Minor
About Linguistics (Minor Only) at CSUSB
The Linguistics minor at Cal State San Bernardino provides students with a strong foundation in the scientific study of language—how speech sounds, grammar, discourse, and language acquisition function in context and relate to culture, thought, and communication.
The program blends analytical approaches with real-world applications to help students understand the structure, use, and social impact of language. This interdisciplinary minor is open to students from any major and offers a flexible set of electives alongside a required core course.
Whether you’re interested in how children acquire language, how language varies across cultures, or how linguistic insights support communication technologies, this minor deepens your understanding of one of humanity’s most fundamental tools.
Careers in Linguistics (Minor Only)
The Linguistics minor equips students with skills that are valuable in a wide range of professions where communication, human behavior, and language analysis matter.
Students gain analytical reasoning, cultural awareness, and language-based insight that supports success across industries.
Career pathways include:
- Speech-language pathology support and health communication roles
- Education, literacy, and language teaching support
- Communication training, conflict management, and public speaking
- Technology and artificial intelligence, such as voice recognition and natural language processing
- Search engine optimization, content strategy, and digital analytics
- Cybersecurity and human-machine communication interfaces
- Business development, marketing, and customer experience roles
- Social services and community engagement involving multilingual populations
The minor pairs especially well with majors in foreign languages, computer science, psychology, anthropology, communication studies, philosophy, social work, nursing, and health sciences, but it supports any career where understanding language matters.
Sample Courses
Language and Speech Science
Introduction to aspects of speech and language, including those relevant to communicative disorders. Particular emphasis on articulatory, perceptual, and acoustic properties of speech sounds, and principles of language analysis.
Sociolinguistics
Examination of language use in a variety of communities and by a variety of speakers, and survey of the major issues and divisions in sociolinguistics, including social and regional language varieties, interactional sociolinguistics, the relationship of language and culture, multilingualism, code-switching, gender, and language change.
Language, Thought, and Culture
Investigation of the interconnectness of language, thought, and culture. Using a cross-linguistic, cross-cultural approach, examines how language both shapes and reflects thought and cultural practice.
Meet Professor Erin Hall, Ph.D., M.A., MSc
Opportunities for Students
Students in the Linguistics minor benefit from rigorous and flexible coursework that explores the structure, function, and context of language:
- Core coursework in Introduction to Linguistics, which serves as the foundation for the minor
- Elective options that explore Language, Thought, and Culture, English Grammar, Sociolinguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Phonetics and Phonology, and more
- Courses linking linguistics with speech-language pathology and communication science
- Interdisciplinary exploration, building bridges between linguistics and psychology, computer science, communication, and social sciences
- Faculty mentorship in language structure, acquisition, and application
- Opportunities to apply linguistic insight to real-world contexts, such as technology, education, health communication, and cross-cultural interaction
These experiences help students strengthen analytical thinking, communication skills, cultural awareness, and leadership in any field where language shapes understanding and engagement.
Similar to Linguistics (Minor Only)
With more than 50 undergraduate degress at CSUSB, we offer a variety of programs that reflect the Coyotes' passion for learning. Check out where your curiosity will take you at CSUSB.
Reyes Ortega Gonzalez
Administrative Support Coordinator
reyes.ortegagonzalez@csusb.edu
