by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in African Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics involves the study of African Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. A Program That Focuses On One Or More Of The Languages Native To The African Continent, Including, But Not Limited To, Bantu Languages, Nilo-Saharan Languages, Niger-Congo Languages, Khoisan Languages, And The Chadic And Ethiopic Languages Of The Hamito-Semitic Language Family. Includes Instruction In Philology, Dialects, And Oral And Written Literatures. Read on to learn the key facts every african languages, literatures, & linguistics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering african languages, literatures, & linguistics programs.
In the U.S., african languages, literatures, & linguistics is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best African Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for african languages, literatures, & linguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of african languages, literatures, & linguistics programs later in this article.
Coursework for African Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations african languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a african languages, literatures, & linguistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a african languages, literatures, & linguistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several african languages, literatures, & linguistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to african languages, literatures, & linguistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 21.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in african languages, literatures, & linguistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in african languages, literatures, & linguistics opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to african languages, literatures, & linguistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to african languages, literatures, & linguistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Salaries for african languages, literatures, & linguistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers african languages, literatures, & linguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 1 different african languages, literatures, & linguistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased african languages, literatures, & linguistics school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
