Career Possibilities
A B.A. in Linguistics is good training for careers in:
Teaching
- Bilingual Education
- ESL/EFL/TESOL
- Modern Foreign Languages
Publishing
- Journalism
- Editing
Computer Science and Software Development
- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
- Speech recognition software
- Grammar- and spell-checkers
- Translation software
- Writing of glossaries and computer dictionaries
Translation and Interpretation
- Modern Languages
- Bible translation
Cross-Cultural Environments
- International aid organizations
- International business
- Missions/ministry
- Local non-profit organizations
Because language is a natural behavior, constrained by physiological and social structures, and is a medium for creative expression, linguistics constitutes a significant component of many fields in the humanities, social, and hard sciences. It therefore provides good preparation for further study or training in:
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Classics
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- Philosophy
- Psychology/Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
- Speech Pathology
- Law
- Literature
- Communications
- Gender Studies
- Minority Studies
The study of linguistics raises awareness of how effective communication works. A B.A. in Linguistics can therefore be beneficial to anyone who needs to communicate effectively, including those in:
- Medical professions
- Legal professions
- Politics
- Ministry
- Counseling
- Managerial Positions
Boston University's site is a nice place to start when looking for information on what you can do with a B.A. in Linguistics.