Catalog Navigator : Minor Program

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary area of scholarship concerned with understanding the nature and development of such intelligent capacities as perception, language, reasoning, planning, problem solving, and related skills, whether these capacities are instantiated in biological or artificial systems. The goal of the cognitive science minor is to provide a structured way for undergraduates to study and carry out research in cognitive science with guidance from faculty members in the cognitive science center. Any undergraduate may pursue a minor in cognitive science, regardless of his or her major. The interdisciplinary cognitive science minor is likely to be of particular interest to undergraduates majoring in fields that are directly related to cognitive science (e.g., computer science, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, biological sciences, mathematics, statistics, biomathematics, communication, biological anthropology, and engineering).

Requirements for the Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in cognitive science consists of a minimum of 18 credits, distributed as follows:

1. At least one of the following two courses both of which include a recitation:
�(It is strongly recommended that students take both courses, preferably with the fall course before the spring course.)
��
� 01:185:201/01:185:202� Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Introduction (3) plus associated Recitation (1) (offered each fall semester only)

� 01:185:411� Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science I (4)
�(offered each spring semester only)�

2. A minimum of 3 credits in formal/analytic methods used in cognitive science. The following courses automatically count toward the formal/analytic requirement:

� 01:198:105� Great Insights in Computer Science (3)

� 01:198:107� Computing for Math and the Sciences (3)

� 01:198:111� Introduction to Computer Science (4)

� 01:198:112� Data Structures (4)

� 01:198:205� Introduction to Discrete Structures I (4)

� 01:198:206� Introduction to Discrete Structures II (4)

� 01:615:305� Syntax (3)

� 01:615:315� Phonology (3)

� 01:615:325� Semantics (3)

� 01:615:411� Morphology (3)

� 01:640:300� Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (3)

� 01:640:338� Discrete and Probabilistic Models in Biology (3)

� 01:640:355� Game Theory (3)

� 01:640:361� Set Theory (3)

� 01:640:428� Graph Theory (3)

� 01:640:454� Combinatorics (3)

� 01:640:461� Mathematical Logic (3)

� 01:640:477� Mathematical Theory of Probability (3)

� 01:640:478� Probability II (3)

� 01:640:481� Mathematical Theory of Statistics (3)

� 01:730:201� Introduction to Logic (3)

� 01:730:315� Applied Symbolic Logic (3)

� 01:730:407� Intermediate Logic I (3)

� 01:730:408� Intermediate Logic II (3)

� 01:830:302� Sensation and Perception Laboratory (1)

� 01:830:304� Memory Laboratory (1)

� 01:830:306� Cognition Laboratory (1)

� 01:830:312� Conditioning and Learning Lab (1)

� 01:830:314� Physiological Psychology Lab (1)

� 01:830:352� Psychology of Language Laboratory (1)

� 01:960:379� Basic Probability and Statistics (3)

� 01:960:381� Theory of Probability (3)

� 01:960:382� Theory of Statistics (3)

3. A minimum of an additional 12 elective credits. Any courses listed as approved "formal/analytic" courses may be counted as electives. If you take both 01:185:201/202 and 01:185:411, then 01:185:411 will be counted as an elective. The following additional courses automatically count toward the elective requirement:

� 01:119:195� Brain, Mind, and Behavior (3)

� 01:146:245� Fundamentals of Neurobiology (3) (CBN majors)

� 01:146:295� Essentials of Cell Biology and Neuroscience (non-CBN majors) (3)

� 01:146:445� Advanced Neurobiology I (4)

� 01:146:447� Advanced Neurobiology II (3)

� 01:185:253� Human Nature and Human Diversity (4)

� 01:185:412� Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science II (3)

� 01:185:495� Research in Cognitive Science I (3)

� 01:185:496� Research in Cognitive Science II (3)

� 01:198:314� Principles of Programming Languages (4)

� 01:198:344� Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms (4)

� 01:198:415� Compilers (4)

� 01:198:424� Modeling and Simulation of Continuous Systems (4)

� 01:198:428� Introduction to Computer Graphics (4)

� 01:198:440� Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (4)

� 01:198:452� Formal Languages and Automata (3)

� 01:447:484� Behavioral and Neural Genetics (3)

� 01:615:201� Introduction to Linguistic Theory (3)

� 01:615:330� Historical Linguistics (3)

� 01:615:340� Romance Linguistics (3)

� 01:615:350� Language and Context (3)

� 01:615:360� Theories of Language (3)

� 01:615:371� Psychology of Language (3)

� 01:615:373� Language Acquisition (3)

� 01:615:421� Language Typology (3)

� 01:615:431� Investigations into an Unfamiliar Language (3)

� 01:615:441� Linguistics and Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:615:451� Phonetics (3)

� 01:615:471� Selected Topics in Linguistics (3)

� 01:615:491� Linguistics Practicum (3)

� 01:730:210� Philosophy of Language (3)

� 01:730:253� Human Nature and Human Diversity (4)

� 01:730:328� Philosophy of Psychology (3)

� 01:730:329� Minds, Machines, and Persons (3)

� 01:730:360� Philosophical Aspects of Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:730:418� Philosophy of Mind (3)

� 01:730:419� Philosophy of Perception (3)

� 01:730:420� Philosophy of Language (3)

� 01:730:422� Philosophy of Logic (3)

� 01:730:424� The Logic of Decision (3)

� 01:730:428� Topics in the Philosophy of Psychology (3)

� 01:830:201� Principles of Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:830:301� Sensation and Perception (3)

� 01:830:303� Memory (3)

� 01:830:305� Cognition (3)

� 01:830:307� Perception in Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:830:310� Neuropsychology (3)

� 01:830:311� Conditioning and Learning (3)

� 01:830:313� Physiological Psychology (3)

� 01:830:351� Psychology of Language I (3)

� 01:830:353� Language Acquisition (3)

� 01:830:361� Developmental Psychobiology (3)

� 01:830:363� Behavioral Pharmacology (3)

� 01:830:401� Advanced Topics in Human Cognition (3)

� 01:830:402� Advanced Topics in Human Cognition (WI) (3)

� 01:830:412� Neuropsychopharmacology (3)

� 01:830:463� Behavioral Pharmacology (3)

� 01:830:480� Topics in Visual Perception (3)

� 14:125:405� Introduction to Neural Processes Bio/Artificial (3)

� 14:125:410� Sensory Processes, Mechanisms, and Computer Models (3)

Additional Requirements for the Minor

� 1. Grades of C or better must be earned in all courses counted toward the minor.

� 2. No more than 4 credits at the 100 level may be counted toward the minor.

� 3. At least half of the credits used toward the minor must be at the 300 level or above.

� 4. No more than half of the credits used toward the minor may be taken from any one� department.

� 5. The same course cannot be used to fulfill both the formal/analytic and elective requirements.

� 6. No more than one course taken within a student's major field of study may be used to fulfill a cognitive science requirement. (For example, a psychology major, subject code 830, may only count one course from subject code 830.)

Students who wish to declare a minor in cognitive science should do so either at the same time or after they have declared a major field of study. Either before or immediately after declaring the cognitive science minor, students must take 01:185:201/202 Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Introduction OR 01:185:411 Advanced Topics In Cognitive Science I, and a formal/analytic methods course. Students should be aware that many of the courses listed have prerequisites and not all of the courses are offered each semester. Students should contact the departments that offer courses to learn about prerequisites and course schedules. The cognitive science program committee, under the direction of the undergraduate program directors, will advise students about selection of courses, mentors, and research/independent study projects. Students may petition the undergraduate program director to have alternate courses count as formal/analytic or elective courses.

For additional information about the cognitive science minor, please contact Sue Cosentino at 848-445-1625 or suecos@ruccs.rutgers.edu; email the undergraduate director(s) at undergrad@ruccs.rutgers.edu; or consult the cognitive science undergraduate webpage at http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/ruccs/index.php/academics/undergraduate-minor.