Major in Linguistics

Required Gateway and Capstone Courses 

  • 1-unit Gateway course, 196 (to be taken no later than Autumn Quarter, junior year; must be taken before LINGUIST 197A)
  • 2-3 unit Capstone course, 197A (to be taken in Winter Quarter, senior year)

Core Courses

Complete at least three of the following (select at least one course each from the following three areas):

  • Phonetics and Phonology: 105/205A, 110
  • Morphology and Syntax: 120A, 120B/220, 121A, 121B
  • Semantics and Pragmatics: 130A/230A, 130B

Breadth Courses

Students must take at least one course each from two of the following four areas:

  • Historical Linguistics and Language Change: 160
  • Sociolinguistics: 150, 156, 157/257, 250
  • Psycholinguistics: 35, 145/245A
  • Computational Linguistics: 180/280, 188/288, 278, 284

Depth Courses

  • At least two 200-level Linguistics courses, taken for 3-4 units each (students should verify that they meet prerequisites before enrolling).
  • If the courses are cross-listed at the 100 and 200 levels, please enroll at the 200 level, if you wish the course to count for this requirement.  

Other Course Requirements

(Please note: The unit requirement has changed as of Autumn Quarter 2022-23. If you declared before Autumn Quarter 2022-23, you may follow the old requirements.)

  • A minimum of 60 units of coursework; at least 36 of these units must be in Linguistics.
  • Remaining units may be in Linguistics or in related fields, with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
  • Of the 60 units required for the major, no more than 12 may be below the 100-level and a maximum of 3 courses, totaling no more than 8 units, may be taken on a credit/no credit basis(CR/NC).
  • All required courses must be taken for a letter grade of C- or better.
  • Courses that fulfill the Writing in the Major (WIM) requirement: Linguist 120A, 121A (students must inform the instructor at the beginning of the quarter that they are using this course to satisfy the WIM requirement).
  • Note, any course taken between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021 in which the student received a final grade of "S" or "CR" counts toward undergraduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade.

Language Requirement

  • Majors must have competence in at least one language other than English as part of their understanding of linguistics and its study.
  • Fulfilled by completion of six quarters of study of a language coursework or the equivalent, at Stanford or at a community college, or by certification of equivalent proficiency through the Language Center (see University requirements).
  • Majors may petition to be exempted from the language requirement if they have grown up speaking a language other than English and can use it for everyday purposes and linguistic analysis; students should submit such a petition (personal statement and any relevant supporting documentation) as soon as possible and no later than the end of Autumn Quarter of senior year to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
  • Language courses do not count toward the 60 required units for the major. 

Course Planning Guide

The Course Planning Guide will help you plan the requirements for the Linguistics major. It should be completed by your first meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies and updated annually. 

Additionally, please review Sample Program Scenarios for some ideas on how you may structure your course plan. 

Coterminal Master's

The Coterminal Degree Program allows students receive their B.A. and M.A. degrees in Linguistics simultaneously.

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