Career Pathways for Linguistics Students

There are many exciting career pathways for Linguistics students. During your undergraduate studies, several entry-level opportunities that can lead to lucrative careers are available to first and second-year students. Upper division Linguistics students are especially well-positioned to take these pathways. See the list of links below for details and typical requirements. During your time as an undergrad, it is also valuable to consider taking courses from other departments and faculties at SFU to widen your career options. In particular, consider exploring courses in Communication, Computing Science, Education, Psychology, Indigenous Studies, and Anthropology. SFU staff at Career and Volunteer Services are available to help students explore their best options.

Upon completion of your Linguistics degree, even more pathways become available to you. Some require no more than an undergraduate degree. Many options open wider by completing an SFU Continuing Studies program, such the Strategic Public Relations Microcertificate, the Community Capacity Building Certificate, the Non-profit Management Certificate, the Project Management Certificate, and the Technical Communication Certificate. In some cases, such as the Editing program, the Plain Language program, and the Dialogue and Civic Engagement program, it is not necessary to complete the entire certificate as targeted individual courses will suffice for your goals. You may be eligible for financial assistance for these programs, through grants and government funding. Other popular career pathways, such as speech therapy, audiology, and library sciences require a graduate degree. See details below. 

SFU Career and Volunteer Services is an incredibly valuable resource to help students find their pathway. This free service offers assistance for your first steps, such as career exploration and career research guidance. Staff may provide an aptitude test similar to these to determine a path suited to your personality, skills and interests. Career staff can also help with conducting a strategic work search, creating effective documents for job applications, and developing an action plan for productive transitions, among other resources. 

Contact the Linguistics Undergraduate Advisor for further information on how to navigate your career path as a Linguistics student. We're here to make sure that your undergraduate course planning includes all of the prerequisites needed for your chosen career goals. 

Consider these career pathways: 

Linguistics is valuable for multiple segments of the job market: