Linguistics and Psychology, BS (Boston)

This combined major is designed to educate students in psychology, linguistics, and the interface between the two disciplines, which are core areas within the field of cognitive science. Students study the formal structures of human language; sociocultural aspects of language use; and the cognitive aspects of language representations, language acquisition, and language processing. Students receive interdisciplinary training in the methods of experimental psychology, psycholinguistics, and linguistic analysis.

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 Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Linguistics Foundations
LING 1150	Introduction to Linguistics	4
LING 2350	Linguistic Analysis	4
LING 3412	Language and Culture	4
Linguistic Structure
Complete three of the following:		12
LING 3420	Phonetics
LING 3422	Phonology
LING 3424	Morphology
LING 3450	Syntax
LING 3452	Semantics
Linguistics Electives
Complete three courses not used to fulfill other degree requirements from the following:		12
DEAF 2700	ASL Linguistics
LING 3000–LING 4999

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

Psychology Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Introductory and Intermediate Psychology
PSYC 1101	Foundations of Psychology	4
Statistics
Complete the following course. Students who receive transfer credit for the Advanced Placement Statistics exam may complete the 1 semester hour PSYC 2315 course (requires department permission).		4-5
PSYC 2320	Statistics in Psychological Research
Advanced Psychology
PSYC 3402	Social Psychology	4
PSYC 3466	Cognition	4
Psychology Lab
Complete one of the laboratory courses or, with prior approval, a directed study or honors project on a topic related to psycholinguistics or cognition:		4
PSYC 4610	Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4612	Laboratory in Cognition
PSYC 4970	Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
PSYC 4971	Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
PSYC 4991	Directed Study Research
Psychology Seminar
Complete one of the following:		4
PSYC 4658	Seminar in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4660	Seminar in Cognition
PSYC 4674	Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 4682	Seminar in Learning and Motivation
Psychology Electives
A directed study on a topic related to psycholinguistics or cognition may be taken with prior approval.
Complete two of the following (not counted elsewhere):		8
PSYC 3404	Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3450	Learning and Motivation
PSYC 3452	Sensation and Perception
PSYC 3458	Biological Psychology
PSYC 4522	Psychology of Reading
PSYC 4610	Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4612	Laboratory in Cognition
PSYC 4628	Laboratory in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 4658	Seminar in Psycholinguistics
PSYC 4660	Seminar in Cognition
PSYC 4674	Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 4676	Seminar in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 4991	Directed Study Research

Integrative Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PSYC 3464	Psychology of Language	4
Experiential Learning
Complete one of the following options. Courses used to satisfy this requirement will also typically simultaneously satisfy a requirement above.		0-8
Study Abroad (not a Dialogue)
International Co-op
LING 4891	Research Seminar in Linguistics
LING 4970 and LING 4971	Junior/Senior Honors Project 1 and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
LING 4991	Directed Study Research
PSYC 4970 and PSYC 4971	Junior/Senior Honors Project 1 and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
PSYC 4991	Directed Study Research

Supporting Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Introduction to College
INSC 1000	Science at Northeastern	1
Experiential Learning Introduction
EESC 2000	Professional Development for Co-op	1
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.		8
Mathematics Requirement
Complete one of the following:		4
CS 1800	Discrete Structures
MATH 1213	Interactive Mathematics
MATH 1215	Mathematical Thinking
MATH 1231	Calculus for Business and Economics
MATH 1241	Calculus 1
MATH 1242	Calculus 2
MATH 1251	Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1
MATH 1252	Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 2
MATH 1340	Intensive Calculus for Engineers
MATH 1341	Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering
MATH 1342	Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering
Writing Requirements
ENGW 1111	First-Year Writing	4
or ENGW 1102	First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
ENGW 3307	Advanced Writing in the Sciences	4
or ENGW 3315	Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

NUPath Requirements

The following NUPath Requirements are met by the major:

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

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

Linguistics and Psychology Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 72 semester hours in the major (excluding supporting courses).

Science GPA Requirement

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

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study 

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer Second Half/Fall