Language plays a fundamental role in daily life. It enables people and organizations to connect with each other and carry out transactions. Linguistics involves the academic study and systemization of language. Linguists use the scientific method to study the grammatical structures, speech sounds and word meanings used in the thousands of languages spoken around the world.

If you have a passion for language, you might consider earning a language degree. What can you do with a linguistics degree? Is a linguistics degree useful? This degree can be useful for pursuing your career objectives, as there are many potential careers for linguistics majors.

There are other linguistics careers you might consider pursuing after graduation. Some potential careers for linguistics majors include:

English as a Foreign Language (ESL) Teacher

Many jobs with a linguistics degree involve teaching the English language to others. An ESL teacher helps students learn English. ESL teachers may work in the U.S., helping children and/or adults learn English after immigrating to the country. Alternatively, they may work overseas. The requirements to become an ESL teacher vary amongst different states and international locations. In general, you can expect to need a bachelor’s degree, such as a language degree, as well as additional training in ESL education. You may also need a license.²

Lexicographer

If you’re truly passionate about working in a linguistics career, you might consider becoming a lexicographer. Lexicographers monitor changes in the English language (e.g., the appearance of new slang terms or changing definitions of existing words) and edit dictionary entries accordingly. A lexicographer will generally need a language-related degree, such as a degree in English or linguistics. It’s also helpful to gain entry-level work and volunteer experience before pursuing a lexicography position. For example, you might consider applying to an internship at a local newspaper or as a teacher’s aide.³

Marketing Professional

Some of the linguistics degree jobs you might pursue are in the marketing and advertising field. Marketing professionals work closely with language and may sometimes conduct research on how people respond to certain words and types of spoken language sounds.¹

Public Relations Specialist

Like marketing, some linguistics degree jobs are not directly within a linguistics career field. A public relations (PR) specialist develops and curates the public image of a company, other organization or individual. They often write a variety of materials, such as press releases, website pages and informational resources for members of the media. It’s common for PR specialists to hold a bachelor’s degree in a field such as English or communications.⁴

Editor or Proofreader

There are some linguistic degree jobs in the publishing industry. In particular, language skills are important for both editors and proofreaders.¹ Editors and proofreaders are responsible for improving and polishing someone else’s writing so that the language is clear, flows logically and is appealing to readers.

Secondary School Teacher

A linguistics degree may provide a pathway for becoming a secondary school teacher. However, licensure requirements vary from state to state, so it’s important to research the requirements you’ll need to meet. In general, secondary teachers can expect to need at least a bachelor’s degree, sometimes a master’s degree and a state-issued teaching license or certification.⁵

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech therapists assess and treat individuals who have speech and language disorders. They also work with patients with swallowing disorders. Typically, an aspiring SLP needs to earn a master’s degree from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). State-issued licensure is a requirement across all 50 states. A language or linguistics degree may provide a pathway for obtaining the necessary master’s degree, although different graduate-level SLP programs have varying admissions requirements — make sure to conduct research as you plan your career pathway.⁶

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants play a valuable role in the classroom and can be a career option for those with a linguistics degree. They support student success by working one-on-one with students to help them master the material. They also assist the teacher with tasks such as coursework planning. The requirements to become a teaching assistant vary considerably among different states and even different schools. Earning a language-related degree is a smart step, as teaching assistants can often benefit from possessing strong language skills. In addition, teaching assistants may need to obtain state licensure.⁷

Some professionals with a background in language hold jobs as interpreters or translators. The federal government is one major employer of interpreters and translators, although these professionals may also find work in healthcare facilities and legal settings.¹

Linguists tend to be fascinated by the science of languages and the role they play in human society. Indeed, the study of linguistics closely relates to other areas, like sociology and anthropology. Linguists strive to develop a greater understanding of what it means to be human by analyzing the ways in which people communicate with each other.

Linguists and other professionals who work closely with grammar, syntax and other components of language do not need to begin their academic journey with a specialized degree. Earning an English degree can give you the foundation for a career as a linguist, along with other opportunities available to English majors.

What can you do with a linguistics degree? Linguistic careers and jobs in linguistics can be varied and offer a range of different career paths and opportunities. Linguists analyze languages and their discrete components. They may work with compiled databases or do field research where they interact directly with native speakers of a certain area. As a linguist studies a language, they look to identify patterns and seek insight about the language and its speakers. Linguists may also design experiments to perform on native speakers of the language to evaluate the accuracy of a hypothesis.

If you are fascinated by the study of language and hope to pursue jobs in linguistics, you’ll find a welcoming learning community at Grand Canyon University. GCU is pleased to offer a wide range of language-related degree programs, like the Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education. Fill out the form on this page to find a program that’s right for you.