Career opportunities
Linguistics is useful in any area in which language and communication are important – and that's everything!
It is particularly useful for language teaching, interpreting/translation, editing and writing, computer programming and speech therapy.
Past linguistics graduates are now government ministry officials, lawyers, editors, copywriters, technical writers, journalists, film directors and producers, translators, interpreters, speech therapists, and lecturers, teachers, and curriculum and materials developers.
The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) minor specifically equips you to teach English abroad and at home in language schools and other non-state institutions.
Linguistics at Otago
The Linguistics staff members at Otago teach and research a variety of areas you can learn, including:
- phonetics and phonology (the study of speech sounds and systems)
- morphology and syntax (the study of word and sentence structures)
- semantics and pragmatics (the study of meaning and use)
- linguistic typology (the study of language comparison and classification)
- discourse and narrative analysis
- teaching English (TESOL) or other second languages
- child first and adult second language development
- family language policy and heritage language learning
- pragmatics in second language teaching and learning
- field linguistics (the study of little-known languages through primary data collection)
- psycholinguistics (the study of language processing in the brain).
Learning Linguistics
Linguistics is a small, friendly programme. We get to know our students and our students get to know each other.
Many papers have activities that enable students to collaboratively explore their ideas and communicate their learning, and students have consistently ranked Linguistics very highly for teamwork.
Students develop critical thinking and communication skills by working with linguistic data and concepts to identify underlying language patterns, evaluate and justify linguistic arguments and analyse conversational choices.
Individual and collaborative assessments involve planning, researching and presenting skills that are necessary in most workplaces.
TESOL classes address instructed language learning and develop language teaching practices.
Degree options
At the undergraduate level, this work can lead to a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Linguistics, English and Linguistics, or Language and Linguistics, or a BASc (Bachelor of Arts and Science) or BACom (Bachelor of Arts and Commerce). It also offers a minor in Linguistics and a minor in teaching English as a second language.
The Linguistics Programme offers a full undergraduate programme, honours, MA and PhD, and also and a Graduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching, with a view to meeting the demand for teachers of English in New Zealand and overseas.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Arts along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Commerce, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Postgraduate Study in Linguistics
Explore postgraduate study in Linguistics at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities in a sup...
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Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
One of GLBL 110 or any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek , Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), or Spanish | 18 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
At least two further 200-level LING papers, one of which may be substituted with DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique | 36 | |
| 300-level | Four 300-level LING papers | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. | 198 |
Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
Note: Students majoring in Linguistics are not able to take the TESOL minor subject.
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
| One 100-level ENGL paper (excluding ENGL 126 English for University Purposes) | 18 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
| Two 200-level ENGL papers | 36 | |
| One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 | |
| DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique may be substituted for one 200-level paper | ||
| 300-level | Two 300-level ENGL papers | 36 |
| Two 300-level LING papers | 36 | |
| Plus | 180 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. | 180 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
| Two 100-level papers in one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Māori, Spanish | 36 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
| One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 | |
| Two 200-level papers in the language continued from 100-level | 36 | |
| 300-level | Two 300-level LING papers | 36 |
| Two 300-level papers in the language continued from 200-level | 36 | |
| Plus | 162 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. | 162 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Note: In the case of Māori language, students will take MAOR 111, MAOR 211, and MAOR 311 at 100-, 200-, and 300-level respectively. | ||
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 Language and Its Structure One of GLBL 110 or any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek , Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), or Spanish | 18 18 |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 18 |
| 300-level | Any 300-level LING paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
LING papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING103 | 2025 | Language Myths | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING111 | 2025 | A World of Languages | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING140 | 2025 | Language, Brain, and Being Human | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING217 | 2025 | What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING230 | 2025 | Interaction and Identity in Context | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING231 | 2025 | TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING314 | 2025 | Morphosyntax: Diversity and Unity | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING317 | 2025 | Child and Adult Language Development | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING330 | 2025 | Interaction and Identity in Context | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING331 | 2025 | Advanced TESOL: Branching Out | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING332 | 2025 | TESOL in Action: Teaching Practice | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING342 | 2025 | Laboratory Phonology | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING390 | 2025 | Research Essay | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING415 | 2025 | Psycholinguistics | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING421 | 2025 | Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING422 | 2025 | Special Topic 3 | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING424 | 2025 | Linguistic Fieldwork | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING432 | 2025 | TESOL in Action: Teaching Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING433 | 2025 | Sociocultural Language Topics | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING440 | 2025 | Advanced Topic in Linguistics | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING495 | 2025 | Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| LING590 | 2025 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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