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

Linguistics Foundations
LING 1150Introduction to Linguistics4
LING 2350Linguistic Analysis4
LING 3412Language and Culture4
Linguistic Structure
Complete three of the following:12
Phonetics
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Linguistics Electives
Complete three courses not used to fulfill other degree requirements from the following:12
ASL Linguistics
LING 3000–LING 4999
1

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

Psychology Requirements

Introductory and Intermediate Psychology
PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4
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
Statistics in Psychological Research
Advanced Psychology
PSYC 3402Social Psychology4
PSYC 3466Cognition4
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. This requirement may not be fulfilled via transfer credit.4
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Laboratory in Cognition
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
Directed Study Research
Psychology Seminar
Complete one of the following:4
Seminar in Psycholinguistics
Seminar in Cognition
Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
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
Developmental Psychology
Learning and Motivation
Sensation and Perception
Biological Psychology
Psychology of Reading
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics
Laboratory in Cognition
Laboratory in Developmental Psychology
Seminar in Psycholinguistics
Seminar in Cognition
Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
Seminar in Developmental Psychology
Directed Study Research

Integrative Requirements

PSYC 3464Psychology of Language4
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
Research Seminar in Linguistics
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
Directed Study Research
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
and Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
Directed Study Research

Supporting Courses

Introduction to College
INSC 1000Science at Northeastern1
Experiential Learning Introduction
EESC 2000Professional Development for Co-op1
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
Discrete Structures
Interactive Mathematics
Mathematical Thinking
Calculus for Business and Economics
Calculus 1
Calculus 2
Intensive Calculus for Engineers
Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering
Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering
Writing Requirements
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
ENGW 3307Advanced Writing in the Sciences4
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

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 with the Natural and Designed World (ND)
  • Engaging Differences and Diversity (DD)
  • Interpreting Culture (IC)
  • Understanding Societies and Institutions (SI)

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 Plan of Study 

Four Years, One Co-op
Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer Session AHoursSummer Session BHours
LING 11504LING 23504VacationVacation
PSYC 11014PSYC 34644  
ENGW 11114Foreign language course4  
Math requirement4NUpath or elective4  
INSC 10001   
 17 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer Session AHoursSummer Session BHours
LING 34124Linguistics structure course4NUPath or elective4COOP0
PSYC 23204Linguistics elective4Linguistic elective4 
PSYC 34664PSYC 34024  
Foreign language course4Psychology elective4  
 EESC 20001  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer Session AHoursSummer Session BHours
COOPLinguistics structure course4Linguistic structure course4Vacation
 Elective4Linguistic or PSYC elective4 
 Psychology Lab4  
 ENGW 33154  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Linguistics or psychology elective4NUpath or elective4  
Psychology seminar4Elective4  
NUpath or elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130