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Department of Linguistics | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Linguistics Major

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements

An overall 2.25 cumulative GPA and a passing grade in LING 220 is required for admission to the major and all minor programs.

Continuation Requirements

After a student has completed 60 units, a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of not less than 2.25 is required for continuance in the major program. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.25 cannot enroll in any upper division LING courses. After their CGPA is restored to 2.25, students must meet with the departmental advisor to redeclare into the program.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

LING 220 - Introduction to Linguistics (3)

Explores how language works. Introduces students to the systematic nature of language by exploring the patterns of sounds, words, sentences and meanings in English and other languages. Develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills through hands-on training in pattern recognition and language data analysis. Open to all students. Breadth-Social Sciences.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 John Alderete
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 John Alderete
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D104 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
LING 282W - Writing for Linguistics (3)

Develops skills in language analysis by focusing on reading and writing of linguistic argumentation. Explores the foundations of such argumentation in the core areas of linguistics. Students read and discuss primary literature in linguistics in order to understand how to formulate hypotheses and evaluate them. They also learn how to use writing to construct their own solutions to challenging linguistic problems. Prerequisite: LING 220. Writing/Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
A100 TBD
A200 TBD
A320 TBD
B100 Panayiotis Pappas
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
B101 Panayiotis Pappas
TBD

and nine additional lower division LING and/or INLG units.

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete both of

LING 321 - Phonology (3)

An overview of theoretical principles in phonology. Prerequisite: LING 282W.

LING 322 - Syntax (3)

Introduces theories of sentence structure. Prerequisite: LING 282W.

and one of

LING 301W - Linguistic Argumentation (3)

Advanced study of the styles of written argumentation that are used in linguistic research. Prerequisite: LING 282W. Students with credit for LING 301 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

LING 309W - Sociolinguistics (3)

A systematic approach to the study of linguistic variation in different areal, social, and cultural settings. Prerequisite: LING 282W. Recommended: LING 160. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
A320 TBD
A970 TBD
LING 482W - Topics in Linguistics III (3)

Investigation of a selected area of linguistic research. The course will be writing-intensive. This course may be repeated once for credit if the subject is different. Prerequisite: Requirements will vary according to the topic offered. Writing.

and any two of

LING 323 - Morphology (3)

Word structure in natural languages and its relationship to phonological and syntactic levels of grammar. Prerequisite: LING 282W.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
A320 TBD
LING 324 - Semantics (3)

Basic formal aspects of meaning (e.g. compositional semantics, truth conditional semantics and quantification in natural language) and how they are distinguished from pragmatic aspects of meaning. Prerequisite: LING 282W. Quantitative.

LING 330 - Phonetics (3)

A survey of methods of speech sound description and transcription. Prerequisite: LING 282W.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sylvia Cho
Sylvia Cho
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby

and 15 additional upper division units in LING and/or INLG courses.

NOTE: SFU students accepted in the accelerated master’s within the Department of Linguistics may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor's degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor’s program and the requirements of the master's degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html and http://www.sfu.ca/linguistics.html.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.