Undergraduate Program

What is linguistics?

Because Simon Fraser University has one of the largest and most diverse linguistics programs in Canada, we offer a wide range of courses about language. The following are just some of the topics you can study in our courses:

- how speech sounds are produced in our vocal tracts,
- the formal properties of sound systems and grammatical structures, 
- the history of languages, 
- the ways that language conveys meaning and is used in social interactions, 
- how languages are learned by children and adults,
- how languages are taught to second language learners, 
- how neuroimaging (fMRI and EEG) methods can look inside the brain and show us how language is processed,
- how written texts and conversations are coherent and effective, and
- how diverse and unique the First Nations languages of Canada are.  

Linguistics graduates may work as ESL teachers, speech language assistants, and in information technology. With further education, a student can become an audiologist or a speech therapist/pathologist. A student can also continue graduate study in linguistics to become a professional linguist and have a career in education and academia.

Where can you begin?

The general interest courses listed below give insight into language and linguistics, and have no prerequisites.

LING 100-3 Communication and Language
LING 110-3 The Wonder of Words
LING 160-3 Language, Culture, and Society
LING 200-3 Introduction to the Description of English Grammar
LING 220-3 Introduction to Linguistics
LING 290-3 The Science of Speech
LING 295-3 Language and the Law

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