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What is Cognitive Science? Why should I study it?
What is Cognitive Science? Why should I study it?
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the mind and its processes. While cognitive scientists are interested in the brain, they are far more interested in the mind, and concern themselves less with the mechanistic underpinnings of cognition. Rather, cognitive science pays close attention to the human experience, and investigates it through a variety of lenses. A cognitive scientist is well-versed in cognition, perception, language, philosophy, and neuroscience, making it a tremendously interdisciplinary field.
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the mind and its processes. While cognitive scientists are interested in the brain, they are far more interested in the mind, and concern themselves less with the mechanistic underpinnings of cognition. Rather, cognitive science pays close attention to the human experience, and investigates it through a variety of lenses. A cognitive scientist is well-versed in cognition, perception, language, philosophy, and neuroscience, making it a tremendously interdisciplinary field.
Cognitive science is a highly integrative study of human behavior. The cognitive science concentration at Brown offers extensive freedom in the classes you can take for concentration credit. Like the cognitive neuroscience concentration, a concentration in cognitive science enables you to focus on one track of study, like cognitive neuroscience, consciousness, judgment and reasoning, neuro- or psycholinguistics, or artificial intelligence. Cognitive scientists delve deeper into human behavior and motivation, rather than focus on the implementation of the mind or the mechanisms behind cognition (no chemistry, physics, or biology required). It is an extremely flexible concentration with opportunity to become well-versed in many methods of understanding the mind.
Cognitive science is a highly integrative study of human behavior. The cognitive science concentration at Brown offers extensive freedom in the classes you can take for concentration credit. Like the cognitive neuroscience concentration, a concentration in cognitive science enables you to focus on one track of study, like cognitive neuroscience, consciousness, judgment and reasoning, neuro- or psycholinguistics, or artificial intelligence. Cognitive scientists delve deeper into human behavior and motivation, rather than focus on the implementation of the mind or the mechanisms behind cognition (no chemistry, physics, or biology required). It is an extremely flexible concentration with opportunity to become well-versed in many methods of understanding the mind.
There are options both for an A.B. and an Sc.B.
There are options both for an A.B. and an Sc.B.
What are the requirements for CogSci?
What are the requirements for CogSci?
The official requirements can be found here. Please note that the Sc.B. has the same requirements as the A.B. as well as 4 additional science electives and a lab course.
The official requirements can be found here. Please note that the Sc.B. has the same requirements as the A.B. as well as 4 additional science electives and a lab course.
What is the normal course trajectory for CogSci concentrators?
What is the normal course trajectory for CogSci concentrators?
There is no "recommended" timeline, since the course requirements can be filled by a variety and combination of different classes, and because sometimes classes move from a Fall class to a Spring class, and vice versa. CLPS0900, CLPS0200/0220, and CLPS0010 are often taken within the first two years, since upper-level courses build on the foundational knowledge in these classes. An example schedule (Sc.B.-only courses are in green):
There is no "recommended" timeline, since the course requirements can be filled by a variety and combination of different classes, and because sometimes classes move from a Fall class to a Spring class, and vice versa. CLPS0900, CLPS0200/0220, and CLPS0010 are often taken within the first two years, since upper-level courses build on the foundational knowledge in these classes. An example schedule (Sc.B.-only courses are in green):
What counts as an approved elective course?
What counts as an approved elective course?
Any approved elective should be able to address the topic of perception, cognition, language, computation, or any other focus area you create. (Most CLPS classes fall under this category, though some psychology or linguistics classes without any cognition component might not count - if you are unsure about whether a class qualifies, e-mail Professor Domini.) Other classes outside of CLPS and NEUR within the theme may count with special permission. CLPS classes must be in the 1000 level or higher. Classes outside of CLPS don't necessarily need to be in the 1000 level.
Any approved elective should be able to address the topic of perception, cognition, language, computation, or any other focus area you create. (Most CLPS classes fall under this category, though some psychology or linguistics classes without any cognition component might not count - if you are unsure about whether a class qualifies, e-mail Professor Domini.) Other classes outside of CLPS and NEUR within the theme may count with special permission. CLPS classes must be in the 1000 level or higher. Classes outside of CLPS don't necessarily need to be in the 1000 level.
Example: CSCI1010, NERU1030, BIOL0480
Example: CSCI1010, NERU1030, BIOL0480
What counts as an approved science course?
What counts as an approved science course?
Generally classes that will count towards an APMA, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, PHYS, MATH, NEUR, or ENGN degree will qualify. Specifically almost all APMA, BIOL, NEUR, and MATH classes will count. Classes such as CHEM0090 (Kitchen Chemistry) and PHYS0220 (Astronomy) will not. Any CSCI programming class will count. ENGN classes with physiological/neurological components will count.
Generally classes that will count towards an APMA, BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, PHYS, MATH, NEUR, or ENGN degree will qualify. Specifically almost all APMA, BIOL, NEUR, and MATH classes will count. Classes such as CHEM0090 (Kitchen Chemistry) and PHYS0220 (Astronomy) will not. Any CSCI programming class will count. ENGN classes with physiological/neurological components will count.
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