Linguistics Major

Study a major in Linguistics at UON

Fundamental to functioning in human society is our ability to communicate through language. Linguistics is a fascinating major where you will learn about language as a human communication system. Your study will focus on the structure, acquisition and uses of language, and the variety of world languages.

Throughout your scientific study of language, you will have the opportunity to develop answers to a huge range of fascinating questions, such as:

• What is the role of language in establishing social identity?
• What is involved in the communication between individuals of different cultural backgrounds?
• What is the role of language in thinking?
• What is the role of language in learning/cognition?

When you study a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Linguistics you will ask all of these questions and more.

What jobs can you get with a Linguistics major?

Studying linguistics opens up a variety of job opportunities. Students who graduate with a major in linguistics can pursue exciting and rewarding careers in:

• communications
• computers
• education and research
• engineering and technology
• field linguistics
• interpreting and translating
• language policy
• teaching English to speakers of other languages

Suitable for arts and language students with:

• An interest in learning about language as a system of communication in human society.
• Goals to understand the role of language in society and pursue research in communication.
• A commitment to studying language in order to become a more effective educator in the classroom.

Which do you learn in a Linguistics major?:

Study a major in Linguistics at UON and enrol in a variety of courses about language, communication and society:

• Introduction to Linguistics: In your first year of study you will focus on analysing what language reveals about humans and human behaviour. You will learn about the core theoretical concepts in linguistics, including how to assess geographical and social variation.
• Phonetics: Courses in phonetics will allow you to study the sound of language. You will learn how societies interpret speaking tone as an indication of intention and meaning.
• Language and Meaning: This course explores how language is coded and interpreted in various situations. Your study will focus on sentence level semantics as well as time and space relationships.

Which degrees include a major in Linguistics?

You can study a Linguistics major as part of the Bachelor of Arts degree, or any associated degree program:

• For more information about the Bachelor of Arts program structure, please refer to the handbook.
• For more information about the Bachelor of Social Science program structure, please refer to the handbook.
• To learn more about our expertise in Linguistics, contact us.

Available at Newcastle campus (Callaghan) and online.