Computing and Linguistics Major

The Computing and Linguistics major provides multidisciplinary training in the computational study of human language, the development of systems for natural language processing, and the automated analysis of textual data in applications in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Students learn the foundational tools and methods that underlie this work, including areas of computer science, statistics and data science, and linguistics, and apply them to some empirical domain, through coursework and an independent research project in the senior year.

Two Degree Tracks

The B.A. in Computing and Linguistics exposes students to the fundamental ideas and foundational techniques of the field, while the B.S. provides more extensive training and engagement in research, preparing students for graduate work in the area.

B.A. Degree

11 term credits

1-semester senior essay requirement
B.S. Degree

14 term credits

2-semester senior essay requirement

Course Requirements

Statistics prerequisite: S&DS 1000, 1230, or 2200, or comparable background in statistics
Programming prerequisite: Introductory programming course or comparable programming experience
Linguistics prerequisite: Any 1000 level course in LING

One of:

MATH 2440 Discrete Math
LING 2249 Mathematics of Language
CPSC 2020 Mathematical Tools for Computer Science

One of:

MATH 2220 or 2250 Linear Algebra

For B.A. degree: S&DS 2380 Probability and Statistics

For B.S. degree:

Option 1:

S&DS 2400 or 2410 Probability Theory
S&DS 2420 Statistics

Option 2:

S&DS 2380 Probability and Statistics
one other S&DS course numbered 2300 or ≥ 2420

Choose 2 for B.A. and 3 for B.S.:

LING 2320 Phonology 1
LING 2530 Syntax 1
LING 2630 Semantics 1

CPSC 2010 Introduction to Computer Science
CPSC 2230 Data Structure

One of:

LING 3350 Phonology 2
LING 3540 Syntax 2
LING 3640 Semantics 2

One of:

CPSC 4770 Natural Language Processing
LING 2270 Language and Computation

One of:

S&DS 2650 Introductory Machine Learning
S&DS 3650 Intermediate Machine Learning
CPSC 3810 Introduction to Machine Learning

Additional course in computational linguistics and machine learning or in other disciplines that make use of computational analysis of language data. In addition to the course listed above under Advanced Courses, the following is an incomplete list of others that might apply:

Choose 1 for B.A. or 2 for B.S.:

LING 2259 Computing Meanings
LING 2380 Encoding Speech in Minds and Machines
LING 3800 Neural Networks and Language
CPSC 677 Advanced Natural Language Processing
CPSC 464 Topics in Foundations of Machine Learning
CPSC 470 Artificial Intelligence
CPSC 452 Deep Learning Theory and Applications
CPSC 453 Unsupervised Learning for Big Data
CPSC 468 Computational Complexity
CPSC 365/366 Algorithms
PSYC 3380 Minds, Brains and Machines
PHIL 2267 Mathematical Logic

For B.A.: In one semester of the senior year, students will participate in a capstone seminar, which will involve both discussion of their research and presentations by researchers in the field from within Yale and outside. Student research may be independent (supervised by a Yale faculty member with relevant expertise) or part of a group project carried out by capstone seminar participants.

For B.S.: In both semesters of the senior year, students will participate in a capstone seminar, which will involve both discussion of their research and presentations by researchers in the field from within Yale and outside. Student research may be independent (supervised by a Yale faculty member with relevant expertise) or part of a group project carried out by capstone seminar participants.