Although language is involved in nearly every aspect of the human experience, most of us know surprisingly little about how language works. <br><br>Linguists research the components of human languages, including the sounds of speech, the organization of sound patterns, words, sentences, discourses, and meanings, variation and change in human languages, and the relationships between language and computation, cognition, and society.<br><br>The undergraduate linguistics program at Brandeis offers an in-depth study of human language, and linguistics majors learn the methods, concepts, and theories that will enable them to recognize, explore, describe, and explain the complex patterning of human languages, and of their knowledge and use. Whether you major or minor in linguistics, you can complement your course of study by taking language-related classes in other disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, computer science, or neuroscience.<br><br>At Brandeis, you will be part of a lively and close-knit community of students taught by research-active faculty dedicated to teaching and mentoring. Our faculty will encourage you to discover linguistic patterns for yourself, and to think deeply about language data and linguistic theories. Most of our classes beyond the introductory level are relatively small, allowing for active discussion and engagement with faculty as well as fellow students.<br><br>Because of our emphasis on data-driven hypothesis testing, you will graduate with solid skills in data collection, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and written and oral communication. Our program complements its core focus on theoretical generative linguistics with flexibility in elective choices. We offer core courses on phonological theory, syntactic theory, formal semantics, and formal pragmatics, as well as a range of electives in linguistics and related disciplines that include language and computation, speech and language pathology, cognitive science of language, and language and society.