The combined major in linguistics and cultural anthropology focuses on the relationship of culture to the institutions, interpersonal relations, and practices that make up their social structure while emphasizing the structure of human language and its involvement in social interaction and culture. Students examine how language both reflects and influences cultural phenomena and how it can be used as a tool to study those phenomena; and they apply their interests across a range of connected courses, co-op opportunities, and potential research projects.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Linguistics Major Language Requirement

Complete two courses in the same language with a grade of C or higher. Proficiency at elementary level 2 or higher is required.

Linguistics Requirements

Note: A grade of C or higher is required for all courses in this section.

Linguistics Requirements
LING 1150Introduction to Linguistics4
or LING 1449 English Now and Then
LING 2350Linguistic Analysis4
LING 3442Sociolinguistics4
LING 3456Language and Gender4
Linguistic Structure
Complete three of the following:12
Phonetics
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Linguistics Research
Complete one of the following:4
Research Seminar in Linguistics
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
Directed Study Research
Linguistics Elective
Complete one elective (any course in the range LING 3000–4999 that hasn't already been taken to fulfill other major requirements, or the following): 14
ASL Linguistics
1

Please visit the Linguistics Courses page within this catalog to review the list of courses in the LING 3000 - LING 4999 range.

Anthropology Requirements

Foundation Courses
ANTH 1101Peoples and Cultures4
ANTH 2305Global Markets and Local Culture4
ANTH 3410Ethnographic Field Experience4
ANTH 3421Foundations of Anthropological Theory4
ANTH 4600Senior Seminar4
or ANTH 4100 Making Anthropology Public
Anthropology Area Courses
Complete two area courses in the range from ANTH 4101-ANTH 4520 not used to satisfy other requirements; one study abroad course may be substituted as an area studies course with prior permission from the department; additional area courses taken may count as anthropology electives. 8
Anthropology Electives
Complete two ANTH courses not used to satisfy other requirements. 8

Linguistics/Anthropology Integrative Requirement

Integrative Course
LING 3412Language and Culture4

Supporting Courses

Introduction to College
INSC 1000Science at Northeastern1
or ANTH 1000 Anthropology at Northeastern
Experiential Learning Introduction
EESC 2000Professional Development for Co-op1
or EESH 2000 Professional Development for Co-op
Writing Requirements
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
ENGW 3315Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines4
or ENGW 3307 Advanced Writing in the Sciences
or ENGW 3308 Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences

NUPath Requirements

The following NUPath Requirements are met by the major:

  • Analyzing and Using Data (AD)
  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ)
  • Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone  (CE)
  • Engaging Differences and Diversity (DD)
  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World (ND)
  • Interpreting Culture (IC)
  • Understanding Societies and Institutions (SI)

Other NUPath requirements may be fulfilled by electives in the program.

Anthropology Major Grade Requirement

A GPA of 2.000 for major courses is required.

Science GPA Requirement (Linguistics)

A minimum 2.000 GPA in the following course codes is required: LING.

Linguistics/Anthropology Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 80 semester hours in the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study 

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer Second Half/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH 11014ANTH 23054Elective4Elective4
ENGW 11114LING 23504Elective4Elective4
LING 11504LING 34124  
MATH 12154Foreign language course4  
 16 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Foreign language course4LING 34424Anthropology elective4Co-op0
Linguistic structure course4Linguistic structure course4Elective4 
Anthropology elective4Elective4  
Linguistics elective4Elective4  
 16 16 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33154Elective4Co-op0
 LING 34564Elective4 
 Anthropology advanced area course4  
 Linguistic structure course4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0ANTH 46004  
 Anthropology advanced area course4  
 Elective4  
 Linguistics research4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 128

Four Years, No Co-op

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ANTH 11014ANTH 23054VacationVacation
ENGW 11114LING 23504  
LING 11504LING 34124  
MATH 12154Foreign language course4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Foreign language course4LING 34424VacationVacation
Linguistic structure course4Linguistic structure course4  
Anthropology elective4Anthropology elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 33154LING 34564VacationVacation
Anthropology advanced area course4Anthropology advanced area course4  
Anthropology elective4Linguistic structure elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Anthropology advanced area course4ANTH 46004  
Linguistics research4Linguistics elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 128