Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Types of Degrees Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many foreign languages & linguistics graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 18,886 |
Basic Certificate | 3,377 |
Master’s Degree | 2,957 |
Associate Degree | 2,468 |
Doctor’s Degree | 1,110 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 658 |
Graduate Certificate | 282 |
What Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, foreign languages & linguistics majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors
Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Skills for Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors
A major in foreign languages & linguistics prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Foreign Languages & Linguistics Majors
As a foreign languages & linguistics major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Foreign Languages & Linguistics Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with foreign languages & linguistics:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
English Language and Literature Professors | 9.8% | $66,590 |
Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 11.7% | $67,640 |
Interpreters and Translators | 17.7% | $49,930 |
Professors | 9.4% | $65,660 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 7.5% | $60,320 |
Transportation Planners | 6.7% | $81,340 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages & Linguistics?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of foreign languages & linguistics majors is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 1,194 |
Black or African American | 744 |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,638 |
White | 10,210 |
International Students | 687 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,413 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Foreign Languages & Linguistics, too. About 3.6% of those with this major are international students.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Some degrees associated with foreign languages & linguistics may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to foreign languages & linguistics have obtained the following education levels.
Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 2.4% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 0.2% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 0.2% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.7% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 37.2% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 4.2% |
Master’s Degree | 25.4% |
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 2.8% |
Doctoral Degree | 27.1% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 0.1% |
Online Foreign Languages & Linguistics Programs
The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 294 | 20 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 22 | 4 |
Associate’s Degree | 1,012 | 48 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 260 | 42 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 1,600 | 34 |
Post-Master’s | 78 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 872 | 2 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 4 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
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Majors Related to Foreign Languages & Linguistics
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to foreign languages & linguistics.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities | 511,953 |
Social Sciences | 190,792 |
Communication & Journalism | 109,432 |
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 51,926 |
English Language & Literature | 50,299 |
History | 31,255 |
Theology & Religious Vocations | 26,672 |
Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,301 |
Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies | 15,254 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By John Stephen Dwyer under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.