Cognitive Science
Overview
Cognitive Science is the science of the mind. Drawing on the fields of philosophy, psychology, neurobiology, mathematics, computer science, and linguistics, Cognitive Science studies the nature of consciousness, the interaction of mind and matter, and the relationship between thought and language. Cognitive Science addresses long-standing questions about the nature of thought, intelligence, perception, memory, emotion, and other aspects of our mental life by employing the methodologies of the contributing disciplines mentioned above, including philosophical reflection and argument, experimental psychology, the modeling of intelligence with machines, and the investigation of the biological basis of cognition.
Major Requirements
To major in Cognitive Science, students take total of at least 48 units. Along with six required courses, students select at least one course each from the approved list of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy. Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy, or selected from the additional electives list.
COURSEWORK
Students are encouraged to take COGS 201 as early as possible, as preparation for other courses in the major and as a framework to fulfill the second-stage writing requirement.
REQUIRED COURSES
Neuroscience
Students must select either
| COGS 104 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| COGS 320 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 4 units |
Linguistics
Students must select one course from the list below:
Philosophy
Students must select one course from the list below:
Additional Electives
Students must select an additional 12 units of coursework to complete the major.
Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy, or selected from the additional electives list. A total of 4 units can be applied to the major from COGS 290 and COGS 395. All students are also encouraged to take statistics and computer science coursework.
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students will normally fulfill the second-stage writing requirement by passing both the Research Proposal and Scientific Research Paper assignments in COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science with a grade of C or better. Students who do not successfully complete both assignments with a grade of C or better will be required to submit a writing portfolio to the Department Chair no later than the midterm of the following semester. This portfolio will be prepared in consultation with the COGS 201 instructor.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
In the senior year the student carries out a project or writes a thesis on a topic in Cognitive Science related to their prior coursework. The project or thesis is coordinated with the work of the Cognitive Science Senior Seminar. All majors take the Senior Seminar in the fall semester of the senior year. Those students intending to do an empirical project for their senior comprehensives or who intend to go on to graduate school in cognitive science or in a related field should discuss taking a statistics course and gaining research experience prior to their senior year with their adviser.
HONORS
Honors in Cognitive Science may be awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in their course work and distinction in their senior comprehensive project. To be eligible, students must have a 3.5 grade point average in the major and a 3.25 overall grade point average. In addition, the comprehensive project or thesis must be judged as a "pass with distinction."
Minor Requirements
A total of 24 units, including COGS 101 and five other courses any of which can come from the list of fundamental courses or have a cognitive science designation. One of these can be a course without a cognitive science designation from the list of electives for the major.
Courses
Cognitive Science Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Carmel Levitan, chair
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Carolyn Brighouse
Professor, Cognitive Science, Philosophy
B.A., University of Liverpool; M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California
Justin Li
Assistant Professor, Cognitive Science
B.S., Northwestern University; Ph.D., University of Michigan
Michael Shelton
Associate Professor, Spanish and French Studies; Cognitive Science; Affiliated Faculty, Linguistics; Affiliated Faculty, Latino/a and Latin American Studies; Advisory Committee, Group Language
B.S., St. Cloud State University; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Aleksandra Sherman
Assistant Professor, Cognitive Science; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Rutgers University; Ph.D., Northwestern University
Andrew Shtulman
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science; Psychology
B.A., Princeton University; Ph.D., Harvard University
Saul Traiger
Professor, Cognitive Science; Philosophy
B.A., State University of New York, Binghamton; M.A., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
On Special Appointment
Kevin Urstadt
Part-Time Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Cognitive Science
B.A., Rutgers; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside