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linguistics and computer science

Types of Degrees linguistics and computer science Majors Are Earning

People majoring in linguistics and computer science may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	7

What linguistics and computer science Majors Need to Know

Studies in linguistics and computer science develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that linguistics and computer science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in linguistics and computer science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a linguistics and computer science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to linguistics and computer science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, linguistics and computer science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by linguistics and computer science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
C#	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Moodle	Computer based training software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for linguistics and computer science graduates include:

• Assistant Professor
• University Faculty Member
• Lecturer
• Adjunct Instructor
• Associate Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Instructor
• College Professor
• Professor
• Faculty Member
• Information Security Systems Instructor
• Computer Science Assistant Professor
• Information Technology Professor (IT Professor)
• Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor)
• Computer Science Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to linguistics and computer science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	35.0%
Master’s degree	32.7%
Bachelor’s degree	26.0%
Less than a high school diploma	3.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.4%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.2%
Post-master’s certificate	0.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.1%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%
Postsecondary certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in linguistics and computer science?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 57.1% women and 42.9% men among linguistics and computer science graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	4	57.1%
Men	3	42.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of linguistics and computer science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	3	42.9%
Two or More Races	1	14.3%
Race Unknown	2	28.6%
International Students	1	14.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Linguistics and Computer Science	30.48
Economics and Computer Science	30.3901
Mathematics and Computer Science	30.0801
Accounting and Computer Science	30.1601
Computational Science	30.3001
Data Science, General	30.7001

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.