Undergraduate Content Items

Undergraduate Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics MAJOR

Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major Flyer

To declare a major in Linguistics, please go to mymajor.sas.rutgers.edu.
To be accepted as a Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major you must pass 615:201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory with a grade of C or better.

A Major in Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics consists of 22 courses total (21 courses of 3 credits each and 1 course of 1.5 credit) for a total of 64.5 credits.
This Major is considered a credit-intensive major. As a result, the requirement for a minor is waived for students completing this major. Students in credit intensive majors may still choose to complete a minor, even though they are not required to do so, or double major. Popular combinations include a Cognitive Science major or a Developmental Psychology minor.
A grade of C or better must be earned in all course work that is to be applied to the major.

For information about Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics at Rutgers, please contact our S&H Advisor: speechandhearing (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu.
All academic advising either the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguisics or the Linguistics major/minor are conducted by our Undergraduate Program Director: undergrad (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu. 

The distribution of these courses falls into seven main categories, as specified below. (There are three components in addition to the four required for the Linguistics Major.)

Majors may also participate in the Departmental Honors Program and complete a thesis in their senior year. See requirements on the Linguistics Major page.

Requirement R1: Introduction to Linguistics (A) - (1 course, 3 credits)

OFFERING: At least 5 sections every semester, including 1 Honors section

• 201      Introduction to Linguistic Theory  (1 course, 3 credits)

This course is required. It is a prerequisite for all courses in (B) and many (but not all) in (C) and (D): it must be taken before them.  

Requirement R2: Theoretical Linguistic Subfields (B) - (4 courses, 3 credits each, 12 credits total)

OFFERING: At least 1 section of each B course every semester, with 2 sections of at least 2 B courses each semester

These four courses  

• 305 Syntax (taught every semester)
• 315 Phonology (taught every semester)
• 325 Semantics (taught every semester)
• 350  Pragmatics   (taught every semester)

Requirement R3: Linguistics Electives (C and D) - (6 courses, 3 credits each, 18 credits total)

OFFERING: At least 2-3 C and 1 D course within Linguistics every semester

R3.1: These two courses (3 credits each, 6 credits total)

• 440  Language Development (taught every spring)
• 451 Phonetics (taught at least one semester a year, typically fall)

R3.2: Four Linguistics (C) and (D) courses (including at least one 1 (C) Course and at most three (D) Courses)

Note: You can fulfill R3.2 with 4 C and no D, 3 C and 1 D, 2 C and 2 D, or 1 C and 3 D. This is different from the Linguistics Major, because of the requirement in R3.1.

(C) Must take at least one, up to four

• 330 Historical linguistics (taught every 2-3 years) (cross-listed with Classics department)
• 381 Sociolinguistics (online) (taught every year)
• 411 Morphology (taught every year)
• 421 Language Typology (taught on occasion) 
• 425 Romance Linguistics (taught on occasion)
• 431 Investigations into an Unfamiliar Language (taught every 2 years)
• 441 Linguistics and Cognitive Science (taught every fall)
• 455 Computational Linguistics (taught every year, typically spring)
• 465 Introduction to Prosody (taught on occasion) 
• 461 Linguistics of Signed Languages (taught every year/every other year, typically spring)
• 471 Selected Topics in Linguistics (taught every 2-3 years, topics vary)
• 481 Language and Law (online) (taught every other year, typically fall)
• 493/4   Independent Study (by SPN only, reserved for students with pre-arranged independent research with faculty)
• 495/6   Senior Honors Thesis (by SPN only, reserved for students with pre-arranged faculty advisors,
  one applies to (C), second applies to (E))

(D) May take at most 3, with at most 2 D electives at the 200-level.

Note: The list of D courses for this Major includes most Courses from the list of Approved Outside Courses (see below). 
Please see important restrictions in Degree Navigator on D electives for this major.
The D electives do NOT include the 39x courses, which required in R5 (below).

• 215 Language of Advertising (online) (taught every other year, typically spring)
• 445 Language and Cognition (taught every other year, cross-listed with Cognitive Science)
• 491 Practicum in Linguistics (reserved for students doing research with faculty as research assistants, SPN from UPD required to register)

See the Approved Outside Courses.

Requirement R4: Linguistics Capstone (E) - (1 course, 3 credits)

OFFERING: 1 section every semester

Choose one option. 
Note: For the vast majority of the students in the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major, the Capstone will be 615:497 (the Advanced Seminar) NOT the Honors thesis.

• 495/496 Senior Honors Thesis (first semester applies to (C), second applies to (E); MUST have faculty advisor permission and submit a proposal by the end of May of your Junior year, SPN from UPD required to register)
• 497 Advanced Undergraduate Seminar (taught every semester, SPN from UPD required to register)

Requirement R5: Core ASHA-aligned Speech and Hearing Science Courses - (4 courses, 3 credits each, 12 credits total)

OFFERING: 2 courses each semester, covering all four courses in an academic year

Note: These courses count as D electives in R3 for the Linguistics Major, but do not count as D electives for the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major, since all four are required to satisfy R5.

• 391 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism (online) (taught every spring, best for students pursuing a path in Speech and Hearing Sciences)
• 392 Introduction to Communication Disorders (online) (taught every fall, best for students pursuing a path in Speech and Hearing Sciences )
• 393 Audiology (online) (taught every fall) (best for students pursuing a path in Speech and Hearing Sciences)
• 394 Speech and Hearing Science (online) (taught every spring, best for students pursuing a path in Speech and Hearing Sciences)

Requirement R6: Speech and Hearing Electives - (4 courses, 3 credits each, 12 credits total)

OFFERING: At least 2-3 courses for each category each semester offered by other departments

 1 course from each of the following four sets of courses (based on ASHA requirements)
Notes: 
No more than 2 of these courses may be at the 100 Level.
No credits may be used from Advanced Placement (AP) Courses.
No more than 1 course may be used from other Non-New Brunswick Courses (i.e., Transfer courses, and courses taken at Rutgers Camden or Newark).

1. Statistics Electives
2. Biological Sciences Electives
3. Physical Sciences Electives
4. Social/Behavioral Sciences Electives

Requirement R7: Speech and Hearing Capstone - (2 courses, 3 credits and 1.5 credits, 4.5 credits total)

OFFERING: 290 of every fall, 498 every semester

• 290 Career Explorations in Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics (online) (new in AY25-26, taught every fall)
• 498 Research Methods and Professionalism in Speech and Hearing Sciences (online) (new in AY25-26, taught every semester)

Requests for evaluation of transfer and study abroad courses should be sent to the Undergraduate Program Director at undergrad (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu. 

Departmental Honors Designation

• All students graduating with at least a 3.8 GPA in the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major are designated as graduating with Departmental Honors. 

Undergraduate Linguistics MINOR

To declare a minor in Linguistics, please go to mymajor.sas.rutgers.edu.
To be accepted as a Minor you must pass 615:201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory with a grade of C or better. 

A MINOR in Linguistics consists of 7 courses of 3 credits each for a total of 21 credits.

The distribution of these courses falls into four main categories, as specified below.

A grade of C or better must be earned in all course work that is to be applied to the minor.

 Requirement R1: Introduction

(A)       201      Introduction to Linguistic Theory  (3 credits)
This course is required for Linguistics Majors and Minors.
It is a prerequisite for all courses in (B) and many (but not all) in (C) and (D): it must be taken before them. 

Requirement R2: Theoretical Subfields

(B)       Any 3 of the following courses (9 credits total)
The 1 Course in this list not used for (B) may be counted towards (C)!

• 305 Syntax (taught every semester)
• 315 Phonology (taught every semester)
• 325 Semantics (taught every semester)
• 350  Pragmatics   (taught every semester)

 Requirement R3: Linguistics Electives (3 total courses from two groups: (C) and (D); 9 credits total)

•  at least 1 course from (B) or (C) (3 to 6 credits)
  Two ways to fulfill:
  -Course from (B) that has not already been used 
  -Courses from the list in (C) on the Major page
•  2 courses from (C) or (D) (3 to 6 credits)
  Two ways to fulfill:
  -Courses from the list in (C) on the Major page
  -Courses from list in (D) on the Major page, including courses from the list of Approved Outside Courses

 Requests for evaluation of transfer and study abroad courses should be sent to the Undergraduate Program Director at undergrad (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu. 

Linguistics and the Speech and Hearing Sciences

Our department offers the following options for students interested in going into the Speech and Hearing Sciences as a Career:

• The Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major (a fully comprehensive option that include a solid Linguistics Foundation and a full suit of courses satisfying ASHA prereqs and professional development in S&H)
• The Linguistics Major or Linguistics Minor (both of which allow students to take S&H courses as electives)
• The Post-Bacc Certificate available ONLY to non-matriculating students (a fully online, great option for non-Rutgers students!)  

Linguistics explores how natural languages are learned, understood, represented, and used by humans. The focus of Speech and Hearing Sciences is on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and communication disorders. A degree in Linguistics at Rutgers University – New Brunswick serve as an excellent foundation to the study of language and speech disorders, because the research opportunities, familiarization with core linguistic theory, and related coursework in the speech and hearing sciences help to prepare students for diverse graduate and career opportunities.

Careers in the Speech and Hearing Sciences may include clinical practice, research, or education in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) focus on speech, language, and swallowing disorders, including disorders of voice, fluency, social communication, and cognitive communication. Audiologists focus on auditory and balance disorders. Employment settings for clinical practice include K-12 schools, hospitals, or private practice. A Masters degree for SLPs or the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) for audiologists is required for clinical practice. Many students pursue a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences, allowing them to conduct important research in this area and take on future leadership roles in the field. SLPs and Audiologists with a Ph.D. conduct research or teach at colleges or universities. Some also maintain a clinical practice. Students interested in participating in independent research while at Rutgers may wish to apply for opportunities through the Aresty Research Center and McNair Program. Priority is typically given to students in their first or second year; it can be very challenging to find research opportunities as a rising senior.

For general information about Speech and Hearing Sciences, please visit any of the following online resources: 

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Information for undergraduates
• Planning your graduate education
• Speech Pathology resources

For more information about funding for Speech and Hearing graduate programs, please visit

• Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Scholarships

Department Speech and Hearing Advisor 

Please contact our Speech and Hearing Advisor, Prof. Mazumdar, at speechandhearing (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu to learn more about the career paths in the Speech and Hearing Sciences, recommended coursework, or preparing for graduate school. The S&H Advisor also the faculty advisor to the Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club. 

All academic advising for either the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguisics major or the Linguistics major/minor are conducted by our Undergraduate Program Director: undergrad (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu.

Majors and Courses for the Speech and Hearing Sciences

Students interested in applying to graduate programs in the Speech and Hearing Sciences are strongly recommended enroll in our Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major, or to take the following courses in the Department of Linguistics as part of the Linguistics Major or Minor:

• 01:615:391 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism 
• 01:615:392 Introduction to Communication Disorders 
• 01:615:393 Audiology
• 01:615:394 Speech and Hearing Science 
• 01:615:440 Language Development 
• 01:615:451 Phonetics

The courses above can be used to partially fulfill the requirements for the Linguistics Major, and are required for the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major. It may be extremely difficult to get into these courses without being a student in either Major or the Post-Bacc certificate, given their popularity and high demand for enrollment. 

Please note that because graduate programs differ in their required prerequisites, students are encouraged to contact specific graduate programs directly with any questions about these requirements and the application process.

Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club

The Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club is an active organization for students interested in pursuing careers in the speech and hearing sciences. The Club is a chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) which is recognized by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). It has been recognized by the NSSLHA Executive Council with Bronze Chapter Honors. 

The Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club meets regularly. The club organizes guest speakers representing different career paths in the Speech and Hearing Sciences, as well as other events, such as attending graduate school open houses or volunteering. The Club's faculty advisor is the Speech and Hearing advisor, who can be contacted at speechandhearing (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu.

Department Learning Goals and Policies

Students will be able to reason about language scientifically; demonstrate knowledge of cross-linguistic variability and universal patterns in language; evaluate a range of views on the nature, origin, and/or structure of language; and identify what someone knows when they know a language.

Majors and minors who complete the core courses in Linguistics will demonstrate technical mastery over the tools of linguistic analysis in syntax, phonology, semantics and pragmatics and apply linguistic theory in these areas. They will be able to investigate and analyze linguistic data; demonstrate strong problem-solving skills; extend their understanding of theoretical linguistics into other domains of linguistic research; and apply the techniques of linguistics to new topics. Majors will access current research in the field and be able to communicate the findings and relevance of linguistic research to both an audience in the discipline and a lay audience.

Policies

If your course syllabus has referred you to this webpage, the following policies apply to your course. Students in linguistics courses are responsible for reading these policies and abiding by them.

Specific policies may be amended or altered by a course lecturer in an individual course’s syllabus.

Rutgers Code of Student Conduct
All students are required to abide by Rutgers Student Code of Conduct.

Policy on Religiously Observant Students
It is University policy (University Regulation on Attendance, Book 2, 2.4.7B, formerly 60.14f) to excuse without penalty students who are absent from class because of religious observances, and to allow the make-up of work missed because of such absence. Examinations and special required out-of-class activities shall ordinarily not be scheduled on those days when religiously observant students refrain from participating in secular activities. Absences for reasons of religious obligation shall not be counted for purposes of reporting.
In the printed schedule of classes, students are advised that they should provide timely notification to instructors about necessary absences, and that they are responsible for making up the work or exams according to an agreed-upon schedule.
The published schedule of classes contains a reminder for students who are unable to participate in secular activities because of a religious observance to notify their instructor as early in the semester as possible. Reasonable common sense, judgment, and the pursuit of mutual goodwill should result in the positive resolution of scheduling conflicts.

Students with Disabilities
Students with documented learning disabilities are invited to visit the website for the Office Disability Services for support and accommodations.

Attendance Policy
In accordance with Rutgers University regulations, attendance is expected at all regularly scheduled meetings of this course. 
Students who miss an occasional class for unverifiable illness or personal circumstances do not require written documentation or verification from the dean.  In these circumstances, use the Self-Reporting Absence Application to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email will be automatically sent to the course instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to notify instructors in a timely manner of any absences. It is up to the instructor to determine if accommodations are warranted to allow students to make up work that counts toward their semester grade.

Students missing more than an occasional class due to serious illness or serious personal circumstances should contact the Dean of Students to authenticate their absences. Faculty notified of authenticated absences should make reasonable accommodations to allow students to make up work that counts toward their semester grade.
It is the policy of the Rutgers University not to cancel classes on religious holidays. In the case of inclement weather, the President of the University may cancel classes.

Academic Integrity
All students must read and follow Rutgers’ policies on Academic Integrity.
Students must not collaborate on any assessed work (e.g. homework assignments, examinations) unless specifically directed to do so by the course instructor. Homework assignments and exams must be done independently.
‘Collaboration’ includes

• Working together to determine an answer to an assignment/exam answer
• Discussing and comparing assignment/exam answers before the due date
• Reviewing another student’s assignment/exam answers before the due date

Collaboration is a violation of the Academic Integrity policy.  All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.

Concerns
Any concern should first be directed to the Course Instructor/Lecturer. (The concern should be shared in a timely manner, and that individual should be given an opportunity to address the concern.) If the concern is still not resolved or questions remain, the concern will be referred to the Undergraduate Program Director. 

E-mail and Contact Information Policy

As a student in Linguistics, you will receive regular communications from your instructors and the Undergraduate Program Director. It is your responsibility to ensure that you:

• Have a functional Rutgers email address, and communicate using this email address (in lieu of a personal email account). 
• Check your email on a regular bases (multiple times a week). 
• Have your Canvas notifications set up so that you receive course announcements. 
• Respond to direct emails to you from your instructors or the UPD in a timely manner (within 24-48 hours maximum).

For more information on Undergraduate Education, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Education.