<p>I love studying languages and am thinking of majoring in this. In most cases, this would fall under Linguistics, but at some schools, it would be more of an anthropology major. At a couple schools I have looked at, I would be expected to major in an actual language (which is fine) and then take additional classes in this area. </p>
<p>I am very good at math and science. I keeping getting told that I need to pick something practical. I am thinking of majoring in math or physics instead. I am in math honor society and taking college level (beyond AP math) this fall. </p>
<p>I would love to major in language studies (which, I am not calling Linguistics right now, because of the differences in which major it would be from one school to the next) and would still like math or science. My parents are the only one telling me to go with my passion and major in languages. Everyone else, from my grandparents to my own brother tell me I need to be more practical. I am very worried now.</p>
<p>While math is a great major, science undergrad degrees do not often lead to exciting or well-paying jobs without advanced study. Plenty of unemployed or underemployed biology graduates wish they had majored in something else. Even science PhDs are having trouble getting positions. </p>
<p>Now Computer Science, engineering or science with a goal of a health career will net you different results.</p>
<p>Is this something you need to decide right now? To me, it sounds like you are exactly where you need to be: You’ve got a couple of top interests to help you pick schools. I wouldn’t decide until you’ve taken some courses, talk to some professors and know better what you’d like to do. That said, I think a linguistics major combined with a math/programming background would have pretty attractive career options.</p>
<p>A combination of linguistics and math/programming could indeed have very interesting career options.</p>
<p>I would look for a school that has an actual linguistics department, if possible. There are many of them out there. There are plenty of excellent schools where you can pursue multiple languages, linguistics, math, programming, and science.</p>
<p>You really don’t know what you will eventually want to major in. Keep your options open.</p>
<p>Study what you love. Be glad your parents are supportive.</p>
<p>Amen! You’ll probably just get one chance to do this. In any case, studying language will not limit you to obvious related careers such as translation or teaching. The spill off study of logic and ideas through linguistics and literature will give you insights and skills that can be helpful in many careers.</p>
<p>Linguistics and mathematics could lead to several professions; even if you just study Arabic with math, there are some pretty good options out there. They’re not viewed in a good light right now, but the NSA always has a need for linguists and mathematicians (check out their website for specific fields). </p>
<p>Like others said, you don’t need to decide now but you should apply to colleges with majors in both fields (whatever they are called). </p>
<p>I agree no need to tie yourself down to one or the other now. My first college boyfriend majored in chemistry and ended up going to med school, but he took Greek, Hebrew, Spanish and German while in college.</p>
<p>My three are all in the post graduate serious job search mode, after some time in fun, diverse pursuits. The one with a solid job next year? My language major, teaching at a private HS, without a teaching certificate. She figures she’ll get that in time, but might as well try out the field first. I’m looking at languages in a new light. Being qualified to teach two languages helped her get this job. </p>
<p>Make sure you have solid ability in your chosen language. Get that semester or year abroad, live in a homestay, work in the culture if possible. </p>
<p>Language and business skills that use your math can end up being a very practical combination.</p>
<p>My daughter has a major in applied math and minors in physics and Japanese. The government jobs and defense contractor jobs are nearly at a standstill right now. However, they should open up some time in the next few months.</p>
<p>Depending on your college, the double major can be very complicated. Some languages have many contact hours per week. The Japanese classes were five credits with seven contact hours for the first two years. DD had a conflict with either her physics or her math classes for four out of her first five semesters. </p>
<p>It can be done and I am sure some colleges make it easier than others.</p>
<p>Have you considered what you would like to pursue as a career? It’s still very early to worry about this (or your major, for that matter), but when you are considering different majors, it can be something to consider. Are you interested enough in linguistics to pursue a career where you would use that degree? Would you consider advanced study in the field? Would you be happy in a field that uses a math or physics degree? Even if you have to get an advanced degree to have the career that you would want?</p>
<p>If you love linguistics (or perhaps studying another language, gaining fluency, etc) and are willing to pursue opportunities that would use those skills, then majoring in it would be a good choice. If you would be perfectly happy with a career in something more math-y (like maybe computer science) and linguistics is just an interest, then a double major or major and minor in linguistics (or just taking courses of interest, gaining fluency in a language, studying abroad, etc) may be perfectly valid options.</p>
<p>I know many people who double majored (one for their parents and one for themselves), and if you can swing it, it may be a good compromise and give you options.</p>
<p>Given how advanced you are in math, and the fact that math is often a “light” major (not a huge number of required courses, nor time consuming lab courses), it is likely that you can double major in math and linguistics (or something similar) relatively easily. If you have an interest in both, that may be a good way to satisfy the interest.</p>
<p>Math majors have decent job prospects, but mostly in finance or computers, so supplementing a math major with electives in those areas would help with respect to the job prospects. As noted above, other sciences (particularly biology) may not have that great job prospects.</p>
<p>Studying linguistics and studying language are not at all the same thing. You should be aware of this before you choose a major. A common saying among linguists is “Asking a linguist how many languages she speaks is like asking a doctor how many diseases she has.” Linguists tend to study languages because, of course, they’re interested in language, and knowing more than one can be helpful for finding interesting phenomena. Additionally, most PhD programs in linguistics require ability to communicate in at least 2 languages. But at the undergrad level at most schools? Majoring in linguistics has as little to do with learning a language as majoring in chemistry.</p>
However, they should open up some time in the next few months.</p>