Undergraduate Minor

Undergraduate Minor

The undergraduate minor is aimed to provide undergraduates with an introduction to Cognitive Science as a theory of the (human and animal) mind. Our objectives are to ensure that each student (a) be able to articulate, at least in broad terms, some of the assumptions that have been thought to unify the various subfields within the domain of Cognitive Science, (b) explore more than one discipline's approach to matters pertaining to Cognitive Science, and (c) explore in some detail at least one of the five main disciplines contributing to cognitive science (Biology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology). CGS 500 ("Introduction to Cognitive Science") will be run with the aim in mind of getting students to satisfy (a); and distribution requirements aim to put students in a position to satisfy (b) and (c).

To receive an undergraduate minor in Cognitive Science, the student must successfully complete 18 credit-hours, distributed as follows:

I. 3 Credits of

  • CGS 500 Introduction to Cognitive Science

II. 15 credits from among the following

  • ANT 332 Human Evolution *
  • BIO 375 Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
  • BIO 535 Comparative Neurobiology and Behavior
  • BIO 550 Advanced Comparative Physiology
  • BIO 556 Communication Biology
  • COM 350 Language and Communication
  • CS 375 Logic and the Theory of Computing (may not be combined with PHI 520)
  • CS 463 Logic and Artificial Intelligence
  • CS 521 Computation Sciences *
  • CS 536 Situated Computing
  • CS 575 Models of Computation (may not be combined with PHI 520)
  • EDC 307 Social Design of Interactive Systems
  • LIN 210 History of the English Language
  • LIN 211 Introduction to Linguistics I
  • LIN 212 Introduction to Linguistics II
  • LIN 318 Semantics and Pragmatics
  • LIN 319 Historical Linguistics
  • LIN 512 Modern English Grammar
  • LIN 513 Teaching English as a Second Language *
  • LIN 515 Phonological Analysis
  • LIN 516 Grammatical Analysis
  • LIN 517 Special Topics in Linguistics
  • PHI 320 Symbolic Logic I
  • PHI 361 Biology and Society
  • PHI 520 Symbolic Logic II (may not be combined with CS 375, 575, or 675)
  • PHI 560 Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 565 Philosophy of Language
  • PHI 575 Philosophy of Mind
  • PSY 223 Developmental Psychology *
  • PSY 311 Learning and Cognition
  • PSY 312 Brain and Behavior
  • PSY 427 Cognitive Processes
  • PSY 456 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 552 Animal Behavior
  • PSY 562 Advanced Topics in Cognitive Psychology
  • PSY 564 Advanced Topics in Learning
  • PSY 565 Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
  • PSY 566 Advanced topics in Social Psychology *

bolded courses have not been taught in the last five years
asterisk ('*'): only by the approval of the Director of Cognitive Science

Of the fifteen credit-hours of courses from this list, (1) at least six credit-hours must be in the same core discipline, where core disciplines are Biology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology; and (2) no more than six credit-hours from any single discipline will count towards satisfaction of the requirement.

An asterisk by a course indicates that the course will count for Cognitive Science credit only on the approval of the Director of Cognitive Science. The main criterion for approval will be the extent to which the course, as taught during the semester for which the student seeks Cognitive Science credit, contains a sufficient amount of materials relevant to Cognitive Science. The Director will make this determination by consultation with relevant faculty from the department teaching the course (including the instructor of the course)