Cognitive Science
OFFICE: 140 Cognitive Science Building
http://www.cogsci.ucsd.edu
Professors
Courses
Introduction
Cognitive science is a young and diverse field which is unified and motivated
by a single basic inquiry: What is cognition? How do people, animals,
or computers think, act, and learn? In order to understand
the mind/brain, cognitive science brings together methods and discoveries
from neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and computer science.
UCSD has been at the forefront of this exciting new field and our Department
of Cognitive Science was the first of its kind in the world. It is part
of an exceptional scientific community and remains a dominant influence
in the field it helped create.
In addition to preparing undergraduates for careers in a variety of sciences,
the major also provides an excellent background for many professional
fields, including medicine, clinical psychology, and information technology.
The concerns of cognitive science fall into three broad categories: the
brainthe neurological anatomy and processes underlying cognitive
phenomena; behaviorthe cognitive activity of individuals and their
interaction with each other and their sociocultural environment, including
the use of language, information, and media; and computationthe
capacity of mathematical and computer systems to model cognitive and neural
phenomena and represent information, and the role of computers as cognitive
tools.
The department collaborates closely with other academic departments
and research communities, including the Center for Research in Language,
the
Center for Human Development, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
the UCSD Medical Center, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, the
Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, and the new
Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, providing many outstanding resources
and opportunities.
Students are encouraged to participate actively in the department by
sharing their ideas about curriculum, research, and other topics with
faculty and staff. Undergraduate students may join the Students in Cognitive
and Neurosciences (SCANS) organization, which provides opportunities for
undergraduates to meet students and faculty from UCSD and other institutes,
visit research laboratories, and make job contacts. Graduate students
take an especially active role in shaping the department, both academically
and administratively, while they gain experience in research, teaching,
and managing both labs and department affairs.
The Undergraduate Programs
The department offers both a B.A. and a B.S. degree. The B.S. requires
completion of more rigorous lower-division course work and three additional
courses at the upper-division level. The B.S. Degree may be taken optionally
with a specified area of specialization. There is also an honors program
for exceptional students in both degree programs. Major Code: CG25.
Please note: Students who officially declared the major before
fall 2001 may choose to follow the old major requirements or the new
major
requirements, but not a combination of both. See department adviser for
more information.
Grade Requirements for the Major
A minimum grade-point average of 2.0 is required for admittance to and
graduation from the B.A. or B.S. Degree program. Students must receive
a grade of C or better in any course to be counted toward fulfillment
of the major requirements. All courses must be taken for a letter grade,
with the exception of Cognitive Science 195, 198, and 199, which are taken
Pass/No Pass.
Four-Year Plan of Study
The four-year plan of study below assures that all prerequisites and
requirements for the cognitive science major are completed. The department
does enforce course prerequisites and several courses are offered only
once a year, so careful planning is important. It is recommended that
lower-division courses be taken in the first two years, core courses in
the third year, and electives in the final year. Check with a departmental
adviser about which quarter cognitive science courses will be offered
each academic year. Check with a college adviser about course planning
to meet college requirements.
Freshman Year:
|
Twelve units of math (B.A.) Or sixteen units of math (B.S.) Students
intending to take Cognitive Science 118A and/or 118B should take
Mathematics 20A-B-C. College requirements
|
Sophomore:
|
Cognitive Science 1. Cognitive Science 14. Cognitive Science
18. Students intending to take Cognitive Science 118A and/or 118B
should take Mathematics 20E-F and Mathematics 180A.
|
Junior Year:
|
Nine core courses, chosen from a list of twelve (see Core Sequences)
|
Senior Year:
|
Electives for the major
|
Lower-Division Requirements
All majors must complete lower-division courses in introductory cognitive
science, mathematics, statistics, and computer programming:
Mathematics Requirement
The cognitive science major requires twelve units
of mathematics courses (for the B.A. degree), or sixteen units of mathematics
courses (for the B.S. degree),
chosen from the following list:
Mathematics 10A-B-C
Mathematics 20A-B-C-D-E-F
Mathematics 15A or CSE 20
Mathematics 15B or CSE 21
(Students should check with the Department
of Mathematics for rules governing duplication of credit between
the 10 and 20 series.)
Lower-Division Requirements for the B.A. Degree
Twelve units of mathematics
courses chosen from the list above, in addition to the lower-division
cognitive science course requirements.
Lower-Division Requirements for
the B.S. Degree
Sixteen units of mathematics courses chosen from the
list above, in addition to the lower-division cognitive science course
requirements.
Lower-Division Cognitive Science Course Requirements
The following lower-division
courses in Cognitive Science are required for all majors:
Cognitive
Science 1
Cognitive Science 14
Cognitive Science 18
Students intending to take Cognitive Science 118A
and/or 118B are advised to take Mathematics 20-A-B-C-E-F and
Mathematics 180A before their
junior year.
Upper-Division Requirements
The cognitive science major requires the completion of nine core sequence
courses, plus three elective courses (for the B.A. degree), or six elective
courses (for the B.S. degree). Students are advised to complete these
core courses in their junior year,
especially if they intend to apply to the honors program. The remainder
of the upper-division requirement is fulfilled by completing electives.
Core Sequences
The core sequences courses in the Department of Cognitive Science are:
Cognitive
Science 101A-B-C (Cognitive Theory and Phenomena)
Cognitive Science 102A-B-C (Distributed Cognition, Everyday Cognition,
Cognitive Engineering)
Cognitive Science 107A-B-C (Cognitive Neuroscience)
Cognitive Science 109 118A-B (Computational Models of Cognition)
The
cognitive science major requires the completion of nine courses from
the core sequences, which must include two courses in the Cognitive
Science
101 series, two in the Cognitive Science 102 series, two in the Cognitive
Science 107 series, Cognitive Science 109, and two additional courses
from any of the core sequences.
Electives
At least half of the electives for the major must be taken in the department.
Courses in the Cognitive Science 19X series (190A, 190B, 190C, 198, 199)
may NOT be used as an elective to satisfy the major requirements for
the B.A. degree. One course in the Cognitive Science 19X series may be
used as an elective to satisfy the requirements for the B.S. degree,
but only with the approval of both the instructor who supervised the
course and the undergraduate adviser. A course taken outside the department
must meet the following criteria:
- The course must deal with topics and issues that are clearly part
of cognitive science.
- The material must not be available in a course offered inside the
department.
This policy permits students and their advisers to be responsive to changes
in course offerings. Majors must obtain departmental approval for electives
taken outside of the department.
Areas of Specialization
A major may elect to receive a B.S. in cognitive science with a specified
area of specialization. The areas of specialization are intended to provide
majors with guidance in choosing elective courses and to make the specific
interests and training of a major clear to prospective employers and graduate
schools. Specifying an area of specialization is optional; however, students
should take into consideration when planning for their specialization
that approved courses are not necessarily offered every year.
To major in cognitive science with an area of specialization, the student
must fulfill the requirements for the B.S. Degree and must choose four
of the required six elective courses from a list of approved electives
for that area of specialization. (The lists of approved electives for
each area of specialization are available in the department office.)
The following areas of specialization are currently offered by the department:
Specialization in Clinical Aspects of Cognition
This area of specialization is intended for majors interested in cognitive
neuropsychology, psychiatry, cognitive disorders, and the effects of drugs
and brain-damage on cognitive functions. Allowed electives include courses
in those topics, as well as organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology.
Major code: CG31
Specialization in Computation
This area of specialization is intended for majors interested in software
engineering or research in computational modeling of cognition. Allowed
electives include advanced courses in neural networks, artificial intelligence,
and computer science. Students interested in this specialization will
most likely select courses from the computer science and engineering course
offerings, as courses offered within the cognitive science department
are limited. Major code: CG27
Specialization in Human Cognition
This area of specialization is intended for majors whose primary interests
include human psychology and applications of cognitive science in design
and engineering. Allowed electives include courses in cognitive development,
language, laboratory research of cognition, anthropology, and sociology.
Major code: CG28
Specialization in Human Computer Interaction
This area of specialization is intended for majors interested in human
computer interaction; Web; visualization; and applications of cognitive
science in design and engineering. Additional electives may be petitioned
from communication, computer science, computer engineering, and visual
arts. Major code: CG30
Specialization in Neuroscience
This area of specialization is intended for majors interested in neuroscience
research or medicine. Allowed electives include courses in cognitive neuroscience,
organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology. Major code: CG29
Cognitive Science Honors Program
The Department of Cognitive Science offers an honors program for a limited
number of majors who have demonstrated excellence, talent, and high motivation.
Eligibility Requirements
Students are eligible for admission to the program when they:
- Complete all core courses
- Have at least junior level standing
- Have at least a 3.5 GPA in upper-division major courses and at least
a 3.0 overall GPA
Eligible students will enroll in four units of 190A (Pre-Honors Project
in Cognitive Science) under a faculty member who has agreed to advise
them on a potential honors project. Students may apply the COGS 190A course
as an elective toward major requirements whether or not they enter the
Honors Program. At the end of the 190A course, students will submit to
their faculty mentor a written project proposal. The proposal will define
the question to be investigated, survey existing literature, describe
the approach and methods that will be used, explain how data will be collected
if it is an empirical study, detail how human subjects requirements will
be met if necessary, discuss expected results, and provide a timeline
for project completion.
Acceptance in Honors Program
To formally enter the Honors Program, students must meet the eligibility
requirements above, receive a grade of A or better in COGS 190A,
establish an honors committee of at least two faculty and one graduate
student to review the proposal and advise them during the process of completing
the honors project, and have their project proposal approved by their
honors committee.
The honors committee must be kept informed of any deviations from the
original approved project proposal and timeline. Students who fail to
make satisfactory progress may be asked to withdraw from the program at
any point the adviser or the department chair deems necessary.
Successful completion of the Honors Program requires:
- Maintenance of a 3.5 GPA in upper-division major courses, and a 3.0
overall GPA
- Completion of one cognitive science (or related) graduate level course
(may be taken P/NP). Students may use the required graduate course as
one of their electives for the major whether or not they complete the
honors project
- Completion of COGS 190B and 190C with letter grades of A- or better
- Completion of COGS 190D (Preparation for Thesis Presentation), a
1-unit seminar given each spring (P/NP)
- Completion of a written honors thesis describing the project
- Approval of the thesis by the honors committee and the department
chair
- Satisfactory presentation of the honors thesis to the cognitive science
community at the Honors Thesis Presentation Conference, spring quarter.
Students who successfully complete all of the requirements for the Honors
Program will graduate with Distinction in Cognitive Science recorded on
their transcripts.
Minors and Programs of Concentration
Each college has specific requirements, and students should consult with
an academic adviser in their provosts office as well as a cognitive
science adviser to be sure they fulfill requirements of the college and
of the department.
To receive a minor from the Department of Cognitive Science, a student
must complete a total of seven (four unit) courses; five of which must
be upper-division. Lower-division requirements are normally fulfilled
by completing (one of) Cognitive Science 1, 3, 10 or 11 and (one of)
Cognitive
Science 14, 17 or 18. Upper-division requirements are normally fulfilled
by completing two cognitive science electives and one of the following
sequences:
Cognitive Science 101A-B-C
Cognitive Science 102A-B-C
Cognitive Science 107A-B-C
Cognitive Science 108D-E-F
All courses must be taken for a letter grade. No grade below C
is acceptable.
Transfer Credit
Students who wish to transfer from another institution to UCSD as cognitive
science majors should work closely with university advisers to ensure
that all lower-division requirements have been completed and are equivalent
to those offered at UCSD. It is extremely important for students to have
completed lower-division requirements by the end of their sophomore year
so they are prepared for core courses in their junior year. Advanced UCSD
students who wish to transfer to the department should consult with the
departmental advisers about credit for courses already completed.
Education Abroad
Students majoring in cognitive science are encouraged to participate
in the Education Abroad Programs (EAP), and to investigate other options
of foreign study through the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). By petition,
credits earned through EAP/OAP can fulfill UCSD degree and major requirements.
Please visit the Web site at http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/icenter/pao
for further details. Financial aid is applicable and special study abroad
scholarships are readily available.
The Graduate Programs
There are two Ph.D. Programs, each with different admissions and graduation
requirements. The Department of Cognitive Science offers a Ph.D. In cognitive
science. Students are admitted to UCSD directly into the department and
fulfill degree requirements of the department. The Interdisciplinary Program
in Cognitive Science offers a joint Ph.D. In cognitive science and a home
department (anthropology, communication, computer science and engineering,
linguistics, neurosciences, philosophy, psychology, or sociology). Students
are admitted to UCSD through the home department and fulfill the requirements
of both the interdisciplinary program and the home department.
Ph.D. In Cognitive Science
This program provides broad training in neurological processes and phenomena;
the experimental methods, results, and theories from the study of psychology,
language, and social and cultural issues; and the studies of computational
mechanisms. The first year is devoted to familiarizing the student with
the findings and current problems in cognitive science through courses
in foundations and issues.
By the second year, basic courses and laboratory rotations are completed,
with the major emphasis on the completion of a year-long research project.
Future years are spent completing the advancement to candidacy requirements
and doing the thesis research. Throughout the program, there are frequent
faculty-student interactions, including special lectures by the faculty
or invited speakers and the weekly informal research discussions and cognitive
science seminar.
Admissions
The application deadline is January 6. The admissions committee reviews
each applicants statement of purpose, letters of recommendation,
GRE scores, previous education and work experience, and grade-point
averages,
then recommends candidates for admission to the entire faculty, who make
the final decision.
Advising
An interim adviser is appointed to serve as general adviser and counselor
for each entering student. The adviser helps chart a set of courses that
fulfill the content area requirements, taking into account the students
prior training and interests. Students may change the interim adviser
at any time (as long as the new interim adviser is willing). At the time
of advancement to candidacy, students choose a permanent adviser who also
functions as the chair of the dissertation committee.
All entering students are assumed to have basic prerequisite knowledge,
and a list of basic readings will be provided to incoming students. Students
who do not have this background can acquire it through self-study in the
summer preceding arrival at UCSD or by taking self-paced study courses
or relevant undergraduate courses at UCSD.
Summary of Requirements
- Foundations courses
- Approved study plan, which includes issues courses, methods courses,
and laboratory rotations
- Second-year project
- Language requirement
- Advancement to candidacy
- Teaching
- Cognitive Science 200 seminar
- Participation in departmental events and committees
- Ph.D. dissertation and defense
Description of Requirements
The expectation is that graduate students in the program will maintain
a 3.4 GPA, and falling below this expectation may lead to the student
being put on departmental probation. No course in which the student is
assigned a grade below B– will be allowed to fulfill department
requirements.
- Foundations Courses (Cognitive Science 201, 202, 203). Students
complete foundations courses in the areas of brain, behavior, and computation
by the end of the second year. The department may waive some or all
courses for students who already have the required knowledge.
- Study Plan. Students complete a study plan recommended by their
adviser. The normal plan includes:
- Issues Courses. A minimum of six issues courses are required,
at least one in each of the areas of brain, behavior, and computation.
At least four of the issues courses should be taken within the department.
Department recommends completion by the end of the second year.
Issues courses taken outside the department require the approval
of the adviser in conjunction with the Graduate Committee.
- Methods Courses. Three methods courses are required, one
of which must be an approved statistics course. Students should
obtain approval for all three courses from their adviser. An approved
list of courses is on file with the department to assist students
in selecting courses. Students may petition courses not on the approval
list. Such petitions must be approved by the student's adviser and
graduate committee. All three courses must be taken for a letter
grade.
- Laboratory Rotations (Cognitive Science 290). A total of
three quarters of laboratory rotations in at least two different
faculty laboratories are required. Each rotation is for one to two
full quarters as required by the faculty laboratory. All rotations
should be completed by the end of fall quarter of the second year.
Students can meet this requirement in the following ways:
- Three one-quarter rotations in three different laboratories,
or
- One one-quarter rotation and one two-quarter rotation
in two different laboratories, or
- Two two-quarter rotations in two different laboratories
for a total of four quarters enrolled in COGS 290.
Department recommends that student and adviser negotiate a topic
and activity, then put the agreement in writing, sign, and give
to the graduate coordinator.
- Second-Year Research Project (Cognitive Science 210A-B-C and 211A-B-C).
In the summer between the first and second year, students work with
their adviser and a faculty committee to develop a prospectus for a
research project. The yearlong project culminates with written and oral
presentations to the faculty at the end of spring quarter. During the
second year, concurrent enrollment in Cognitive Science 210A-B-C and
Cognitive Science 211A-B-C is required as part of the Second Year Project.
- Language Requirement. The main goal of the language requirement
is to give all students firsthand experience with some of the differences
in structure and usage of languages and the several issues involved
in the learning of second languages. This requirement can be satisfied
by demonstrating satisfactory proficiency, by prior study in a language
(e.g., two years of high school study), or by satisfactory completion
of one quarter of study in a language course approved by the department.
- Advancement to Candidacy/Qualifying Paper and Oral Exam. There
are three components to advancement to candidacy:
- Competency. This requirement is met by satisfactorily completing
items 1-4 above.
- Depth. This requirement is met by satisfactorily completing a
talk to the entire department on their thesis topic by the end
of the third year. A first draft of the thesis proposal must be
submitted to the student’s adviser by the end of the third
year. Students enroll in COGS 205 during winter and spring quarter
of the third year.
- Dissertation Topic/Advancement Exam. The student prepares a proposal
of the dissertation topic that must be approved by the students
doctoral committee. A final written proposal is submitted to
the committee
at least two weeks prior to an oral defense of the proposal. The
doctoral committee consists of at least five faculty members:
three
from the department and two from outside the department; one of
the outside members must be tenured.
- Teaching (Cognitive Science 500). All graduate students must
serve as a teaching assistant at least one quarter of each academic
year in residence. The undergraduate program offers a special challenge
to instructor and student alike, and experience with the teaching of
that program can provide a valuable part of the education of a cognitive
scientist. Teaching assistantships performed in other departments must
be approved by formal petition to the graduate committee to count toward
the requirement. The department works closely with the Center for Teaching
Development to design effective training and development programs for
its teaching assistants. At the end of each quarter, instructors prepare
written evaluations of all teaching assistants.
- Cognitive Science 200 Seminar. Students must enroll in this
seminar for at least three quarters while in residence; frequent participation
is encouraged.
- Participation in Departmental Events and Committees. Students
participate in departmental special events and committees and serve
as student representatives for faculty meetings and the campuswide Graduate
Student Association. Students present their research in the undergraduate
SCANS series.
- Completion of the Ph.D. Dissertation and Defense. Candidates
prepare a written dissertation demonstrating a substantive contribution
to our understanding of cognition. An oral defense follows.
Masters Degree
The Department of Cognitive Science does not offer admissions to a master’s
program. However, candidates for the Ph.D. who do not hold a master’s
degree from another institution may be granted the M.S. degree after
fulfilling the first three requirements listed above. This is usually
at the end of the second year. Duplication of advanced academic degrees,
e.g., one at the same level, is not permitted at UCSD. Likewise, a professional
degree at the master’s or doctoral level, e.g., M.Ed., M.P.I.A.,
M.D., or Pharm.D., is not regarded as a duplicate of an academic degree.
Evaluation of Performance and Progress
A formal evaluation of performance and progress for all students takes
place at the end of spring quarter every year, with special attention
given to the first and second years of study and at the time of qualification.
The first-year evaluation is based in large part on the performance
in foundations and issues courses. The second-year evaluation is based
on
the students total performance, with heavy weight given to the students
second-year research project. The third-year evaluation focuses on the
competency and depth requirements, and the following years on the progress
made toward completion of the dissertation.
Special Events
The department intends to enhance student-faculty interaction and current
awareness of active research issues by special events:
- Lectures by invited speakers or faculty members.
- A full day of faculty/student overview and information at the start
of each year, with emphasis on ongoing research activity.
- Presentations of second-year research projects and third-year thesis
topics to the entire faculty at the end of each year.
- Final defense of the dissertation accompanied by a public lecture
and celebration.
Time Limits to Ph.D.
Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of spring quarter of
their fourth year. Total university support cannot exceed seven years.
Total registered time at UCSD cannot exceed eight years.
Financial Aid
Financial support is available to qualified students in the form of fellowships,
loans, and assistantships. Students are encouraged to seek fellowships
and research awards from outside the university. Please refer to the Graduate
Studies section for more information.
The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program
The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is distinct from the departmental
Ph.D. Program (see previous section) both in admissions and graduation
requirements. There are four aspects to graduate study in the interdisciplinary
program: (a) a primary specialization in one of the established disciplines
of cognitive science; (b) a secondary specialization in a second field
of study; (c) familiarity with general issues in the field and the various
approaches taken to these issues by scholars in different disciplines;
and (d) an original dissertation project of an interdisciplinary character.
The degree itself reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the program,
being awarded jointly to the student for studies in cognitive science
and the home department. Thus, students in linguistics or psychology will
have degrees that read Ph.D. In Linguistics and Cognitive Science
or Ph.D. In Psychology and Cognitive Science.
Admission to the Program
Students enter UCSD through admission to one of the affiliated departments,
which then serves as their home department, and which specifies their
primary specialization. The affiliated departments are anthropology, communication,
computer science and engineering, linguistics, neurosciences, philosophy,
psychology, and sociology. Students may apply for admission to the interdisciplinary
program anytime after entering UCSD, typically in the second or third
year. Students must have an adviser from their home department who is
a member of the interdisciplinary program faculty. If a student does not
have such an adviser, a member of the Instructional Advisory Committee
will be appointed as interim adviser. The Instructional Advisory Committee
is made up of one interdisciplinary program faculty person from each of
the home departments. The committee member that will serve as interim
adviser for a student will come from the same home department as the student.
Note: Admission to the interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program is contingent
upon applying to and being accepted in a home department.
Primary Specialization
Primary specialization is accomplished through the home department. Students
are expected to maintain good standing within their home departments and
to complete all requirements of their home departments through qualification
for candidacy for the Ph.D. Degree
Secondary Specialization
The power of an interdisciplinary graduate training program lies in large
measure in its ability to provide the student the tools of inquiry of
more than one discipline. Students in the cognitive science interdisciplinary
program are expected to gain significant expertise in areas of study outside
of those covered by their home departments. Such expertise can be defined
in several ways. The second area might coincide with that of an established
discipline, and study within that discipline would be appropriate. Alternatively,
the area could be based upon a substantive issue of cognitive science
that spans several of the existing disciplines, and study within several
departments would be involved. In either case, students work with their
adviser and the Instructional Advisory Committee to develop an individual
study plan designed to give them this secondary specialization. A list
of courses in cognitive studies at UCSD is available. This requirement
takes the equivalent of a full year of study, possibly spread out over
several years. Often it is valuable to perform an individual research
project sponsored by a faculty member in a department other than the students
home department.
The following list demonstrates some ways to fulfill the secondary specialization
requirement. It should be emphasized that these programs are only examples.
Students will devise individual plans by working with their advisers and
the advisory committee. Ideally, students who elect to do research in
their areas of secondary interest will be able to accomplish a substantive
piece of work, either one of publishable quality or one that will be of
significant assistance in their dissertation projects.
Cognitive Psychology. Get a basic introduction to cognitive psychology
through the Cognitive Psychology Seminar (Psychology 218A-B) and acquire
or demonstrate knowledge of statistical tools and experimental design
(this can be done either by taking the graduate sequence in statistics,
Psychology 201A-B, or through the standard testing out option
offered to all psychology graduate students). Finally, and, perhaps of
most importance, the student should do a yearlong project of empirical
research in psychology with the guidance of a member of the Department
of Psychology.
Cognitive Social Sciences. A course sequence from sociology and
anthropology, including one or two courses in field methods and a research
project under the direction of a cognitive social sciences faculty member.
The course sequence and project should be worked out with the advisory
committee to reflect the interests and background of the student. Examples
of courses include Distributed
Cognition (Cognitive Science 234), Text and Discourse Analysis (Sociology
204), and the Anthropology of Language and Discourse (Anthropology 263).
In addition, courses on field methods are offered by both anthropology
and
sociology.
Computer Science and Artificial Language. This specialization
requires a thorough background in computer science. For those who enter
the program without much formal training in this area, the secondary specialization
in computer science includes some upper-division undergraduate courses
(CSE 100, 102, 105) and a minimum of two graduate courses (CSE 250AB).
(Note that these courses require basic knowledge of programming and discrete
mathematics areas that may require some additional undergraduate courses
for those who lack these skills.) Students with stronger backgrounds in
computer science may go straight to graduate courses. For all students
interested in this specialization, the course sequences and any projects
should be worked out on an individual basis with the students adviser.
Discourse Structure and Processing. This specialization is highly
interdisciplinary, spanning linguistics, computer science, psychology,
sociology, philosophy, and anthropology. Research within this specialization
depends upon which discipline is given emphasis. Therefore, the specialization
will have to be developed according to the interests of the student. All
students will have to demonstrate awareness and knowledge of relevant
studies and the approaches of the various disciplines.
Linguistics. Students who elect a secondary specialization in
linguistics should specialize either in the general area of syntax/semantics
or in the general area of phonetics/phonology. Those who specialize in
syntax/semantics should plan to take three courses in this area and one
course in phonetics/phonology. Conversely, those who specialize in phonetics/phonology
should plan to take three courses in this area and one course in syntax/semantics.
The specific courses recommended will depend on the individual students
interests and should be arranged in conjunction with the Department of
Linguistics faculty liaison to the Cognitive Science Interdisciplinary
Program.
In addition, students will prepare a research paper (preferably originating
in one of the above courses) that demonstrates control of the methodology
and knowledge of important issues in their area of specialization.
Neurosciences. A student specializing in neurosciences would take
a program of courses emphasizing brain-behavior relationships, including
Behavioral Neuroscience (Neurosciences 264) and the Physiological Basis
of Human Information (Neurosciences 243). In addition, depending upon
the students individual interests, one or more of the neurosciences
core courses would be taken in the areas of Mammalian Neuroanatomy (Neurosciences
256), Neuro-psychopharmacology (Neurosciences 277), and/or Neurochemistry
(Neurosciences 234). In most cases, the student would also take a research
rotation in the laboratory of a member of the neurosciences faculty.
Philosophy. Students who elect a secondary specialization in
philosophy will focus on philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, philosophy
of
psychology, philosophy of neuroscience, or philosophy of language, depending
on their area of primary specialization. Courses suitable for this program
include Philosophy of Language (Philosophy
234), Philosophy of Mind (Philosophy 236), Philosophy of the Cognitive
Sciences (Philosophy 250A), and Seminar on Special Topics (Philosophy
285), which will frequently focus
on issues relevant to cognitive science. The course sequence should be
worked out with the students adviser.
Acquisition of Perspective on the Field
The cognitive science faculty offers a special seminar, Cognitive Science
200, that emphasizes the interdisciplinary approach to the field and that
covers a variety of different problems, each from the perspective of several
disciplines. All students are required to enroll in this seminar a total
of six quarters while in residence; most students regularly attend the
seminar even after fulfilling the requirement. Students may substitute
a Cognitive Science Foundations course for a Cognitive Science 200. A
maximum of two quarters may be substituted.
Prequalifying Examinations
Students must complete any prequalifying and field requirements of their
home department.
Qualifying Examinations
The Dissertation Advisory Committee. As soon as possible, students
form a dissertation committee consisting of:
At least three members from the students home department, including
the students adviser; and at least three members of the Cognitive
Science Program, at least two of whom are not members of the students
home department.
University regulations require that at least one of the faculty members
of the committee from outside the home department must be tenured.
The committee must be approved by the interdisciplinary program, the
home department, and by the dean of Graduate Studies. The dissertation
committee is expected to play an active role in supervising the student
and to meet with the student at regular intervals to review progress and
plans.
In the qualifying examination, the student must demonstrate familiarity
with the approaches and findings from several disciplines relevant to
the proposed dissertation research and must satisfy the committee of the
quality, soundness, originality, and interdisciplinary character of the
proposed research.
Interdisciplinary Dissertation
It is expected that the dissertation will draw on both the primary and
secondary areas of expertise, combining methodologies and viewpoints from
two or more perspectives, and that the dissertation will make a substantive
contribution to the field of cognitive science.
Overview
The program can be summarized in this way: In the first years, basic
training within the students primary specialization, provided by
the home departments;
In the middle years, acquisition of secondary specialization and participation
in the Cognitive Science Seminar;
In the final years, dissertation research on a topic in cognitive science,
supervised by faculty from the program.
Time Limits. Time limits for precandidacy, financial support,
and registration are those established for the home department. Normative
time is six years.
Cognitive Science
|