University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2024-2025

English (Language and Linguistics Specialization), B.A.


The faculty in the Language and Linguistics program of the English Department train students in the formal study and analysis of the many facets of language. This major prepares students for graduate work in linguistics, foreign languages or medieval studies, or for careers in which a full awareness of the nature and characteristics of language is necessary, such as law, education, speech pathology, or information technology. We offer classes in general linguistics, phonetics and phonology, syntax, sociolinguistics, language and gender, the history of the language and Old English, as well as courses in medieval language and literature such as Beowulf and Chaucer. Students will also develop their skills in writing and literary analysis, and are free to take additional courses in literature or writing as electives. Many of our students find that their study of linguistics is complemented by a second major or a minor in Anthropology, Computer Science or a foreign language. Students majoring in Literature or Writing may minor in Linguistics or TESOL. Students majoring in Linguistics may minor in Literature or Writing. No course may simultaneously fulfill requirements in major and minor.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • apply and discuss the core areas of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics. (C)
  • analyze and discuss the detailed interactions of phonetics and phonology as they are manifested in English and other typologically organized phonetic and phonological systems. (QR)
  • apply tree analysis, phrase structure rule analysis, transformational analysis and writing to demonstrate a detailed understanding of the principles and parameters approach to syntactic description and explanatory theory as these apply to at least SVO, SOV, and VSO languages. (QR)
  • summarize the impact of cultural and historical events on the development of the language in speech and through writing; and demonstrate a detailed understanding of phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic and orthographic changes in the major periods of the history of the English language demonstrate through linguistic analytical methods and writing.(CT)
  • apply the methods and fieldwork techniques commonly used in linguistic research to articulate through data analysis and writing the interaction of language and society as theorized in sociolinguistics, gender studies and discourse analysis.

Contact Information


122A Frandsen Humanities
(775) 784-6689

College of Liberal Arts Advising: http://www.unr.edu/liberal-arts/student-resources/academic-advising

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Print degree planner icon at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement |  30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 42 Upper-Division Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course description.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO2 courses .

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO4/CO4L courses .

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6 courses .

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses .

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Core Requirements (15 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV), and at least one course used to satisfy a Major Requirement must satisfy a Core Objective. If students do not use the following recommended courses to satisfy the additional Core requirements, they must take appropriate courses in other departments. Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog for appropriate courses.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO9 courses .

B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


C. Global Context - CO11


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO11 courses .

D. Ethics - CO12


E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13


Choose one course:

F. Application - CO14


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO14 courses .

III. Additional College Requirements (6-20 units)


Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.

A. World Language Requirement (0-14 units)


Students seeking this bachelor’s degree must demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English equal to a fourth semester course level through one of the following options:

  1. complete a fourth semester college course in a world language other than English;
  2. demonstrate proficiency through a means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures including but not limited to minimum standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB), attaining a minimum aptitude on an accredited world language assessment test, or providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction; or,
  3. participate in a study abroad language program pre-approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures to meet the world language requirement. 

Note: Four years of high school world language instruction does not automatically satisfy this requirement.

B. College Breadth Requirement (6 units)


Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in the college shall be required to take, within the College of Liberal Arts, 6 units that are outside the departments in which they major or minor, and that exclude courses taken to fulfill the Core General Education requirements (Core Objectives 1 through 8).

IV. Major Requirements, Language and Linguistics Specialization (36 units)


Recommended electives include:


V. Minor Requirements (18-21 unit)


The English Department accepts any minor approved by the College of Liberal Arts.

VI. Electives (1-21 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


First Year


Fall Semester (16-18 units)


  • Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information Prerequisite (3-5 units) *
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 units) CO2 *
  • Foreign Language 111 (4 units)
  • Cultures, Societies & Individuals (3 units) CO6
  • Artistic Composition, Interpretation & Expression (3 units) CO7

* English and Math course placement is based on test scores. Please consult the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

Spring Semester (16-17 units)


  • (3 units) CO1, CO3 *
  • Physical & Natural Phenomena (3-4 units) CO4 or CO4L **
  • Foreign Language 112 (4 units)
  • General Elective (3 units)
  • College Breadth Requirement (3 units)
  • * English and Math course placement is based on test scores. Please consult the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog.

    ** Complete at least one CO4L course.

Second Year


Fall Semester (15-16 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


Third Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


  • 400-Level ENG (6 units)
  • Global Contexts (3 units) CO11 
  • 300-400 Level Minor (3 units)
  • Ethics (3 units) CO12

Fourth Year


Fall Semester (12-15 units)


  • 400-Level ENG (6 units)
  • Capstone Integration & Synthesis (3 units) CO13
  • 300-400 Level Minor (3 units)
  • General Elective (0-3 units) 

Spring Semester (12-13 units)


  • 400-Level ENG (6 units)
  • Application (3 units) CO14
  • General Elective (0-1 units) 
  • 300-400 Level Minor (3 units)