BS Computer Science and Linguistics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

The BS in Computer Science + Linguistics is an interdisciplinary degree jointly offered by the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science (Grainger College of Engineering) and the Department of Linguistics (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences). This program integrates computing fundamentals with the scientific study of language, offering a robust foundation for careers in natural language technologies and computational linguistics.

  • Focuses on natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, machine translation, and language-centered AI

  • Emphasizes applications in language technology, AI, and human-computer interaction

  • Enables students to build programs that understand or produce human languagE

University Recognition & Accreditations:

  • UIUC’s Computer Science program is consistently ranked among the top 5 in the U.S.

  • UIUC is a global leader in AI and natural language processing research

  • Degree features an ABET-accredited CS curriculum foundation

Course Overview:

  • Year 1: Intro CS, Calculus, Gen Eds, Intro to Linguistics, Composition I

  • Year 2: Data Structures, Discrete Math, Syntax/Phonology, Gen Eds

  • Year 3: Algorithms, Semantics, CS/Ling electives, Statistics, Language & Society

  • Year 4: Advanced CS/Linguistics electives, Capstone or Research, Free electives

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

  • Access to undergraduate research in natural language processing, machine learning, or phonetics

  • Opportunities to work with faculty on AI and computational linguistics research projects

  • Capstone or senior project tailored to NLP or linguistics

  • Internships and co-ops with tech companies specializing in voice and language applications

  • Active student groups in CS, AI, and language technologies

Progression & Future Opportunities

  • Strong foundation for graduate study in CS, linguistics, NLP, or interdisciplinary AI programs

  • Prepares students for careers in big tech, language AI startups, or academic research labs

  • Comprehensive career support services at UIUC, including job fairs, interview prep, and resume workshops

  • Graduates are in high demand across sectors due to their bilingual fluency in computing and linguistics

Program Key Stats

$44,688
$ 75
Aug Intake : 5th Jan


60 %
No
Yes

Eligibility Criteria

AAA - A*A*A
3.5 - 4.0
38 - 42
90 - 95

1340 - 1530
28 - 34
6.5
79

Additional Information & Requirements

Career Options

  • Natural language processing engineer
  • Computational linguist
  • AI/machine learning engineer (language focus)
  • UX designer for speech/voice interfaces
  • Software developer for language applications
  • Graduate researcher in linguistics or CS

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