Last week the Committee on Instruction approved a proposal to allow students to major in linguistics, according to Committee on Instruction Chair Gary Johnson.
Russian Professor Barry Scherr, the chair of the linguistics and cognitive science program, said the move was in response to the increased number of students who wished to major in linguistics and the high enrollment in the program's introductory courses.
Scherr said during the program's early years, there were only one or two students wishing to major in linguistics, compared to about 6 juniors this year.
He said there was an enrollment of about 60 students in introductory linguistics this year.
Scherr said the program's next step is "to get more courses, and round out the major."
Previously, students wishing to major in linguistics had to apply for it as a special major.
Scherr said allowing students to major in linguistics cuts out much of the administrative paperwork and red tape required to apply for a special major.
