Undergraduate concentration
An interdisciplinary undergraduate concentration in Cognitive Science is available to Cornell University undergraduates in the College of Arts & Sciences. Students from other colleges who seek this concentration should discuss such possibilities with the Cognitive Science office, which will provide information and contacts concerning such concentrations.
The undergraduate concentration in Cognitive Science is designed to enable students to engage in a structured program directly related to the scientific study of cognition and the mind. The concentration provides a framework for the design of structured, supervised programs of study in this growing interdisciplinary field. Such programs of study serve as complements to coursework in a single discipline as represented by an individual department. It is considered crucial that students gain a strong background in their major, independent of their work in the concentration.
Application procedures
Initial inquiries concerning the undergraduate concentration should be made to the Cognitive Science program coordinator, Julie Simmons-Lynch, cogst@cornell.edu, 255-6431, who will provide application materials and help schedule a meeting with a relevant member of the Undergraduate Concentration Committee.
To formally initiate the concentration in Cognitive Science, a student must gain approval for a selection of courses from a concentration advisor (one of the program faculty). The courses selected must form a coherent cluster that makes sense to both the advisor and the student. To be admitted to the concentration, the student must submit this Plan of Study to the Cognitive Science Undergraduate Concentration Committee for final approval.
Students who complete the concentration requirements will have their concentration in Cognitive Science officially represented on their transcript. Students who have made very substantial progress towards completing the requirements for the concentration will be eligible for enrollment in graduate-level Cognitive Science courses during their senior year.
Structure of the concentration
In general, it is expected that students in the concentration will take COGST 101 or COGST 214 as their introductory course requirement; and then either COGST 412, COGST 416, COGST 450, or COGST 470 as their lab course requirement; and three courses at the 300 and 400 level in at least two departments (or certain suitable 200-level courses by petition). Courses are to be chosen by student and advisor to provide a coherent program. Even though only five courses are required to complete the concentration, we assume students interested in Cognitive Science will often end up taking more. An independent research project (e.g., COGST 470 if this is not used to satisfy the lab requirement) and a research workshop (COGST 471) are encouraged. Please note: minor modifications to this outline may be made in extenuating circumstances by the advisor, in consultation with the program director(s).
The Cognitive Science Program faculty have designed five structured "tracks" that offer students different ways of satisfying the concentration. However, students are able to construct their own programs of study subject to approval by their concentration advisor. The five "tracks" are as follows:
- Perception and Cognition
- Language and Cognition
- Cognition and Information Processing
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Independent Study (designed by student and advisor)
Complete descriptions of each track and suggested courses, along with an approved list of courses, are listed in the Courses of Study catalogue under the Cognitive Science Program in the Special Programs and Interdisciplinary Studies section; however, this list can be expanded upon by the student in consultation with his/her advisor. The student must gain approval for the selection of courses from his/her concentration advisor. The courses selected must form a coherent cluster that makes sense to both the advisor and the student. In order to be admitted to the concentration, the student must submit this Plan of Study to the Cognitive Science Undergraduate Concentration Committee for final approval.
Courses
Department listings:
(Note: Not all departmental offerings are listed as Cognitive Science courses;
look for COGST in their identifying code.)
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Education
- Department of Human Development
- Department of Linguistics
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Psychology
Independent research
The concentration encourages each student to be involved in independent research that bears on research issues in Cognitive Science, if possible. COGST 470 is available for this purpose. It is recommended that students report on their research activities in an annual undergraduate forum. The Undergraduate Concentration Committee is committed to helping students find an appropriate research placement when needed.
Research/travel awards
Students in good standing in the concentration will be eligible to compete for a limited number of yearly research fellowships and travel awards to relevant conferences in the cognitive sciences.
Contact information
Initial inquiries concerning the undergraduate concentration should be made to the Cognitive Science Program coordinator, Julie Simmons-Lynch (cogst@cornell.edu, 255-6431, 278G Uris Hall), who will provide application materials and assist in setting up a meeting with a relevant member of the Undergraduate Concentration Committee. More information is also available at www.cogstud.cornell.edu.