New Students

Welcome to UC Davis and the Department of Linguistics!

Our vibrant department, housed within the College of Letters & Science, offers both a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and two minors: a General Linguistics minor and a specialized Linguistics for Language Teachers minor. Whether you're fascinated by phonetics, syntax, semantics, computational linguistics, neurolinguistics, or sociolinguistics, you'll find a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum that spans cognitive science, computer science, psychology, anthropology, education, philosophy, and more.  We look forward to meeting you soon! Have questions? Email us at linadvising@ucdavis.edu or check out our Frequently Asked Questions below!  

Orientation Steps: Getting Ready For Fall Quarter

STEP 1: Aggie 101

Aggie 101 is an online experience that should take you approximately 1-2 hours to complete. By completing Aggie 101 you will:

  • Be introduced to resources for your academic, personal, and social growth
  • Know resources that can help meet your basic needs at UC Davis
  • Understand the academic policies, requirements, and tools necessary for academic planning
  • Identify ways you can build your community on campus

Students admitted for Fall Quarter will access Aggie 101 through their MyAdmissions checklist.

You must complete Aggie 101 before moving on to Aggie Advising. You will be unable to access Aggie 101 until you have created your UC Davis email account. For specific dates, see the Orientation Dates and Deadlines page.

STEP 2: Aggie Advising
 

Part 1A: Complete Aggie Advising Canvas Modules.

These modules will take you through the important and detailed information that you will need to select appropriate courses, balance your schedule, and register for your first quarter. You will also find resources and tips to help you explore your interests and ensure your first quarter at UC Davis is a success. You will receive an invitation to your UC Davis email, or you can navigate directly to the Canvas website where you will log in with your Kerberos ID.

Part 1B: Attend A "Preparing for Pass 1" Webinar

These webinars, offered by the Orientation office, are mandatory and are designed around your college and student type (first-year or transfer).

Webinar registration directions will be sent to your UC Davis email. In the email, you will see multiple dates/times for this webinar. You only need to attend ONE session. Make sure choose the correct college and RSVP once you receive that email, as seats will fill up quickly.

This webinar will be hosted by current students and will demonstrate how to effectively use Schedule Builder, the online tool that you will use to register for courses here at UC Davis. A panel of students will share insights in building a balanced schedule and maximizing your time outside of classes.

First-Year Sessions:
July 9th, 12:00 PM
July 9th, 3:00 PM
July 10th, 3:00 PM

Transfer Sessions:
July 15th, 12:00 PM
July 16th, 12:00 PM

Part 2: Attend a Major Advising Webinar.
  • New First-Year Students: Monday, July 14, 2025: 1:00pm - 2pm; Register for the Zoom link here.
    If you are unable to attend, the slides will be posted here at a later date.
  • New Transfer Students: Monday, July 21, 2025: 1:00-2pm; Register for the Zoom link here.
    If you are unable to attend, the slides will be posted here at a later date.
     
(OPTIONAL) Part 3: Attend an advising appointment or drop-in session.

For First-Year Students: 

Meet with the College of Letters & Science advisors for GE and academic planning: We strongly encourage you to meet with the College of Letters & Science advising team to discuss your fall quarter courses. The College of Letters & Science advising can discuss general academic planning and your General Education requirements set by the College and the University (this includes your Entry Level Writing Requirement [ELWR], foreign language, topical breath/core literacies, American History & Institutions requirement, and more). 

Note: Due to limited advising resources, we are unable to provide major advising appointments to first year students. We will have drop-in advising with staff on Tuesday July 29th and Wednesday July 30th. More information to come. 

For Transfer Students: 

Meet with a major advisor: We encourage you to meet with a major advisor for Linguistics this summer, so that you can take the appropriate major courses in the fall. Appointments will be available with major advisors starting July 22. 

 Note: you will need to have completed BOTH Aggie 101 and Aggie Advising Canvas modules to be able to make an appointment. 

Meet with the College of Letters & Science advisors for GE and academic planning: We strongly encourage you to meet with the College of Letters & Science advising team to discuss your fall quarter courses. The College of Letters & Science advising can discuss general academic planning and your General Education requirements set by the College and the University (this includes foreign language, topical breath/core literacies, and more). If you completed an IGETC or CalGETC at community college, make sure that the College of Letters & Science has received it so that it can be applied to your requirements!

STEP 3: Registration

  • Students register for classes using Schedule Builder. All new students will receive a Pass 1 appointment (course registration time) from the Office of the University Registrar. For a look at when your course registration week will be, visit the Registration Calendar. Your specific appointment can be viewed in Schedule Builder. More information about pass times and course registration can be found by viewing Aggie 101.
    • You can utilize the resources below for help with building your Fall quarter schedule.
  • The College of Letters and Sciences has put together a comprehensive resource with information about registration.
  • Need additional support?
    • Drop-in advising available with the College of Letters & Science advising team: https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising/express-advising.  If you have general questions about your classes, General Education requirements, or academic planning, go here.
    • Drop-in advising available with your major advising team for major-specific questions about Linguistics
    • For major-specific questions, Check out instructions above on how to access advising for your major as an incoming first-year or as an incoming transfer student. 

STEP 4: Aggie Orientation

Fall Aggie Orientation is our on-campus program that begins on September 17th for transfer students, and September 19th for first-year students. You DO NOT need to register. Aggie Orientation is mandatory, so all students are automatically signed up. Learn more about Aggie Orientation here: https://newstudentprograms.ucdavis.edu/orientation/aggie-orientation.We look forward to meeting you in September!

STEP 5: Start your first quarter at UC Davis!

We’re excited to have you join our community. Whether you’re majoring or minoring, we’re here to support you. You’ve got this!

Fall 2025 instruction begins Wednesday, September 24. Go Aggies!

Answers to frequently asked questions about the undergraduate program in the UC Davis Department of Linguistics.

 

Linguistics Major

 
  • Do I have to take Linguistics 103A and 103B in sequence?
  • No. Neither class depends on or builds on the other, and there is no prerequisite relationship between them.
  • Can I use LIN 1 to satisfy the GE topical breadth requirement in Arts and Humanities?
  • Yes. Even though LIN 1 counts toward the linguistics major requirements, it also can be used to meet the topical breadth requirement in either Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences (under either the new or old GE requirements). The fact that it also counts for the major does not matter. Other linguistics courses that may be used for the Arts and Humanities topical breadth requirement are LIN 150 and LIN 106. The abbreviation "LIN" designates courses in the Department of Linguistics.
  • Can I take courses that count for the major on a pass/no-pass basis?
  • Yes. But as the General Catalog explains, limitations are placed on the total number of courses receiving a P (pass) grade that you can use to meet degree requirements, on courses that satisfy GE requirements, and, for certain majors on courses that satisfy preparatory requirements for which a minimum GPA must be achieved before declaring the major. No other regulations prevent you from using the P/NP option for courses that satisfy requirements for majors in the College of Letters & Science. Some circumstances may make the P/ NP option inadvisable for you, however, so consider consulting with your advisor(s) about that.
  • Is majoring in linguistics appropriate for an intended career in speech pathology?
  • Speech pathology is among the most common career choices of linguistics majors; and linguistics is a good major, insofar as there is no major in speech pathology at UC Davis and the coursework is relevant and likely to be at least partially applicable to a program in speech pathology. In general, to work as a speech pathologist you need a master's degree in the field. Many of the California State University campuses offer such a degree. You generally need to complete all or most of the undergraduate courses in the speech pathology major prior to or after acceptance in a master's program. Unfortunately, most of the courses for this major are simply not available at UC Davis. Speak with a linguistics advisor for further details.
  • How can I use my linguistics degree to teach English/ESL in California public schools?
  • Most public school teaching jobs require a credential or permit. Completion of a Teacher Prep. program (at the graduate level) is a prerequisite for a Multiple Subject or a Single Subject credential. However, Adult Education Credentials or Child Development Permits are not subject to this requirement. Coursework in linguistics covers some of the subject matter needed for a Single Subject Credential in English. It allows a student to list ESL as an academic subject on the Adult Education Credential, and serves as evidence of ESL competence for the Adult Education Credential and the Child Development Permit.
  • Can I use courses that satisfy requirements of a second major to satisfy the elective requirements for the linguistics major?
  • Yes. According to the General Catalog, at least 80 percent of the upper-division units required to satisfy course and unit requirements in each major selected must be unique and may not be counted toward the upper-division unit requirements for any other selected major. If the majors differ in their unit requirements, the major with the smaller number of required units is used to calculate uniqueness. For example, a major in linguistics requires 44 upper-division units. A major in Spanish requires at least 45 upper-division units. If 36 units are unique to linguistics, this amounts to 82 percent of the linguistics unit requirement. Thus, 8 units of coursework can be used for both majors.
  • Do courses that are used to satisfy the GE requirements count toward the major?
  • Yes.
  • How do I declare another major in addition to linguistics?
  • To be eligible to declare a double major, you must first complete a substantial portion of the preparatory subject matter and at least eight upper-division units in both linguistics and the other major that you want to add. Then, at least one quarter before you graduate, you need to complete two forms, have them signed by an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Linguistics and an advisor in the major you want to add, and submit them to the L&S Dean's Office for approval. These forms are the change of major form and the multiple major approval form. You may submit a petition online through the student portal. At the top left, select "Academics," then choose "Student Advising" and within that area, select "Forms & Petitions."
  • How can I graduate with honors or high(est) honors in the linguistics major?
  • The honors program in linguistics consists of six units of LIN 194H credit normally taken in the fall and winter quarters of the senior year. Completion of the program and eligibility for graduation with honors are prerequisites for high or highest honors at graduation. For general information regarding graduation with honors and dean's honors lists, please refer to the General Catalog "honors and prizes" section.
  • Can I use ASL for my foreign language requirement?
  • Yes you may, however please reach out to our department's email (linadvising@ucdavis.edu) so that our Staff and Faculty advisors can work together to determine equivalency.

  • Can I use study abroad courses for the LIN Major?

  •  Yes. Please send us the syllabus for the course as soon as possible so we can look at it for approval.
  • Can I use LIN courses for GE requirements and vice versa?

  •  Yes.

  • Can I use LIN 111 and 131 to fulfill two of the three required courses from the 110-159 range?

  •  No, any courses used to fulfill a major requirement must be uniquely applied to that requirement and no other requirements for the major.

  • How many courses can I overlap between LIN and another major?

  •  It depends on the other major, but specifically for LIN the maximum is that 2 courses may overlap with other majors. For a review on the L&S policy on overlapping majors, see https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/major-and-minor-advising#:~:text=and%20Science%20major.-,Multiple%20Majors,-Students%20choosing%20to

  • How many courses can I overlap between LIN and a minor?

  •  1 course.

  •  How can I prepare my schedule so that I am ready to apply to a Speech Language Pathology (SLP) graduate course after completing my undergrad?

  • You will need to complete your entire LIN Major, along with another set of specific Pre-Med/BioSci courses. We can help you plan out your LIN Major, and then you should meet with an advisor from the HPA (Health Professions Advising) office, who will help you determine which extra courses you will need. You can find the HPA resources here: https://hpa.ucdavis.edu/advising.

Linguistics Minor

 
  • How can I declare a minor in linguistics or some other discipline?
  • Complete the courses required for a minor as specified in the UC Davis General Catalog. Complete the petition to declare a minor, have it signed by the advisor for the minor as well as by your major advisor, and submit it to the L&S Dean's Office for approval, no later than the deadline for filing for graduation. A minimum of a 2.0 GPA is required for the set of courses used to satisfy the requirements for a minor.
  • Can courses I took at community college be used to satisfy the minor?
  • Yes, but only under certain conditions. Consult ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer) to identify equivalency between community college and UC Davis linguistics courses.
  • How and when should I file for the minor?
  • Forms are available only from your college office. They require signature of both the major advisor and the minor advisor. Substitutions for listed courses may be made only through petition to the Dean's Office, signed by the minor advisor. Therefore, you should file only when you either have completed all the listed courses or are certain that you will. The last date for filing is the end of the second week of instruction in the quarter of graduation.
  • Do graduate courses count toward the minor?
  • Yes. But see the instructor before signing up, to determine whether you are prepared for the course. Also, be aware that graduate courses do not count toward the College of Letters and Science unit requirements for upper-division courses. These are: 1) 64 units of upper-division overall; and 2) 27 upper-division units, including 18 upper-division units in the major, completed on the Davis campus. These requirements are especially crucial for community college transfer students with 100 or more transferred units.
  • Can I use courses that satisfy requirements of my major to satisfy the elective requirements for the linguistics minor (or some other minor)?
  • At most, one course used to satisfy the requirements of a major may be used to also satisfy a minor requirement.
  • Do courses used to satisfy the GE requirements count toward the minor?
  • Yes.
  • Can I take courses for the minor on a pass/no-pass basis?
  • Yes. Indeed, for all minors in the College of Letters & Science, courses can be taken on a P/NP basis. Check with your advisor(s) on the advisability of this, if you are unsure.

Transfers

 
  • Do community college courses satisfy the UC Davis linguistics major requirements?
  • Some do and some do not. Even though your community college (CC) course that has transferred has the same name as a UC Davis course, do not assume that it counts toward the linguistics major. The courses you took must be evaluated by the linguistics major advisor. Consult ASSIST (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer) to identify equivalency between community college and UC Davis linguistics courses.
  • Can upper-division courses I took at another university be used to satisfy the UC Davis major requirements?
  • Yes, if the course is substantially similar to a UC Davis linguistics course. Make an appointment with the undergraduate Advising Center for approval.
  • Do courses taken abroad count toward the major?
  • They may or may not, depending on how closely they parallel the content of courses that the UC Davis Department of Linguistics offers. You should consult with the major advisor to determine in advance of your departure overseas which courses taken abroad would be suitable for your major at UC Davis.

  •  I already have AP/Community College credit for a foreign language, can I use that towards the LIN foreign language requirement?

  •  Yes, but it depends on what you are given equivalency for. We recommend meeting with either the College of Letters and Science or the corresponding advising department for the specific language to determine exactly what equivalency you have. Once you have that figured out, all we require is 1 course past the L&S requirement, so as long as you have a course that would be equivalent to more than those 15 units then you are set. If not, you may need to take another course or two.