Spanish & Linguistics joint major | Linguistics

For information, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Joint major in Spanish & Linguistics

The joint major in Spanish & Linguistics provides an opportunity for students to combine the study of Spanish language, literature, and culture with the study of linguistics.

Learning Goals

Students graduating with a major in Spanish & Linguistics will be able to demonstrate:

An understanding of the fundamental questions that drive modern linguistic research concerning formal structure, universals, acquisition, historical change, variation, and social dimensions of use, along with foundational knowledge in the core areas of linguistic theory.
The ability to identify and describe with precision the empirical patterns found in sets of language data, and to construct well-reasoned linguistic analyses by formulating, testing, and refining hypotheses about these patterns.
Linguistic mastery of same aspect of modern-day Spanish (phonetics, phonology, variation, e.g.) or of the historical development of the language.
Proficiency in the Spanish language at an advanced level, with respect to reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of spoken Spanish.
Critical and analytical engagement with Hispanic cultural and literary traditions, practices, genres, and great works.

Major Requirements

Linguistics courses satisfy a wide variety of Hub units. For information about how Linguistics courses and degree programs fit in with the brand new BU Hub, see https://tinyurl.com/BU-LX-hub.

The major consists of 13 courses, including 6 in Spanish, 6 in Linguistics, and 1 course in Spanish linguistics, listed below. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy general requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences. An advisor can assist you in designing your program of study.

Note that for Spanish linguistics courses crosslisted with CAS LS and CAS LX numbers, the LS and LX courses will satisfy exactly the same requirements, regardless of whether the student has registered for the LS or LX course.

Five courses in Linguistics

Introduction to Linguistics

CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics
(offered every semester)

These three courses can be taken in any order. They all have CAS LX 250 as a prerequisite.

Linguistic theory

CAS LX 301 Phonetics & Phonology: Introduction to Sound Systems
(previously offered as CAS LX 510 Phonetics)
CAS LX 321 Syntax: Introduction to Sentential Structure
(previously offered as CAS LX 522 Syntax I)
CAS LX 331 Semantics & Pragmatics: Introduction to Linguistic Meaning
(previously offered as CAS LX 502 Semantics I)

Linguistics elective

One additional CAS LX elective at or above the 300 level (not including courses in Spanish linguistics)

One course in Spanish Linguistics

Another relevant CAS LS course can be substituted here, with permission of advisor.

Spanish Linguistics, one from:

CAS LX 381 / CAS LS 420 Spanish in the United States

CAS LS 504 History of the Spanish Language
CAS LX 386 / CAS LS 505 Topics in Spanish Linguistics
CAS LX 383 / CAS LS 507 Sounds of Spanish
CAS LX 384 / CAS LS 508 Structure of Spanish

One additional Linguistics elective

Additional elective from:

Spanish Linguistics courses (listed above, or others with advisor approval)
General Linguistics courses, CAS LX courses at or above the 300 level

Five courses in Spanish

Advanced language course: one at the 300-level

Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts

CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts

Three literature courses

Two CAS LS 400-level literature courses
(including one Peninsular and one Latin American literature course.)
One CAS LS 500-level literature course

One additional Spanish elective

One additional CAS LS course at the 300-level or above in Spanish language, literature, or linguistics; this can include:
- CAS LX 381 / CAS LS 420 Spanish in the United States
- CAS LS 504 History of the Spanish Language
- CAS LX 386 / CAS LS 505 Topics in Spanish Linguistics
- CAS LX 383 / CAS LS 507 Sounds of Spanish, or
- CAS LX 384 / CAS LS 508 Structure of Spanish

Declare your major

To declare a Spanish & Linguistics major in CAS, submit the form here: Major Declaration form,

Honors Program

For details of the Honors Program in Spanish & Linguistics, click here.

Printable Brochure

For a brochure with an overview of the Spanish & Linguistics major, download this file: http://www.bu.edu/linguistics/UG/joint/SpanLx.pdf (print it out 2-sided; flip on short side).