Mount Saint Vincent University Coordinator
Leighton Steele, BA (UBC), Maitrise en littérature française, PhD (Manitoba), Associate Professor
Students considering a major or honours in Linguistics should consult the Chair of Modern Languages.
Halifax Interuniversity Program in Linguistics
Halifax area universities offer honours, major, and minor programs in linguistics. Students enroled in this program will be able to take classes from Dalhousie, Mount Saint Vincent and Saint Mary’s to fulfill degree requirements. (An Authorized External Course form must be secured from the Registrar’s Office prior to enroling in courses at other campuses).
An undergraduate degree in linguistics gives students opportunities to study the formal, functional and systemic nature of language and languages. Linguistics is directly concerned with the question “what does it mean to know (a) language?”. As such, linguists write the descriptions language teachers use and linguistics provides methods for understanding language learning processes and disorders. Linguistics also provides relevant background for research into sign languages and the development of computer languages. It forms the basis for understanding bilingualism, for language planning in multilingual countries, for developing programmes for increasing literacy, and for enhancing the efficiency of translation services. Linguistics informs literary and cultural studies, and is central in the developing cognitive sciences.
The study of language as both a cognitive and social phenomenon entails cognate relationships with an extremely wide array of disciplines. Some of these are suggested by the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Faculty from Modern Languages, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology are participants. Many students will elect to combine Linguistics majors with majors or minors in other areas in which cross-listed and recommended classes are offered.
Program
Although the Linguistics program is offered jointly by several universities, the degree is granted by the student’s home university. Students must meet the general requirements set by the university in which they are registered.
Major (20 Units)Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 10 units in the major as follows:
❏ SMU LING 1200.0 or MSVU LING 1151
❏ MSVU LING 1152
❏ 2.0 units from SMU LING 2310.1(2), SMU LING 2320.1(2), SMU LING 2330.2(2),
SMU LING 2340.1(2)
❏ 1.0 unit selected with the advice of the Program Co-ordinator. This requirement may be met by
regularly scheduled courses listed or cross-listed as linguistics courses, by special
topics/directed study courses in linguistics, or in formal logic, or by a computer language course
❏ 1.0 unit of a second year (intermediate) second or foreign language
❏ 5.0 units selected from the list of options specified for the major
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives. |
Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.
Honours DegreeAn honours degree is strongly recommended for students who plan to do graduate work in Linguistics. Students who may not be eligible for the honours program are encouraged to enter the major degree program. Consult the Program Co-ordinator.
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 units in the honours subject as follows:
❏ SMU LING 1200.0 or MSVU LING 1151
❏ MSVU LING 1152
❏ 2.0 units from SMU LING 2310.1(2), SMU LING 2320.1(2), SMU LING 2330.2(2),
SMU LING 2340.1(2)
❏ LING 4499 (students should consult their Program Co-ordinator about the Honours Thesis)
❏ 1.0 unit selected with the advice of the Program Co-ordinator. This requirement may be met by
regularly scheduled courses listed or cross-listed as linguistics courses, by special
topics/directed study courses in linguistics, or in formal logic, or by a computer language course
❏ 1.0 unit of a second year (intermediate) second or foreign language
❏ 5.0 units selected from the list of options specified for the major |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)(exclusive of the honours subject):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 units of the required honours courses |
| ❏ | achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis |
| ❏ | obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives. |
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.
Minor
| To obtain a minor in Linguistics, students must fulfill the following requirements: |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit of introduction to linguistics (or the equivalent) |
| ❏ | 2.0 additinal units of LING or cross-listed courses at the 2000 level or above |