Major in English, Linguistics Concentration | Colorado State University Catalog

Are you curious about how language works—how we learn it, use it, and shape it to connect with others? The Linguistics concentration lets you explore the science behind human language, with a special focus on English and how it's used in the real world. You’ll dive into big questions about how people acquire language, how meaning is created, and how language reflects identity, culture, and society. Along the way, you’ll learn how to analyze language using tools from across the humanities, social sciences, and even natural sciences.

This concentration is a great fit for students interested in language learning and teaching (especially English as an additional language), as well as those drawn to writing, literature, education, or communication. Whether you’re planning to go on to grad school or looking for a career where strong analytical skills and clear communication matter, studying linguistics will give you the tools to understand and work with language in powerful ways.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Discover how linguistics connects with fields like anthropology, computer science, education, psychology, and more.
Explore the many branches of linguistics—like semantics, language acquisition, and sociolinguistics—and how each helps us understand how language works.
Build practical skills in analyzing language, thinking critically about how it’s used, and applying what you learn to real-world situations.
Use linguistic knowledge to explore big questions about language learning, language change, identity, and communication in a digital world.
Get hands-on experience with language-focused research and problem-solving using tools like discourse and conversation analysis.
Learn how spoken, written, and signed languages—and other ways we communicate—work together in complex and fascinating ways.

Where can a Linguistics degree take you?

Linguistics opens doors to a wide range of careers where language, communication, and analytical thinking are key. Whether you're into technology, education, writing, or working across cultures, studying linguistics can help you get there. Here are just some of the paths you can take:

Linguist

ESL/EFL Instructor

K–12 English Language Arts Teacher

Curriculum and Materials Developer

Language Data Analyst

Computational Linguist

Copy Editor

Lexicographer

Technical Writer

Translator or Interpreter

Accent Coach

Effective Fall 2025

For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses. Students may enroll in either the standalone major or (at most) one of the concentrations under the Major in English.

Freshman
		AUCC	Credits
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)	1A	3
E 150	English Studies Symposium		3
SPCM 200	Public Speaking		3
Select one course from the following:			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)	3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)	3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)	3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)	3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)	3B
Select one course from the following:			3
E 236	Short Fiction	3B
E 238	Contemporary Global Fiction (GT-AH2)	1C
E 240	Introduction to Poetry
E 242	Reading Shakespeare (GT-AH2)	3B
E 245	World Drama (GT-AH2)	1C
E 270	Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)	3B
E 276	British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2)	3B
E 277	British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2)	3B
Foreign Language¹			3-5
1B		1B	3
1C		1C	3
Biological and Physical Sciences		3A	4
	Total Credits		28-30
Sophomore

E 320	Introduction to the Study of Language	4A,4B	3
Select one course from the following:			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)	3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)	3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)	3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)	3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)	3B
Foreign Language¹			3-5
Biological and Physical Sciences		3A	3
Historical Perspectives		3D	3
Social and Behavioral Science		3C	3
Electives			10-12
	Total Credits		30
Junior

E 321	Language Learning and Development		3
E 324	Teaching English as a Second Language		3
E 326	Development of the English Language		3
Select one course from the following:			3
CO 300	Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301A	Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301B	Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301C	Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)	2
CO 301D	Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)	2
Select one course from the following:			3
E 327	Syntax and Semantics
E 328	Phonology, Morphology, and Lexis
E 329	Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives²			9
Foreign Language¹			5
Elective			3
	Total Credits		32
Senior

Select one course from the following not taken in the junior year:			3
E 327	Syntax and Semantics
E 328	Phonology, Morphology, and Lexis
E 329	Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
Select one course from the following:			3
E 465	Topics in Literature and Language	4C
E 466	Integrated English Studies Capstone	4C
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives²			9
Foreign Language¹			5
Electives³			8-10
	Total Credits		28-30
	Program Total Credits:		120

¹: This requirement must be met by completing the second year of one foreign language and the first year of another foreign language.
²: Select Upper-Division English/Composition electives in consultation with advisor.
³: Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

*Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
For graduation, an English major must attain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in all Composition (CO) and English (E) courses.

*Freshman*
Semester 1		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)	X		1A	3
E 150	English Studies Symposium	X			3
Select one course from the following:					3
E 236	Short Fiction			3B
E 238	Contemporary Global Fiction (GT-AH2)			1C
E 240	Introduction to Poetry
E 242	Reading Shakespeare (GT-AH2)			3B
E 245	World Drama (GT-AH2)			1C
E 270	Introduction to American Literature (GT-AH2)			3B
E 276	British Literature--Medieval Period to 1800 (GT-AH2)			3B
E 277	British Literature--After 1800 (GT-AH2)			3B
1B		X		1B	3
1C		X		1C	3
	Total Credits				15
Semester 2		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
SPCM 200	Public Speaking	X			3
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)			3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)			3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)			3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)			3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)			3B
Foreign Language		X			3-5
Biological and Physical Sciences			X	3A	4
AUCC 1B and CO 150 must be completed at the end of Semester 2.		X
	Total Credits				13-15
*Sophomore*
Semester 3		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 200	Inquiry-Based Teaching and Communicating (GT-AH2)			3B
E 202	Language Use in Society (GT-AH2)			3B
E 204	Creative Writing as Transformative Practice (GT-AH2)			3B
E 206	Language for Activist Rhetoric and Writing (GT-AH2)			3B
E 237	Introduction to Science Fiction (GT-AH2)			3B
Biological and Physical Sciences			X	3A	3
Historical Perspectives			X	3D	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences			X	3C	3
Elective					3
	Total Credits				15
Semester 4		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
E 320	Introduction to the Study of Language			4A,4B	3
Foreign Language					3-5
Electives					7-9
AUCC 3A (Biological and Physical Sciences), AUCC 3B (Arts and Humanities), AUCC 3C (Social and Behavioral Sciences) plus one course of L* * must be completed by the end of Semester 4.		X
	Total Credits				15
*Junior*
Semester 5		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
E 321	Language Learning and Development				3
E 324	Teaching English as a Second Language				3
E 326	Development of the English Language				3
Select one course from the following:		X			3
CO 300	Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301A	Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301B	Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301C	Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)			2
CO 301D	Writing in the Disciplines: Education (GT-CO3)			2
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective		X			3
	Total Credits				15
Semester 6		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 327	Syntax and Semantics
E 328	Phonology, Morphology, and Lexis
E 329	Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives		X			6
Foreign Language		X			5
Elective			X		3
	Total Credits				17
*Senior*
Semester 7		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:		X			3
E 465	Topics in Literature and Language			4C
E 466	Integrated English Studies Capstone			4C
Upper-Division English/Composition Electives		X			6
Foreign Langauge		X			5
	Total Credits				14
Semester 8		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
Select one course from the following:					3
E 327	Syntax and Semantics	X
E 328	Phonology, Morphology, and Lexis	X
E 329	Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis	X
Upper-Division English/Composition Elective		X			3
Electives		X			8-10
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.		X
	Total Credits				14-16
	Program Total Credits:				120