Linguistics is the scientific study of language, its structure and its use in communities past and present. At USC, students investigate how language works in theory and in practice, and how it shapes human interaction in diverse settings.
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Undergraduate
Students study how language is structured and used, gaining analytical skills that prepare them for careers in law, health care, education, technology, publishing and research.
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Graduate
At USC, our mission is to train students to pursue research and to teach in a wide range of linguistic subdisciplines. The program develops students' analytical skills and encourages creative and critical approaches to data, models and theories.
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Courses
Explore current and upcoming undergraduate and graduate linguistics courses offered at USC.
Stories & Spotlights
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A Million Views
Linguistics at USC opens doors—from classrooms to TEDx. Ph.D. grad Archie Crowley turned a curiosity about language into research seen by nearly a million viewers and a teaching career at Elon University.
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Linguistics and Law
The meaning of a single phrase can shape national law. Brandon Waldon, Assistant Professor in Linguistics, contributes to the study of how ordinary speakers understand language has reached the highest court in the country.
