LINGUIST 101 People and Their Language
LINGUIST 389 Introduction to African American English
LINGUIST 394BI Language and Cognition
LINGUIST 402 Speech Sounds and Structure
LINGUIST 404 Field Methods
LINGUIST 411 Introduction to Language Acquisition
LINGUIST 412 Language Processing and the Brain
LINGUIST 413 Sociolinguistics
LINGUIST 414 Introductory Phonetics for Linguists
LINGUIST 503 Intermediate Syntax
LINGUIST 505 Introduction to Historical Linguistics
LINGUIST 509 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
LINGUIST 510 Introduction to Semantics

Spanish Courses:
SPANISH 311 Advanced Grammar (SPAN 354 recommended for native speakers)
SPANISH 378 Spanish Phonetics
SPANISH 470 General View of Hispanic Linguistics

One of the following:
SPANISH 320 Literary Currents - Spain I (to 17th Century)
SPANISH 321 Literary Currents -  Spain II (18th to 20th Century)
SPANISH 322 Spanish American Literature I (to 19th Century)
SPANISH 323 Introduction to Spanish American Literature II (20th Century)

One of the following:
SPANISH 415 Culture and Civilization of Spain: From Dictatorship to Democracy
SPANISH 417 Culture and Civilization of Spanish America

One of the following:
SPANISH 397CS ST-Caribbean Spanish: Structure and Use
SPANISH 471 Linguistic Varieties and Pluralism
SPANISH 472 Phonological Evolution :  Latin to Spanish
SPANISH 473 Contrastive Analysis Spanish English
SPANISH 475 LLC: The Story of Romance Language
SPANISH 497SX Spanish Syntax
SPANISH 512 Spanish Language Minority in the US
SPANISH 579 Structure of Modern Spanish
SPANISH 595FF Introduction to Spanish Phonetics/Phonology
SPANISH 597AP Applied Linguistics
or any Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics course