Linguistics at Florida Atlantic University is the scientific study of language—how it works, how it’s structured, and how it’s used in real life. You’ll explore everything from the sounds and patterns of speech to the ways language shapes identity, culture, and communication. The program covers core areas like phonetics, syntax, semantics, language acquisition, bilingualism, and sociolinguistics, giving you the tools to analyze, teach, and understand language in a global context.
FAU LLCL
About Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature
Florida Atlantic’s linguistics program stands out for its interdisciplinary approach and flexibility. Courses are taught by faculty from multiple departments, so you’ll learn from experts in linguistics, psychology, communication, and more. The program encourages you to combine your linguistics studies with another major, minor, or certificate—like the ESL Studies Certificate—so you can tailor your education to your goals. You’ll also find opportunities to study the structure and history of several languages, preparing you for careers in teaching, translation, speech pathology, and beyond.
Degrees Offered at Florida Atlantic
Undergraduate
- Bachelor of Arts in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature (LLCL), with optional concentrations in
- French
- Italian
- Linguistics
- Spanish
- Minors in
- Arabic
- Caribbean and Latin American Studies
- Comparative Literature
- French
- Italian
- Japanese
- Linguistics
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Spanish
- Certificates in
- Caribbean and Latin American Studies
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Studies
Graduate
- Master of Arts in Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature (LLCL) with optional concentrations in
- Comparative Literature
- French
- Italian
- Linguistics
- Spanish
- Combined BA-to-MA in LLCL: Linguistics
- Graduate Certificate in ESL Studies
- Ph.D. in Comparative Studies (with Linguistics as an area of concentration)
Explore Degree Programs in Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature
Our Faculty

Dr. Michael A. Rapoport
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dept. of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building 97 232G

María Alejandra Aguilar Dornelles, Ph.D, Prof.
Associate Professor | Director of the Americas Initiative
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Mauricio J. Almonte, C.Phil., M.A.
Senior Instructor of Spanish | University Instructor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building 97 271

Leslie Arboleda, M.A.
Senior Instructor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building 97 274

Géraldine Blattner, Ph.D
Professor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
French Studies

Carla Calarge
Associate Professor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Dr. Frédéric Conrod, Ph.D
Professor | CLL Committee
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Michael David Hamilton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Linguistics
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building - 97 269

Ana M. Suárez Dugand, M.A.
Instructor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building - 97 Room 241

Yolanda Gamboa, Ph.D.
Affiliate Faculty, Jewish Studies | Professor, Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature | Professor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Jewish Studies | Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Nuria Godón, Ph.D.
Professor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Mary Ann Gosser-Esquilín, Ph.D
Professor of Spanish and Caribbean Literature
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
French

Lina Henao, M.A.
Senior Instructor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building - 97 Room 275

Michael J. Horswell, Ph.D.
Professor | Dean
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Viktor Kharlamov, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Linguistics, Director of Graduate Studies | CLL Committee
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Kristen Lindbeck, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Jewish Studies with joint appointment to the Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature.
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Julissa Mansilla-Bjalme, Ph.D.
Senior Instructor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building - 97 239

Martha Mendoza, Ph.D
Professor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Dr. Justin Patrick White, Ph.D
Professor of Spanish/SLA, Linguistics Director of the Spanish Basic Language Program
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature

Rosemary Rahill, Ph.D
Senior Instructor of French
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
French

Ramona Rendon, M.A.
University Instructor of Spanish
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Romain Rivaux, Ph.D
Senior Instructor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus
Sumiko Uo
Instructor of Japanese
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature
Boca Raton Campus | Culture and Society Building - CU 97 236