Career Opportunities

A degree in linguistics provides invaluable preparation for a variety of graduate studies in such fields as linguistics, psychology, anthropology, sociology, education, speech pathology, speech technology, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, philosophy, law, and various languages. There are overseas and U.S.-based opportunities for linguists with B.A. degrees to teach in English as a Second Language programs and to engage in linguistic research, language teaching, publishing, and governmental projects.

There are a number of sources of information for learning more about linguistics-related careers. Career Services offers a wide range of workshops and services. UCSB's Alumni Association sponsors a Career Connections website that allows current UCSB students to network with UCSB alumni in a wide range of occupations. The Linguistics Undergraduate Club sponsors presentations about career opportunities in linguistics. Job announcements are regularly posted on the linguistics undergraduate listserve (to subscribe, see Contact). In addition, links to job sites for linguists can be found on the Resources page.

Applying to Graduate School

Undergraduate linguistics majors and minors who are interested in applying to graduate school should contact the undergraduate faculty advisor as soon as possible, and ideally by no later than the beginning of the junior year. Most Ph.D. programs have deadlines in December or January, with M.A. program deadlines often falling in the spring. Students should arrange to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) by no later than the fall of their senior year. Students interested in doctoral programs are strongly encouraged to write a senior thesis in order to develop a substantive original research paper to be used as a writing sample in applications. Applicants will also need at least three letters of recommendation. They should ask for letters from faculty members who are familiar with their academic abilities and can comment on their potential to do graduate-level work. At least a month should be allowed for the professor to write a letter of recommendation. A crucial part of graduate school applications is the statement of purpose, which lays out the applicant’s goals and qualifications for graduate school. The Undergraduate Faculty Advisor or another faculty member who knows the student well can advise with each step of the application process.

Financing Graduate Study

Most funding for graduate study is reserved for students entering Ph.D. (or joint M.A./Ph.D.) programs; students seeking a terminal master’s degree may not be eligible for fellowships, but other funding sources such as teaching assistantships may be available. Students with truly exceptional academic records may qualify for external fellowships for doctoral study such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the Ford Foundation Diversity Predoctoral Fellowship Program, and the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, all of which provide multiyear funding to eligible students entering Ph.D. programs in linguistics.