BSc in Linguistics and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in Boston United States | Boston University

The interdisciplinary BS program in Linguistics and Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences is a collaborative effort between Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences and the College of Arts & Sciences. This program caters to students passionate about exploring human language from multiple viewpoints while developing expertise in language development and communication disorders. Students receive comprehensive linguistic training by analyzing the structure, usage, learning, and evolution of global languages. This joint major emphasizes empirical language research methods and bridges theoretical linguistics with practical clinical applications.

This combined major equips students for advanced studies in various fields (including linguistics, psychology, neurolinguistics, and cognitive science) as well as professional programs in speech-language pathology, audiology, or broader career paths in medicine, neuropsychology, language technology (such as speech recognition or synthesis), and child development/education. Graduates not pursuing further education will be qualified for careers in research, teaching, healthcare, public health, or legal professions. With guidance from advisors in both colleges, students craft personalized study plans aligned with their academic interests and career aspirations.

Program Objectives
Graduates of the Linguistics and Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences program will achieve:

Comprehension of key inquiries shaping contemporary linguistic investigation regarding structural organization, universal principles, learning processes, historical evolution, diversity, and social contexts, coupled with essential knowledge in linguistic theory fundamentals.
Core understanding of scientific principles underlying speech, language, and hearing research and clinical practice.
Proficiency in precisely recognizing and articulating linguistic patterns within data sets, while developing rigorous analyses through hypothesis formation, evaluation, and refinement.
Capacity to implement linguistic and SLHS knowledge in research, clinical, or professional settings, employing critical thinking to connect findings with existing literature, validate analytical approaches, substantiate conclusions, and present logical syntheses of evidence and interpretations.

Program Objectives
Graduates of the Linguistics and Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences program will achieve:

Comprehension of key inquiries shaping contemporary linguistic investigation regarding structural organization, universal principles, learning processes, historical evolution, diversity, and social contexts, coupled with essential knowledge in linguistic theory fundamentals.
Core understanding of scientific principles underlying speech, language, and hearing research and clinical practice.
Proficiency in precisely recognizing and articulating linguistic patterns within data sets, while developing rigorous analyses through hypothesis formation, evaluation, and refinement.
Capacity to implement linguistic and SLHS knowledge in research, clinical, or professional settings, employing critical thinking to connect findings with existing literature, validate analytical approaches, substantiate conclusions, and present logical syntheses of evidence and interpretations.