Sponsored Online Programs Available

Online Bachelors in Linguistics Programs

Language is a useful tool in people's professional and personal lives. Learning a new one may even lead to career enhancement. Those who either want to make languages a key part of their job or are looking to pursue work where multilingualism is appreciated by employers may want to consider earning an online linguistics bachelor degree.

Many applications
This field of study generally familiarizes students with the art of communicating in a different language, including how to write, read and speak it. However, understanding a language often involves learning more than just how to pronounce and recognize words. Language is deeply intertwined with culture, influencing not only how people interact with others, but also how they perceive the world around them. As such, people who choose to study a language may be expected to learn the history, social structure and cultural customs of different groups of people associated with that language. Vocabulary and grammar may also be related to the fields of politics and geography. Students of linguistics may also expect to learn about different dialects and accents, as well as how they relate to those other subject matters.

Because understanding a language involves such a broad scope of study, earning a bachelor's degree, an online linguistics bachelor degree, may be helpful in providing a strong foundation for comprehension. As globalization continues to further connect foreign nations and populations, this kind of educational background may prove increasingly useful as it becomes increasingly valuable for people and businesses to bridge communication gaps across cultures.

Job outlook
Given that communication plays a daily role in most people's lives, it's not hard to imagine the many applications a second language may have in the professional world. People could choose to pursue careers in which that linguistic background plays an essential role to performing their daily duties. Others may find that knowledge to be an added benefit that helps them perform a certain kind of work more effectively.
 

Online Linguistics Bachelor Degree

In terms of the former, earning an online bachelors in linguistics may put people on the track toward becoming an interpreter, translator or high school language teacher. Language can also play an auxiliary but key role in jobs such as a social worker or police officer.

Depending on a business' customer and production base, many positions commonly found in companies could have use for someone with knowledge of a second language, including administrative or managerial roles. A second language may be especially useful for roles such as public relations specialist.

Potential Salaries
Languages' many applications mean that wages and job outlook vary greatly by field and the language learned. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides further information concerning annual median wages and prospective job growth over the coming years.

  • Interpreter or translator: $45,430[i] (46 percent employment growth projected through 2022)
  • High school teacher: $55,050[ii] (6 percent employment growth projected through 2022)
  • Adult literacy teacher: $48,590[iii] (9 percent employment growth projected through 2022)
  • Public relations specialist: $54,170[iv] (12 percent employment growth projected through 2022)
  • Writer and author: $55,940[v] (3 percent employment growth projected through 2022)

Skills required
In the field of languages, communication skills are essential. Written and verbal expertise are standard requisites, as well as the ability to interpret and analyze text or speech. People who study a language may also be required to translate ideas effectively and efficiently in real-time. As such, expertise of two languages is often inherent in the role.

Additionally, language's relationship to culture may require a firm understanding of vocabulary and grammar's regional applications and implications. Students may be expected to understand a variety of dialects and their relationship to one another. A solid background in history and the arts may provide a deeper understanding of a language, and help to prevent offending or confusing people.

[i] bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm#tab-1 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm [iii] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/adult-literacy-and-ged-teachers.htm [iv] bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm#tab-1 [v] bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm