BA Linguistics at University of California, Davis

Programme overview

Linguistics is the systematic study of human language. It focuses on theories of language structure, variation, and use, description of contemporary languages, and the examination of language change through time. Because of the pervasive influence of language in our everyday lives, work in linguistics interacts in important ways with studies carried out in many other fields, including psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, philosophy, computer science, sociology, literature, language teaching, communication and education.

Faculty: College of Letters & Science | Department: Linguistics | Duration: 48 units (quarter system) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Davis, CA, United States

What you will study

The major requires a minimum of 48 units. Requirements are organised into preparatory subject matter, depth subject matter components. Required courses include LIN 001 Introduction to Linguistics; LIN 103A Linguistic Analysis I: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology; LIN 103AV Linguistic Analysis I: Phonetics, Phonology, & Morphology; LIN 111 Introduction to Phonological Theory; LIN 131 Introduction to Syntactic Theory.

Career pathways

Majors in linguistics find practical outlets for their linguistic training in a variety of fields: the computer science industry (software development); teaching English as a second language; foreign language teaching; elementary and secondary level bilingual-bicultural programs; language-oriented missionary work; bilingual-bicultural curriculum development (e.g., for publishing houses); legal work; speech therapy; lexicography (preparation of dictionaries).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to UC Davis and the College of Letters & Science; the catalogue entry gives no major-specific admission requirement beyond the major requirements below.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,202 a year (2026-27). Systemwide UC undergraduate Tuition for California residents, cohort first enrolled in 2026-27 (annual, quarter system); rate is the same for all undergraduate majors. Excludes Student Services Fee, campus-based fees, and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. Source

First-year and transfer students enter in the fall term (quarter system); the UC application opens Aug. 1 and the filing period is Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for admission the following year.

The UC application filing period is Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for admission the following year, and a single application covers all UC campuses.

The UC application filing fee is $80 per campus for domestic applicants and $95 per campus for international applicants, payable by credit card or mail; fee waivers are available for up to four campuses.

Transfer applicants submit the UC application by Nov. 30; Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) applications are due Sept. 1-30; the priority deadline for the Transfer Academic Update is Jan. 31.

Apply through the official page: https://www.ucdavis.edu/admissions

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