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1. What courses can I take?
2. What courses do I need to take for the Linguistics Major?
3. How do I satisfy my language requirement?
4. What about 'List D' courses?
5. What can I do with Linguistics?

Answers:

1. What courses can I take?
   Click for descriptions of Linguistics courses offered at UBC.
   Some courses are offered every year, while others are not. When planning your program, make sure that the courses you want will be available when you plan to take them.
   Some courses are always offered in the fall semester, and others always in the spring. A good clue to this is to check the current year's course schedule.


2. What courses do I need to take for the Linguistics Major?
   Click for the list of requirements for the Linguistics major.


3. How do I satisfy my language requirement?
   
   1. Take 12 credits in the same language at UBC. e.g., take four French language courses.
   2. Have taken Grade 12 in a language, and take 6 more credits in that same language at UBC.
   3. Take a placement exam organized through Arts Advising (e.g., if you are a native speaker of a language other than English).
   
   When you've satisfied your language requirement, ask the Undergraduate Advisor to enter the information into your Degree Navigator.


4. What about 'List D' courses?
   'List D' courses are upper-level courses in an area related to Linguistics. You can use up to 9 credits from List D towards your Linguistics major.
   NB: The list of List D courses in the UBC Calendar (linked to above under 'Linguistics major') is out of date. Please talk to the Undergraduate Advisor if you are unsure whether a course will count as List D.


5. What can I do with Linguistics?

   Linguistics Career Paths

   http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/social-science/linguistics-major.htm

   Anthropology

   Many anthropologists develop strong linguistic skills to cultures. Anthropologists with linguistics degrees can quickly decode writing and other artifacts from ancient cultures. They can also discern the distinctions between regional dialects when studying modern societies.

   Consulting

   A linguist may choose a career as a consultant to a variety of industries, such as government agencies, companies who deal with international affairs or have a world wide marketing presence. Technology companies rely on consulting linguists to help refine user interfaces and speech recognition modules. Law firms retain linguistic consultants on international cases and even to help lawyers speak with clients more effectively.

   Market Research

   Market researchers rely on trained linguists to help frame up questions and conversations for research subjects. For instance, an interviewer asking a respondent question s by tel offend or confuse that respondent by using regional dialects and phrasing. Likewise, interviewers can introduce bias that undermines the quality of their data by offending respondents with slang, jargon, or poor pronunciation. By properly accounting for regional dialects and speech patterns, linguistics majors can prevent researchers from asking leading questions or misinterpreting verbal responses.

   Neuroscience

   Linguistics specialists help doctors and therapists work with patients who have suffered strokes or who exhibit signs of communications disorders. Many of these patients suffer needlessly when their injuries or illnesses prevent them from speaking clearly, although the rest of their mental processes remain intact. By examining the unique speech patterns of these patients, linguists can decode malformed language to provide vital links to patients as they learn to communicate more effectively.

   A degree in linguistics is an excellent choice for a person on a career path to pursue a law degree. Many law firms seek associates and partners who can understand multiple languages and work in a variety of cultural environments. Foreign firms who want to do business in the United States enjoy working with attorneys who respect and understand their country's traditions and mannerisms. A degree in linguistics also has application within a law firm or legal environment. A linguist would utilize both their research and interpretation skills in dissecting the complex language that typically exists in legal contracts and statutes.

   Teaching English as a Second Language

   Many people who hold a degree in linguistics pursue careers in teaching. The burgeoning market for teachers of English as a second language provides opportunities for linguistics majors to apply many of t heir ski elp students understand the language and the customs of English-speaking countries, they must be able to relate to students in their own languages and mannerisms in order for lessons to be absorbed. Many linguistics professionals enjoy opportunities to travel around the world, teaching English to professionals in foreign law firms, manufacturing facilities, and customer service centers.

   University Faculty

   Many linguistics majors still pursue the traditional tenure track of university teaching and research. Linguists often continue the research and development they started with their undergraduate or their graduate degrees, with the support of departmental peers and new generations of linguistics students. Though faculty positions tend to grow less rapidly than other job opportunities for linguists, professionals that distinguish themselves by publishing innovative findings can create demand for their work.< al>Technology Development

   Our society's reliance on computers has created many exciting new job opportunities for linguistics majors. Graduates can find themselves working with development teams on projects that improve speech recognition for customer service systems or even home computers. Linguistics specialists also work on revisions to spell checking and grammar checking software applications, helping businesspeople to express themselves through clear communication. Some linguists even help program new artificial intelligence systems that learn to aid humans by learning their specific speech patterns.

   Technical Writing

   Many new products are developed by multi-national teams of researchers, who often produce documentation that even they might find confusing. Linguistics graduates work with these inventors to overhaul complex instructions into manuals and documents that by consumers in a variety of countries. By helping customers clearly grasp the process of installing or enjoying new devices without offending or puzzling them, linguists help companies generate repeat business that improves their bottom lines.

   Dialect Coaching

   Some up-and-coming business executives hit a glass ceiling in their careers when partners, peers, or clients cannot fully understand them. Sometimes, managers who grew up in rural areas might find themselves discriminated against when competing for jobs or contracts in urban areas. Repeated studies have shown that professionals who effectively mirror the language and behavior of their target often close more sales or earn more promotions. Linguistics professionals help their clients overcome these obstacles by teaching them how to adjust their language and mannerisms to fit professional situations.

   Preparing for Linguistics

   Though undergraduate linguistics programs offer students at all skill levels the opportunity to build language and analysis skills, prospective students can take a few steps to make their degree programs even more valuable.

   While still in high school, students can enroll in advanced placement language courses that actually earn college credit. These extra credits allow part-time students to complete their degree courses even sooner than expected. Full-time linguistics majors can use the extra credit to reduce their course load each semester, allowing them extra time to work on projects, hold part-time jobs, or simply enjoy their college experiences.

   Career Outlook for Linguistics Professionals

   According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, professionals with linguistics degrees are in high demand by technology companies. Linguists who de ts for international use, such as general software, voice recognition software, and web design, will enjoy strong job prospects over the next decade. Linguists who seek employment in the technology field generally receive compensation that is two to three times higher than linguists in other fields.

   Certification and Licensure

   Linguistics majors who teach English as a foreign language often face fewer certification and licensure requirements when teaching overseas than they do when teaching here in the United States. Overseas teachers often must complete simple background checks and pass certification examinations before leading their first classes. Many colleges and universities prepare students to pass these examinations as part of their degree programs.

   Graduates who intend to teach classes within the United States do not always have to complete the same rigorous certification l educators undergo, but they must meet some specific requirements. Though requirements vary from state to state, most certification boards require teachers to hold a bachelor's degree in their specialty and to complete a supervised teaching internship before completing a general certification examination. Usually, colleges and universities integrate state requirements into their degree programs.

   International linguistics professionals who want to work for government agencies must pass a different type of certification process. Job applicants at federal agencies must first pass a complex entry exam. The highest scoring applicants receive invitations to participate in a series of interviews and role playing exercises with experienced field agents. Meanwhile, prospective civil servants must pass a rigorous background check. Although previous criminal activity or connections do not automatically rule out a career in the federal government, applicants should be forthcoming with their interviewers about any potential skeletons in their closets.

   Upon passing the background check, substance abuse tests, and intake process, professional linguists gradually earn security clearances depending on the kind of tasks they perform and the specific language skills they possess. Many linguists tend to earn higher security clearances faster than other government agents to help their colleagues decipher sensitive materials.

If you have further questions on undergrad topics after working through the website, contact the Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of Linguistics.