Languages and Cultures: Linguistics

The Linguistics minor offers students interdisciplinary training in the scientific study of language. Through the study of linguistics, students gain insights into fundamental aspects of human communication and develop a fuller understanding of the complexities of language and communication. Students will finish the minor with a heightened awareness of what language is, how language works and is used, and how the study of language intersects with a multitude of disciplines. The Linguistics minor provides students with tools for studying language from diverse perspectives, and these skills complement several areas including anthropology, biology, business, computer science, education, languages and literatures, neuroscience, psychology, and sociology. The minor consists of six (6) courses and is open to students in all Fordham colleges, for further information see the Academic Bulletin.

At the end of their linguistics studies, students will be able to: 
  • Apply the tools of linguistic analysis to language data. 
  • Participate actively in discussions of language and linguistics issues.
  • Demonstrate a clear understanding and professional command of what language is and how language works and is used. 
  • Observe and analyze how linguistic phenomena manifest in the larger world.   
  • Connect language and linguistics insights with social justice issues.  
  • Critically evaluate linguistic work, including empirical research, theoretical perspectives, and future directions.
  • Enrich their interdisciplinary expertise by engaging with diverse fields of linguistic inquiry including psycholinguistics, linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, communications, and language learning.

For questions about the minor, contact the Linguistics program director Dr. Sarah Grey, [email protected]. Students who intend to minor in Linguistics should prepare their schedules in consultation with a Linguistics faculty advisor. To declare the minor and be assigned an advisor, please contact the Department Associate Chair in your college.