Majoring in Cognitive Science

Courses and major
Electives path
The senior thesis

Courses and major

The key elements of the Cognitive Science major are

a sustained, broad, in-depth exploration of mental phenomena via the multidisciplinary strategy of the field
application of the Cognitive Science strategy to a specific domain of interest to the student, and
completion during the senior year of an independent research project on a topic chosen by the student.

The first of these goals is met by completion of the Core Courses, All majors are required to complete all of these courses:

Cognitive Science 100 - Introduction to Cognitive Science (1)
Cognitive Science 211 - Perception and Action (1)
Cognitive Science 213 - Language (1)
Cognitive Science 215 - Knowledge and Cognition (1)
Psychology 200 - Statistics and Experimental Design (1)
Cognitive Science 219 - Research Methods in Cognitive Science (1)
Cognitive Science 311 - Seminar in Cognitive Science (1)

The second goal of the major is met by choosing one of the paths listed below and electing four elective courses from the chosen path. The following stipulations apply to path electives:

The choice of path and electives within the path are to be made in consultation with the adviser at the time of declaration of the major.
At least one of the four electives must be a 300-level seminar. This can include a second Cognitive Science seminar if it is relevant to the path.
No more than one of the electives can be a 100-level course. The exception is the Computer Science 101-102 sequence. A student who takes this sequence can have both courses count toward the major. A student may petition his or her advisor to develop a customized path and will be allowed to do so under the direction of the advisor if the rationale is deemed justified. Independent work in Cognitive Science can count toward the major with the approval of the Program.

The final goal of the major is met by completing a thesis in the senior year. The topic of the thesis is chosen by the student in consultation with one or more members of the program faculty. All majors must sign up for the thesis in the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up for Cognitive Science 300-301 for 1/2 credit in the a-semester and 1/2 credit in the b-semester, for a total of 1 unit of credit. In cases where this is not possible it is acceptable to sign up for Cognitive Science 302 for a full unit in either the a- or the b-term. Students should consult their adviser before electing the latter option.

After declaration of the major, all courses within the major must be taken for letter grades. Students may elect a graded or ungraded option for theses, but may not change the election once made.

To view content of the cognitive Science courses, go to the "Courses" block.

Note that some of the courses listed under these paths have one or more pre-requisites. These do not count toward the major. Students should take note of the pre-requisite structure for any courses in which they plan to enroll.

Cognition and Culture

Anthropology 140 - Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology 260 - Current Themes in Anthropological Theory and Method (depending upon topic)
Anthropology 262 - Anthropological Approaches to Myth, Ritual, and Symbol
Anthropology 259 - Soundscapes: Anthropology of Music
Anthropology 264 - Anthropology of Art
Anthropology 351 - Language and Expressive Culture
Anthropology 360 - Problems in Cultural Analysis
Music 141 - Music as Literature (depending upon topic)
Philosophy 240 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics
Philosophy 260 - Philosophy and the Arts
Psychology 201 - Principles of Social Psychology
or Psychology 205 - Topics in Social Psychology
Psychology 209 - Research Methods in Social Psychology
Psychology 301 - Seminar in Social Psychology
Sociology 310 - Mind, Culture, and Biology

Cognition and Language

Anthropology 150 - Linguistics and Anthropology
Anthropology 170 - Topics in Anthropology (depending upon topic)
Anthropology 250 - Language, Culture, and Society
Anthropology 255 - Language and Gender
Anthropology 351 - Language and Expressive Culture
Computer Science 240 - Language Theory and Computation
English 213 - The English Language
English 219 - Hypertext Rhetoric and Poetics
Philosophy 222 - Philosophy of Language
Philosophy 310 - Seminar in Analytic Philosophy (depending on topic)

Cognition and the Arts

Anthropology 259 - Soundscapes: Anthropology of Music
Anthropology 264 - Anthropology of Art
Art 190 - Ideas and Images: Exploring the Sense of Sight
Art 388 - Computer Animation: Art, Science and Criticism
Dance 170 - Movement Analysis
Dance 215 - Dance Composition and the Craft of Choreography
Drama 203 - The Actor’s Craft: The Study of Acting Theories from 1915-present
English 215 - Forms of Drama
Film 175 - The Art of Film
Film 320 - Film Making
Music 101 - Fundamentals of Music
Music 105/106 - Harmony
Music 212 - World Musics
Music 215/216 - Composition I
Music 219/220 - Electronic Music
Music 238 - Music in Film
Philosophy 240 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics

Cognitive Development and Education

Biology 232 - Developmental Biology
Biology 238 - Principles of Genetics
Education 237 - Early Childhood Education: Theory and Practice
Education 250 - Introduction to Special Education
Education 272 - Comparative Education
Education 336 - Childhood Development: Observation and Research Application
Education 350/351 - The Teaching of Reading: Processes and Strategies for Elementary and Special Education
Psychology 231 - Principles of Development
Psychology 253 - Individual Differences in Personality
Psychology 264 - Behavioral Genetics
Psychology 239 - Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
Psychology 259 - Research Methods in Personality and Individual Differences
Psychology 264 - Behavioral Genetics
Psychology 301 - Seminar in Social Psychology
Psychology 331 - Seminar in Developmental Psychology
Psychology 351 - Seminar in Personality and Individual Differences

Embodied Agents

Anthropology 232 - Biological Anthropology
Biology 226 - Animal Diversity
Biology 228 - Animal Physiology
Biology 340 - Animal Behavior
Computer Science 102 - Data Structures and Algorithms
Computer Science 203 - Software Design and Implementation
Computer Science 245 - Declarative Programming Models
Computer Science 365 - Artificial Intelligence
Mathematics 121/122 - Single Variable Calculus
or Mathematics 125 - Topics in Single Variable Calculus
Mathematics 221 - Linear Algebra
Mathematics 263 - Discrete Math
Physics 113/114 - Fundamentals of Physics
Psychology 255 - The Psychology of Sport

Evolved Minds

Anthropology 120 - Human Origins
Anthropology 232 - Topics in Biological Anthropology (depending upon topic)
Anthropology 305 - Topics in Advanced Biological Anthropology (depending upon topic)
Biology 226 - Animal Diversity
Biology 228 - Animal Physiology
Biology 238 - Genetics
Biology 340 - Animal behavior
Biology 350 - Evolutionary Biology
Psychology 221 - Learning and Behavior
Psychology 223 - Comparative Psychology
Psychology 229 - Research Methods in Learning and Behavior
Psychology 264 - Behavioral Genetics
Psychology 321 - Seminar in Animal Learning and Behavior
Psychology 323 - Seminar in Comparative Psychology

Formal Analysis of Mind

Computer Science 101 - Computer Science I: Problem-Solving and Abstraction
Computer Science 102 - Computer Science II: Data Structures and Algorithms
Computer Science 240 - Language Theory and Computation
Computer Science 245 - Declarative Programming Models
Computer Science 342 - Topics in Theoretical Computer Science (depending on topic)
Computer Science 365 - Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science 395 - Special Topics (depending on topic)
Mathematics 121/122 - Single Variable Calculus
or Mathematics 125 - Topics in Single Variable Calculus
Mathematics 221 - Linear Algebra
Mathematics 222 - Multivariate Calculus
Mathematics 241 - Probability Models
Mathematics 263 - Discrete Mathematics
Mathematics 341 - Mathematical Statistics
Mathematics 364 - Advanced Linear Algebra
Philosophy 125 - Symbolic logic
Philosophy 220 - Metaphysics and Epistemology
Philosophy 224 - Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy 310 - Seminar in Analytic Philosophy (depending on topic)

Mind and Brain

Biology 316 - Neurobiology
Neuroscience and Behavior 201 - Neuroscience And Behavior
Neuroscience and Behavior 301 - Seminar in Neuroscience and Behavior
Psychology 223 - Comparative Psychology
Psychology 241 - Principles of Physiological Psychology
or Psychology 243 - Neuropsychology
Psychology 249 - Research Methods in Physiological Psychology
Psychology 341 - Seminar in Physiological Psychology
Psychology 343 - Seminar on States of Consciousness
Rationality, Values, and Decision-making
Biology 340 - Animal Behavior
Biology 350 - Evolutionary Biology
Economics 201 - Microeconomic Theory
Economics 210 - Econometrics
Economics 215 - The Science of Strategy
Economics 333 - Behavioral Economics
Economics 355 - Industrial Organization
Psychology 223 - Comparative Psychology
Psychology 323 - Seminar in Comparative Psychology (depending upon topic)
Philosophy 125 - Symbolic Logic
Philosophy 220 - Metaphysics and Epistemology
Philosophy 226 - Philosophy of Science
Philosophy 310 - Seminar in Analytic Philosophy (depending upon topic)
Psychology 243 - Neuropsychology
Psychology 262 - Abnormal Psychology
Psychology 362 - Seminar in Abnormal psychology

The Senior Thesis

Every Cognitive Science major's work culminates with a year-long original research project called a senior thesis. Senior theses can address a wide variety of different issues and are intended to incorporate and integrate the diverse methodologies of Cognitive Science. Examples of recent thesis topics include the following: memory for melody versus lyrics in popular songs; art perception as metaphorical interpretation; the syntactic abilities of five year-olds; and brain mechanisms underlying ADHD. In addition to working on their own independent study and senior thesis research, Cognitive Science students often work on faculty research projects through such programs as work-study during the academic year and the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) during the summer. Some students have co-authored conference presentations with faculty. Here are several recent examples (the student's name is asterisked):

Long, J.H. Jr., Lammert, A.C.*, Strother, J.* & M.J. McHenry. (2003). Biologically-inspired control of perception-action systems: helical klinotaxis in 2D robots. Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology (UUST). No page numbers since electronically published.
Long, J.H. Jr., Lammert, A.C.*, Pell, C.A., Kemp, M., Strother, J.*, Crenshaw, H.C. and M.J. McHenry (2004). A navigational primitive: biorobotic implementation of cycloptic helical klinotaxis in planar motion. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. In Press (July).
Livingston, K., Andrews, J. K., and *Kuschner, E. (2002). Is concept formation an age-independent process? Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Andrews, J. K., Livingston, K., and *Shabalala, D. (1998). Learned categorical perception effects in neural networks. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Alfaro, Peter & Livingston, Ken (2006). Emotion, memory, and religious concepts. Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Society. Erlbaum, pp. 967-972.

Vassar College Cognitive Science