What Can I Do With a Major In Linguistics?
UGA Specific Information for Linguistics
Linguistics is an interdisciplinary program whose curriculum offers students the opportunity to learn about the many different ways that human language can be studied. Linguistics investigates the systematic structural properties of languages to determine similarities and differences among languages. Linguistics also investigates the sociological pressures on language use and the ways in which these pressures are reflected in language variation and change. Moreover, linguistics examines the psychological processes by which languages are learned and the way mature language users produce and interpret linguistic expressions. Students with extensive computer training, linguistics may offer them an edge for jobs in the expanding field of natural language processing and artificial intelligence.
Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Linguistics*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
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Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations
General Information and Strategies
- Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field and therefore good preparation for a wide variety of graduate programs including: linguistics, speech pathology, audiology, cognitive sciences, English, law, journalism, foreign languages, etc.
- Students who major in linguistics develop strong analytical and communication skills and the ability to debate. They are commonly required to gain proficiency in a second language.
- Students should consider a secondary area of study such as, foreign language, computer science, psychology, or other area of interest to increase opportunities for employment or graduate school.
- Consider study abroad and getting involved with the international community on campus. Attend language conversation tables.
- Research career paths of interest and seek to gain the skills, experiences, and degrees necessary to work in that field.
- Conduct informational interviews with or shadow professionals to learn about various work environments.
- Join related professional associations as a student member.
- Because many career paths require graduate education, learn about the graduate school admissions process and build a strong candidacy.
- Gain relevant experience through jobs, volunteer positions, or internships.
- Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. To search, select “groups” under the “interests” tab. Also, review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.
Interested in graduate school? Find current information on getting into graduate school at UGA’s Career Center webpage.
Supplemental Career Research Dashboard
Additional Career Research Resources
- My Next Move
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (type in general term for career of interest)
- Career Insider: Vault Guides
- Candid Career - View professionals speaking about their careers
- Idealist Careers - Helping You Find a Nonprofit Career
Employment Websites
General:
- GoinGlobal - International (to access, login with your MyID and password)
- Idealist - Nonprofit
- USAJOBS - Federal
Major/Career Specific:
Professional Associations/Resources
- The Association for Computational Linguistics
- Linguistic Society of America
- American Dialect Society
- Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of America
- College Language Association
- Modern Language Association
- American Association for Applied Linguistics
- American Association of Language Specialists
- American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
- American Translators Association
Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2020 Linguistics majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Employer | Position Title(s) |
---|---|
Appen | Linguist | CAS | Patent Authority Specialist | CDC | ORISE Fellow | Hands On Atlanta | Tutor | Peace Organics | Packing Line | Sleep and Sinus Centers of Georgia | Medical Assistant and Scribe | SMAKK Studios | UX/Development Intern |
Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2020 Linguistics majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Graduate School | Program(s) |
---|---|
Georgetown University | Language and Communication, MA | Georgia State University | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, MAT | Hofstra University | Forensic Linguistics, MALFL | University of Georgia | Linguistics, PhD | University of Georgia | World Language Education, Master's | University of Washington | Computational Linguistics, MS |