Computer Science + Linguistics, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Linguistics
Computational Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field located at the intersection between machine learning and cognitive science, between artificial intelligence and the social sciences. The CS + Linguistics program provides students a strong background in computer science alongside rigorous training in the liberal arts. Recognizing the diversity of disciplines in the contemporary world, this program offers unique opportunities for an interdisciplinary education and prepares students for both careers in emerging industries and for graduate school. The degree is grounded in theory and in practice, ensuring that students meet and exceed industry standards. It brings together faculty interested in distinct aspects of the relationship between language and computation: from studying language as a cognitive system to developing models with human-like behavior to achieving natural language understanding in machines.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Linguistics
Please see the computer science advisor as well as the linguistics advisor.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office by the beginning of the fifth semester (60-75 hours).
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 69 hours. At least 12 hours of 300- and 400-level course work in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by LING 413 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by LING 100 and one additional Social & Behavioral Sciences course | ||
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Computer Science Coursework | ||
| CS 100 | Computer Science Orientation (recommended; CS 100 is an orientation course aimed at first-year students, so students who declare the major after the freshman year are not required to complete it.) | 1 |
| CS 124 | Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 128 | Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 173 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 222 | Software Design Lab | 1 |
| CS 225 | Data Structures | 4 |
| Choose one of the following combinations | 8-11 | |
| Computer Architecture and System Programming | ||
| OR | ||
| Introduction to Computer Systems | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Statistical Analysis | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Probability & Statistics for Computer Science | ||
| CS 374 | Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation | 4 |
| CS 421 | Programming Languages & Compilers | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MATH 221 | Calculus I | 4-5 |
| or MATH 220 | Calculus | |
| MATH 225 | Introductory Matrix Theory | 2-3 |
| or MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| Required Linguistics Coursework - Minimum of 27 hours | ||
| LING 100 | Intro to Language Science | 3 |
| General Linguistics Courses - select two of the following | 6 | |
| Elements of Syntax | ||
| Elements of Phonology | ||
| Elements of Morphology | ||
| Elmnts Semantics & Pragmatics | ||
| Intro to General Phonetics | ||
| Core Computational Linguistics Courses | ||
| LING 413 | Computational Corpus Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 414 | Advanced Computational Linguistics | 3 |
| Advanced Linguistics Courses - select three of the following | 9 | |
| Computational Sociolinguistics | ||
| Computational Syntax | ||
| Fundamentals for Speech Signal Processing and Analysis | ||
| Introductory Machine Learning | ||
or CS 446 | Machine Learning | |
| Special Topics in Linguistics (Check with advisor for appropriate topics. May be repeated to meet this requirement if topics vary) | ||
| Linguistics Research Experience | ||
| LING 453 | Capstone in Computational Linguistics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 69-75 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Linguistics
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| CS 100 | 1 |
| LING 100 | 3 |
| CS 124 | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 128 | 3 |
| CS 173 | 3 |
| 200-400 level Linguistics Breadth course | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| CS 222 | 1 |
| CS 225 | 4 |
| MATH 225 or 257 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| STAT 200, 212, or CS 361 | 3 |
| CS 233 or 340 | 3 |
| MATH 231 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| CS 341 (or CS 400-level course) | 4 |
| LING 301 | 3 |
| TRST 415 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 374 | 4 |
| CS 400-level course or Free Elective course | 3 |
| LING 307 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| CS 421 | 3 |
| LING 406 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 446 | 3 |
| LING 490 | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 | |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Linguistics
Upon completion of the CS + Linguistics degree, students will be able to:
- Analyze linguistic problems and identify relevant computational solutions.
- Implement efficient computational models and demonstrate their adequacy.
- Compare and assess the predictions of linguistic theories using empirical methods.
- Synthesize findings across types, sources, and modalities of language data.
- Examine the linguistic, social, and cognitive contexts in which models are used.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Linguistics
CS + X Degree Information
CS + Linguistics Information
Linguistics Department website
Computer Science website
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Grainger College of Engineering
Grainger College of Engineering website
Admissions
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences
Computer Science email: undergrad@cs.illinois.edu
Linguistics Advising website
Please see the computer science advisor as well as the linguistics advisor.