Linguistics is a versatile major that helps students develop their interests and acquire skills that can be applied to many opportunities after graduation. From becoming speech pathologists to entering the tech industry, to being ESL instructors, or pursuing graduate school, University of Michigan Linguistics alumni succeed at many diverse and exciting career opportunities. Click the button below for examples of what students before you have gone on to pursue and use the drop-down menus to unlock an abundance of future planning resources.
What can I do with my Linguistics degree?
Getting Started
Pre-Speech & Hearing Club
The University of Michigan Pre-Speech & Hearing Club (PSHC) will provide members with resources, information, and opportunities regarding graduate school requirements, related coursework, and professional options in the field of speech and hearing sciences. PSHC will strive to be a valuable resource for all students interested in speech and hearing sciences; an academic community that shares knowledge, advice and experiences; and an opportunity for students to hear from and question current professors, advisors, and clinicians within the field.
From the Classroom to the Boardroom
Many students come to advising appointments for help with selecting coursework that can help jump start their careers. Here are some Course-to-Career guides that can help you plan for upcoming semesters, as well as help you progress in your Linguistics curriculum!
Media/Communications
Technology
Speech Pathology
ESL/TESOL
*Coming Soon* Social Work
*Coming Soon* Public Policy
Finding an Internship
The LSA Opportunity Hub defines internships as short-term, professional development opportunities that enable students to explore careers of interest, develop specific skills, apply their liberal arts education in a workplace setting, build professional networks, identify mentors, and/or obtain professional references and job leads. These resources may be helpful if you want to learn more about internships!
Getting started:
Learn more about the internship search on the Career Center Internship Page
Connect with U-M Alumni about their experiences and recommendations on UCan
Learn more about internships abroad at the International Center
Searching for Internships:
The following websites are full of internship postings across different fields. Happy applying!
Opportunity Hub and Career Center
Opportunity Hub
For students just starting to explore what post-graduate options are the right fit, the Opportunity Hub is a great place to begin. Students can work with Hub Coaches to identify interests and strengths, and how to leverage your liberal arts degree to its fullest capacity!
From the Opportunity Hub webpage: “The LSA Opportunity Hub is a College initiative dedicated to pairing the broad and valuable skills of a liberal arts education with real-life experience, strategic advising, and the benefit of connecting with employers and alumni. We encourage students to explore and articulate the connection between their liberal arts education and their goals and aspirations. In collaboration with the University of Michigan community, we facilitate access to internships, funding, employer and alumni partnerships so that students can engage in challenging and diverse opportunities that inspire their self-discovery.”
Further Resources
Events and Workshops
News and Events
Coaching
Career Center
What You Can Do with an LSA Degree
For students who have specific career goals in mind, the Career Center is a great resource. Students can work with Career Advisors on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, interview prep, and more!
From the Career Center webpage: “The University Career Center inspires and supports students to transition confidently beyond the University of Michigan by creating a dynamic space to gain clarity through their process of self discovery.”
Further Resources
Upcoming Events
Career Guides by Major
Career Center Fairs
Advising
University Career Alumni Network (UCAN)
Further On-Campus Career Resources
Psychology Career/Internship Exploration
This incredible resource contains great information about careers in psychology, psychiatry, and many other professions! You can find even more career guides, applicable skills to particular fields, and Psych department alumni videos on their webpages.
School of Information
From the UMSI webpage: “The UMSI Career Development Office is a team of career development experts devoted to providing UMSI students with strategic, customized and comprehensive career services. We do much more than help students find jobs as they near graduation. We are with you every step of the way coaching, empowering and supporting you from orientation through to commencement.”
School of Engineering
Engineering Career Resource Center
From the ECRC webpage: “Our mission is to offer comprehensive career development services to College of Engineering students to support a successful transition from campus to career, and to assist employers with developing and maintaining successful recruiting relationships with Michigan Engineering.”
Further Resources
ECRC Career Guide
Events @ Engineering
Ross School of Business
Alumni Career Services
Alumni Advantage Career Resources
iMpact Career Web Portal for current students
Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS)
From their webpage: “MIDAS and other departments/institutes at U-M provide a wide variety of data science educational opportunities for students of all levels.”
Further Resources
Careers in Data Science
School of Social Work
From their webpage: “Social workers help individuals, groups and families as well as advance positive change at the community, state, and national levels to create a more socially just society. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster-than-average growth in social worker jobs over the next seven years.”
Planning for Graduate School
Many Linguistics students are passionate about continuing their education beyond their undergraduate studies. Here are some resources you may find helpful while deciding if grad school is the right path for you!
Weinberg Institute Graduate School Guide
Career Center Graduate School Guide
All Things Linguistic: So you wanna go to grad school? Part 1
All Things Linguistic: So you wanna go to grad school? Part 2
Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Directory of Linguistics Programs and Departments
Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Webinar: How to Be a Successful Grad School Applicant
UMICH Psychology Department-Preparing for Grad School
UMICH Psychology Department-Other Graduate Programs
International Post-Graduate Professional Experiences
Many students wish to do a Study Abroad program during their undergraduate studies, but due to required coursework or financial reasons are unable to participate in a program. However, that does not mean that you cannot pursue an international experience after you graduate! There are many national and international scholarships and organizations that support new graduates in pursuing work, teaching, volunteering, and travel opportunities abroad!
International Center
From their webpage: “The International Center promotes intercultural and international education and is committed to fostering a global campus environment for both U.S. and international students through Education Abroad advising and programming, our Peace Corps Office, and the Intercultural Leadership Seminar and other cultural and social events organized by the Global Engagement and Education Abroad (GEEA) team. The Center brings global opportunities to U.S. and international students, both here on campus and abroad.”
Further Resources
Guide to International Opportunities
International Career Pathways Fair
Global Wolverines
Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships
From their webpage: “ONSF's mission is to increase both the diversity and competitiveness of U-M students applying to major national scholarships and fellowships while helping all applicants to develop into self-aware leaders and citizens who have specific plans to challenge the present and transform the future. The ONSF website is intended to provide a single, comprehensive source of information for students seeking nationally- and internationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships”
Further Resources
Global Scholarships
International Fellowships and Programs
Fulbright U.S. Student Program (IIE) at University of Michigan
From their webpage: “The Institute of International Education (IIE), on behalf of the U.S. State Department, administers the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which offers research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. This competition is administered on campus by the International Institute....Enrolled students are required to apply through U-M. Recent alumni (those who last attended no more than 3 years ago) may also apply through U-M.”
Further Resources
UM Fulbright Resource Site
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Website
PeaceCorps at University of Michigan
From their webpage: “Do you dream of making a difference in the world? Are you interested in living abroad and working side-by-side with local communities much different than your own? If so, the Peace Corps might be the right choice for you. The University of Michigan Peace Corps Office is conveniently located on campus to help students prepare for Peace Corps service. We routinely organize information sessions, panels with returned Peace Corps Volunteers, application workshops, and more.”
Further Resources
Peace Corps Prep Program
Linguistics Newsletter
If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter, please email linguistics@umich.edu to be added to our mailing list.
External Resources
The National Career Development Association has an awesome list of sites for career planning, with resources from self-assessment to job search. Some of these are especially popular with our students, including:
Establishing yourself as a professional is a lifelong journey! The Muse has compiled 99 Sites That Every Professional Should Know About and Use, which may come in handy at several points in your career journey.
The Linguistic Society of America has an article about Careers in Linguistics.
Other links:
University of Toronto Mississauga Careers by Major-Linguistics
University of Minnesota-What Can I Do With a Major in Linguistics
Will Styler, UC San Diego Linguistics Blog
UC Davis Linguistics Career Guide
University of Kansas Career Center-Linguistics
Career Planning Resources for Graduate Students
Rackham Graduate School Career Development Page
University of Michigan Masters and PhD Career Resource Page
All Things Linguistics Blog Jobs Resource Hub
Will Styler, UC San Diego Linguistics Blog
UC Davis Linguistics Career Guide
University of Kansas Career Center-Linguistics
UCLA How To Apply For Academic Jobs In Linguistics
