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 three of the six following courses:

� 01:185:201� Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Introduction (4)

� 01:185:301� Cognition and Decision Making (4)

� 01:185:310� The Concept of Concepts in Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:185:320� Research Methods in Cognitive Science (3)

� 01:185:410� Language and Cognition (3)

� 01:185:411 Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science (4)

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

� 01:198:107� 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)

� 01:640:339� Math Models in the Social Sciences (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� Introduction to Stochastic Processes (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)

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

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

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

� 01:960:401� Basic Statistics for Research (3)

3. A minimum of an additional 6 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)

� 01:185:395� Research in Cognitive Science (1-3)

� 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)

� 01:447:380� Genetics (4)

� 01:447:384� Genetic Analysis I (4)

� 01:447:385� Genetic Analysis II (4)

� 01:447:410� Research in Genetics - Writing Intensive (3)

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

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

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

� 01:615:350� Pragmatics (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)

� 01:615:435� Experimental Methodologies in Language Acquisition (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)

� 01:730:220� Theory of Knowledge (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)

� 01:730:412� Epistemology (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)

� 01:730:425� Philosophy of Science (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 (3)

� 01:830:410� Advanced Topics in Psychobiology (3)

� 01:830:411� Advanced Topics in Psychobiology (3)

� 01:830:412� Neuropsychopharmacology (3)

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

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

� 01:960:384� Intermediate Statistical Analysis (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.� No more than two courses from any one department (major or nonmajor curriculum) may count toward the minor with the exception of cognitive science (curriculum 185).

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 Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Introduction and/or 185:301 Cognition and Decision Making and/or 185:320 Research Methods in Cognitive Science and/or 185:410 Language and Cognition and/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 director(s), 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-post-jan-1-2015.