BA in Linguistics and African Languages in Boston United States | Boston University

The Linguistics & African Languages major allows students to examine human language through multiple lenses while exploring one or more African languages within their cultural and historical settings. Through linguistics coursework, students investigate language structures (phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics) along with linguistic universals, cross-language variations, sociolinguistics, and language evolution. Concurrently, African studies courses provide fundamental knowledge about ethnic diversity, African languages, cultural traditions, and societal structures, including the impacts of Islam, Christianity, and colonialism. This interdisciplinary program aligns with CAS's dedication to diversity by fostering inclusive educational spaces. Specialized courses in African language linguistics bridge these dual academic focuses, with study abroad opportunities available through the African Studies Center.

This combined major develops linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness, opening doors to diverse career paths or advanced studies in fields like Linguistics, Forensic Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Anthropology, African Languages, African Studies, History, Information Technology, or Translation. Graduates may also pursue professional master's programs in International Relations, Diplomacy, or Global Development Policy at BU or other institutions, with potential careers in governmental and NGO sectors where expertise in linguistic theory, language skills, and cultural understanding are highly valued.