The undergraduate concentration in linguistics is designed to provide students with an introduction to the formal analysis of language with respect to its phonetic, phonological, syntactic, and semantic properties. Further course work explores the computational nature of linguistic systems, how language is learned by children and perceived by adults, how languages vary, and how they change over time. Course work in the Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences may be complemented with related courses in English, anthropology, philosophy, computer science, and various languages.
Concentration Advisor: Katherine Demuth, x1053, Katherine_Demuth@brown.edu
The concentration in linguistics requires a total of ten courses in linguistics or related disciplines, including the following:
Prerequisite: COGS 0410 (may be waived in special instances).
The remaining five courses may be drawn from any of those listed above, or from the following courses in linguistics and related disciplines; with the restriction that only 2 may be below 1000-level courses:
Courses above the 1000-level from other departments dealing with the history and structure of language may also qualify with the consent of the advisor. At least three of these courses must be at the 1000-level or above. Other courses may be substituted at the discretion of the concentration advisor.
Foreign language courses will generally not count towards the concentration requirements, except those which focus on the structure or history of the language. Students are, however, advised to gain familiarity with a foreign language, and are encouraged to take at least one course which deals with the structure of a language other than English.
It is strongly recommended that students take COGS 1210 and COGS 1310 before Semester 7.
Candidates for honors in linguistics will take a minimum of twelve courses for the concentration which will consist of all requirements for the standard program plus two additional courses in linguistics or related disciplines. One of these courses may be an independent study project upon which the thesis is based. Honors candidates should formalize their projects in consultation with their advisors by the end of Semester 6. Honors students will give an oral presentation of their work.
Although no specific grade-point average has been set for acceptance into the Honors Program, only students with a good record and an advisor willing to work with them will be allowed into the Honors Program. The Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences will make the final decision.
Independent study is encouraged for the A.B. degree. Students should sign up for COGS 1970 with a faculty advisor who is a member of the Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences. Arrangements should be made in Semester 6 for students expecting to do independent study during Semesters 7 and/or 8.
Page last updated in February, 2008.