The undergraduate advisor is Dr. Rebecca Shields, an alumna of the UW-Madison Linguistics Ph.D. program and current lecturer in Language Sciences. The undergraduate advisor can help you learn more about the major, select appropriate courses, explore language science related careers, connect to linguistic happenings on campus, and much more. Schedule an appointment or send an email with any questions!
Contact us
Appointments are available either in person or virtual – make sure to choose your preferred modality.
For longer issues please schedule an appointment, or email any time with quick questions!
How to Declare the Major
To declare the Linguistics major, students should schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor using the button above.
- It is recommended that students take at least one Linguistics course prior to declaring the major, to see if the major is a good fit. A good first course to take would be Linguistics 101: Human Language. Students could also take one or more electives in the major to learn about broader aspects of language science. There are no prerequisites to declaring the major, but we have noticed that students who achieve a grade of B or higher in Linguistics 101 have greater chance at success in upper-level Linguistics courses.
- Ideally, students should declare the major by their sophomore year.
- You are welcome to meet with the undergraduate advisor to learn about the major, whether or not you are ready to declare!
How to Declare Honors in the Major
Students must make an appointment with the undergraduate advisor to declare Honors in the Linguistics major. An online form must also be submitted to the Honors office.