<p>I'm currently planning on double-majoring in Linguistics and English or Comparative Literature (or just pursuing an "Individualized Major" in those fields if possible). I plan to pursue a graduate degree after earning my BA, but I am not sure how applying to grad school with a double major works... Actually I really don't know how applying to grad school works at all... </p>
<p>Basically, I just want to know what type of programs I would be able to apply to if I follow through with a Linguistics/English/CompLit degree. Can I apply to a graduate program in either of the two fields I major in? Can I apply to any school that has the appropriate grad program? I am planning on ultimately earning a Ph.D. and becoming a professor, so I want to figure this all out now. So, given my choice of major, what track should I be on in order to successfully get my BA and and then PhD?</p>
<p>Yes, you can apply to grad school in either English or Linguistics if you double major in those fields. You could even apply in English at some schools and in Linguistics at others. If you did a Comp Lit major instead of English, you could apply to grad school in that field.</p>
<p>If you have sufficient background in a foreign language and literature, you probably could apply to a Comp Lit grad program with an undergrad English major. </p>
<p>If you had sufficient undergrad literature background, you might be able to apply with an undergrad linguistics major to a grad English program that had a specialty program in English linguistics (e.g., U Wisconsin).</p>
<p>With sufficient background in a single foreign language and literature, you could apply to some grad language depts (e.g., French) from an undergrad comp lit major. Film studies might be another possibility.</p>
<p>With an undergrad linguistics major, in addition to applying to a graduate linguistics program, you might be able to apply in several other fields for graduate study, e.g., philosophy, anthropology, psychology, speech & hearing sciences, certain areas of communication, certain language program (e.g., African languages), etc. depending on what other supporting coursework you’ve taken, your statement of purpose, etc.</p>
<p>In fact, admission to grad programs in many fields does not follow a rigid pathway (e.g., an particular undergrad major—>a particular grad major) as long as you have sufficient background for that particular field of graduate study and can compete successfully for admission with the other applicants.</p>
<p>Zapfino is right–grad admissions committees look at your level of expertise and talent in the field, not at your major. So, for instance, most but not all successful applicants to a PhD program in English will have been undergraduate English majors–that’s the most efficient way of acquiring the relevant expertise. But a smart philosophy or history major who had the requisite writing skills and knowledge of literature–as demonstrated by test scores, writing sample, and letters of recommendation–might also be an attractive admit.</p>
<p>Remember that most majors at American universities take up about a quarter of your time in college. If you double-major in two closely related fields, very often some classes will count toward both majors. So there’s plenty of time to take a varied courseload, and getting that variety will make you a better candidate (not to mention more interesting person). If you’re interested in English/linguistics/comp lit, you should obviously not neglect language preparation. Most English PhD programs require decent reading knowledge of two other modern European languages, or fluency in one other language. They often like to see some knowledge of Latin as well, especially if you’re interested in medieval or Renaissance lit. Linguistics and comp lit. are going to have more robust language requirements.</p>
<p>PhD programs look for rigor in the major–there are “hard” and “easy” ways of doing an English or other humanities major, even at the same school. You want good range of courses in different historical periods and genres, which will also help you mightily on the GRE Subject Test. If you possibly can, do an honors thesis in your senior year–organizing and writing an independent research project is more like what you will need to be able to do in grad school than anything else in the undergraduate curriculum.</p>