Linguistics

College of Liberal Arts

Department Chair: John J. Attinasi

Department Office: Psychology (PSY) 114
Telephone / FAX: (562) 985-5792 / (562) 985-2593
Website: www.csulb.edu/depts/ling

Faculty: Rebekha J. Abbuhl, John J. Attinasi, Pamela Bunte, Michael J. Fender, Malcolm A. Finney, Robert M. Hertz, Alexandra M. Jaffe, Lorraine E. Kumpf, Barbara LeMaster, Xiaoping Liang, Carol D. Lord, Stephen B. Ross (Emeritus), Sara W. Smith

Advisors:
Undergraduate: Robert M. Hertz
Graduate: Xiaoping Liang
CLAD: John J. Attinasi
Administrative Coordinator: Phyllis L. Simon

Career Possibilities

English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher • Bilingual Education Teacher • Intelligence Specialist • Researcher • Teacher • Linguist • Foreign Service Officer • Peace Corps Worker • Librarian • Interpreter • Immigration Officer • Lawyer • Customs Inspector • Import-Export Agent • Philologist • Writer • Editor • Sales Representative • Consultant (Some of these, and other careers, require additional education or experience. For more information, see www.careers.csulb.edu.) Various entry-level positions in business and industry are available for graduates regardless of academic discipline.

Introduction

Linguistics is the science of language. Linguistics majors study the nature of language, the similarities
and differences among languages, the physical mechanisms of human languages (both spoken and signed), acquisition of languages, and socialization through languages. Areas include anthropological linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics, including teaching English as a second or foreign language.

The Department of Linguistics at CSULB offers an undergraduate major and minor in Linguistics, an Interdisciplinary CLAD Minor, a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and the MA with four Options: TESL, General, Special, and Language and Culture.

Students desiring general information should contact the department office. Advisors are available for individual appointments during the Fall and Spring semesters to assist students with information about degree requirements and about graduate study.