Frequently Asked Questions 3

Home Undergraduate Program Frequently Asked Questions 3

How Should I Satisfy the Senior Exit Requirement?

There are two ways to satisfy the exit requirement for the Linguistics and Language Studies majors. One option is to write a Senior Thesis. The second option is to take one of the capstone (190) courses, during which you will write, under the supervision of a faculty instructor, an original research paper which grows out of the course-work that you have done or are doing.

The first option is suitable for students who have an exemplary record in their course-work and who have consulted with a faculty member well in advance about the suitability of this option and about appropriate topics.

The majority of students choose the second option (writing a research paper in the context of one of the 190 courses). You should plan on taking your 190 course in your senior year, at a point at which you will have all necessary preparatory course-work under your belt. In the summer before your senior year, you will be asked to declare which 190 course you would prefer to take, and the department will do its best to ensure that students get into the 190 courses that most closely meet their needs.