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Foreign Languages & Linguistics Major

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:

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  • 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:

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  • 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:

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  • 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?

18,886 Bachelor's Degrees Annually
71% Percent Women
40% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
The major attracts more women than men. About 71% of the recent graduates in this field are female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of foreign languages & linguistics majors is as follows:

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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.

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.

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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

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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