Linguistics is the scientific study of language from its origins to how people use it today in various communication contexts. Linguists investigate the properties of language in all of its forms (spoken, written, signed, programmed), and describe how language is used wherever, whenever, and however it is practiced. Our Linguistics Program offers a major and a minor to all Miami students. The interdisciplinary program is housed in the English Department in cooperation with a number of departments that contribute to the program through their course offerings.<br>Linguistics graduates have excellent analytic skills and are therefore qualified for many careers that require in-depth understanding of how language works, and how it can best be utilized. Linguists work in many different areas including web and software development, medicine, international relations, bilingual and foreign language education, TESOL, marketing, translation, law, politics, communications, journalism, and publishing. In fact, Miami graduates work in literacy programs, advertising, machine translation, on the mission field, and in lexicography, and computer programming. Others are employed by the government in cross-cultural centers, such as the Peace Corps, the U.S. Information Agency, and those who also obtained teacher certification are working in schools both in the United States and abroad. Still others have enrolled in graduate schools to continue their linguistics studies or work toward degrees in business or law.