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The discipline of linguistics is centrally concerned with diversity: linguists study linguistic diversity across the globe; the differentiation, over historic time, of dialects into distinct languages; the maintenance of linguistic diversity in the face of accelerating language loss; conceptual differences across cultures and communities of practice; and the use of distinctive linguistic features and usage habits to project a wide array of social identities. The Department’s vision is to provide a supportive environment for research and learning by fostering diversity across the areas of curriculum, student body demographics, and faculty demographics. In its graduate programs, the CU Department of Linguistics seeks to create and maintain an inclusive, open, equitable, mutually respectful, and intellectually rich environment that embraces diversity among its faculty and students. We recognize that students and faculty from backgrounds not historically well represented in graduate programs enrich our field of study and enhance the educational experience of all students.

What can CU Linguistics provide in return? Students seek graduate programs, research projects and careers that are consonant with their values. We believe we can best address this need by providing coursework and research experiences that have an outward-looking focus. We are committed to using the tools of our field to address critical problems and expose social injustice and social inequities: language and language ideology play major roles in discriminatory practices in healthcare, law and education, and language can be weaponized in disinformation and propaganda. Linguistic inquiry can help disrupt misconceptions and stereotypes that lead to structural inequality based on social and human differences.

To promote diversity and inclusive excellence, we offer fellowship support to some graduate applicants who we feel would contribute to the educational benefits of diversity within CU Linguistics and CU overall, based on their racial, ethnic, linguistic, socioeconomic background, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We ask that you include a diversity statement addressing any such aspects of your background in the personal statement that you submit as part of your application and that you let us know early of your interest in applying, so that we can include you in any informational or preview sessions that we hold for potential applicants.