Level I Program Form revised 7/08
I Summary of Proposed Changes
Department/program Linguistics Program
Add an undergraduate minor in Linguistics
Summary
II Endorsements and Approvals
Please obtain the Program Chair/Director’s approval, the Dean and the Associate Provost.
Requestor: Leora Bar-el
Phone: x2387
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
___________________________________
Dean’s Signature
Date
Requestor: Mizuki Miyashita
Phone: x5164
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
Program Chair/Director:
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
Other affected programs: Anthropology
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
Other affected programs: English
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
___________________________________
Initial Review in Provost’s Office
Date
____________________________________
Faculty Senate Review
Date
___________________________________
Provost
Date
Other affected programs: MCLL
_____________________________________
Signature
Date
III Type of Level I Proposal (please check the appropriate space)
(a) Re-titling existing majors, minors, or options
(b) Eliminating existing majors, minors, or options via a program termination checklist
(c) Adding new minors or certificates where there is a major
(d) Adding new minors or certificates where there is an option in a major
X
(e) Departmental mergers and name changes
(f) Program revisions –for minor modifications use the program modification form
(g) Distance delivery of previously authorized degree program.
(h) Adding option within an existing major or degree *
(i) Eliminating organizational units such as departments, divisions and colleges or
schools *
(j) Consolidating existing program and/or degree *
*Requires level II BOR documentation submitted to the Provost’s Office (refer to
http://www.umt.edu/provost/curriculum.htm)
IV Catalog Language
If you are proposing a change to an existing
Please provide the proposed copy as you wish it
program or major, please cut and paste the
to appear in the catalog. 
requirements as they appear in the current catalog
below. www.umt.edu/catalog 
Undergraduate Program: There is no linguistics
major or minor. However, students may pursue a
Linguistics Option while earning a BA degree
Undergraduate Program: The program offers a
minor in linguistics. Students majoring in
any discipline including, but not limited to, the
through the following departments: Anthropology,
English, and Modern and Classical Languages and
Literature. For specific course requirements,
students should refer to the relevant department’s
section in this catalog.
following fields will find Linguistics courses to
be a highly valuable addition to their major
course of study: Biology, Communication
Studies, Communicative Science and Disorders,
Computer Science, Education, English, Modern
and Classical Languages and Literatures, Native
American Studies, Psychology.
Earning a minor in Linguistics requires the
completion of 18 credits. Students must
complete the following requirements beyond
their major degree requirements:
i. Basic core courses (3 credits)
LING 470 Introduction to Linguistic Analysis (3
cr.)
ii. 2 core courses (6 credits from the following
courses)
LING 471
Phonetics and Phonology (3 cr.)
LING 472
Generative Syntax (3 cr.)
LING 489
Morphology (3 cr.)
iii. 3 elective courses (9 credits from the
following courses)
LING 270S* Introduction to Linguistics (3
cr.)
LING 375X
Endangered Languages (3 cr.)
LING 465*
History and Structure of English
(3 cr.)
LING 466
Pedagogical Grammar (3 cr.)
LING 471** Phonetics and Phonology (3 cr.)
LING 472** Generative Syntax (3 cr.)
LING 473W Language and Culture (3 cr.)
LING 474
Historical Linguistics (3 cr.)
LING 475
Linguistics Field Methods (3 cr.)
LING 477
Bilingualism (3 cr.)
LING 478
Second Language Development
(3 cr.)
LING 484W Native American Indigenous
Languages and Linguistics (3 cr.)
LING 489** Morphology (3 cr.)
*Cannot be taken after 470 or other courses
marked with an asterik. Only one of 270S and
465 may be counted towards the minor.
** May be taken as an elective, if not taken as a
required course under ii above.
A major in linguistics is not currently offered.
Linguistics is also available as an option through
the following departments: Anthropology,
English, and Modern and Classical Languages
and Literature. For specific course requirements,
students should refer to the relevant
department’s section in this catalog.
Please explain/justify the new proposal or change. 
We propose to offer an undergraduate minor in linguistics administered by the Linguistics Program
faculty in the Department of Anthropology.
There is currently no undergraduate degree in Linguistics offered in the State of Montana. The UM
Linguistics program (the only Linguistics Program in the state) currently awards an MA in Linguistics,
but no undergraduate degrees. For the past 6 years, Linguistics faculty members have been regularly
contacted by students wishing to pursue an undergraduate degree in Linguistics. The fact that more
than 3/4 of the members of the Linguistics Club (the program’s student organization, established in
2004) are undergraduates is evidence of an existing interest in the field, which is not met by existing
program offerings. A minor in linguistics will fill this gap.
Currently UM students wanting to pursue linguistics at the undergraduate level are limited to options
in the Departments of Anthropology, English and MCLL. These options each have a specific focus:
culture and language, English, and French, respectively. The proposed minor in Linguistics provides
the opportunity for a more well-rounded and in-depth scientific study of languages. The research
specializations of the Linguistics directly contribute to providing students with a solid and diverse
linguistic background. This more balanced content will better prepare students for graduate programs
in linguistics across the country and beyond, as well as provide them with better training for future
careers in a variety of areas.
The undergraduate minor in linguistics will be administered by the Linguistics Program. Students who
declare their intention to pursue a minor in Linguistics will be assigned a Linguistics faculty member
to advise them in all aspects of their minor including tailoring their choice of courses to best meet the
minor requirements while catering to students' individual interests. This will promote a more cohesive
undergraduate program and help increase retention.
The proposed minor requires no additional resources. The program has the support of the
Departments of Anthropology, English, and Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. It will
serve to strengthen the university’s undergraduate program as a whole.
What other programs are affected by your
proposal? Obtain signatures as requested below.
Departments of Anthropology, English,
Modern and Classical Languages and
Literatures
V Department Summary Required if several proposals are submitted. In a separate document
list program title and proposed change for all proposals.
VI Copies and Electronic Submission After all signatures have been obtained submit the
original, a paper copy and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221.