Administered by the Department of Philosophy

Associate Professor Singer, Chairperson

Professor Dardis, Adviser

Cognitive science is a cross-disciplinary research effort dedicated to understanding the mind. It investigates the nature of cognition, perception, feeling and action. Typical research in cognitive science might involve empirical study of intelligent behavior, computational modeling of some aspect of cognition or consciousness, or conceptual inquiry into the foundations of our ideas about the mind. Hence the methods of cognitive science are as wide-ranging as the disciplines that comprise it. These include philosophy, psychology, computer science, linguistics, mathematics and the neurosciences. Cognitive scientists also work in such disciplines as speech, anthropology, literature, history, biology, law and business.

The minor in cognitive science consists of the completion of 18 semester hours of required and elective courses to be selected under advisement from the cognitive science adviser, meeting the following restrictions:

1. the student must major in one of the disciplines represented in the “electives” list below;
2. at least 12 s.h. must be taken outside the student’s major department (note that some courses may have prerequisites);
3. electives must be drawn from at least two of the departments represented in the “electives” list below;
4. no more than 6 s.h. taken for this minor may count toward satisfying the requirements for any other minor;
5. at least 6 s.h. must be taken in residence; and
6. a grade of C or better is required in each course.