African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics college and university programs are designed so you can learn African culture and history, the continent’s various and diverse languages and written art forms. You generally must declare a dual major to focus on all three subjects in college. For example, you might have to major in Linguistics and African Literature. Types of courses covered in the degree programs include Introduction to Linguistics, Special Topics Variable and Pedagogical Grammar. Other courses you may be required to take to graduate from African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics programs are Generative Syntax, Historical Linguistics, Ethnic Perspectives on Literary Theory, African Saharan Languages, African Bantu Languages and African Literature. Furthermore, taking African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics courses can help you to meet foreign language requirements should you decide to major in other subjects.
Foreign language, interpretation, improved communications and human understanding skills can be gained when you enroll in and complete African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics programs. You can learn some of the oldest dialects and languages spoken in the world when you major in African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. Not only will you learn about the history and development of African languages, you can also learn to speak, translate and read the languages.
Traditional and non-traditional colleges and universities offer African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics courses. An Associate’s of Science in Cross-Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Science in Cross-Cultural Studies and a Master of Science in Cross-Cultural Studies are types of African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics degrees you can get. Other degrees available in the field include Bachelor of Science in Linguistics with a concentration in African Studies, Master of Science in Linguistics with a concentration in African Studies or a Master of Arts in Literature with a concentration in African Studies. If you also take courses in subjects like public relations, history, journalism, art and communications and you can teach at colleges. You can also use combined degrees to get hired as a historian, linguist, translator, interpreter, publicist, journalist or corporate communications director at public and privately held companies that have an international presence.
If you use your African Languages, Literatures and Linguistics degrees to work abroad, your wages may vary from what you could earn in America. In America and in addition to working for government agencies, you can use your degrees to work for schools, hospitals and transportation companies. As of May 2008, the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that historians earned median annual salaries of $54,530. Furthermore, the BLS expects jobs for historians to grow by 11 percent from 2008 through 2018. Jobs for interpreters and translators are expected to increase by 22 percent over the same time period. The median annual income that interpreters and translators earned as of May 2008 was $38,850.