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 following cognitive science courses:
01:185:201 Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Introduction (4) (offered each fall semester only)
01:185:253 Human Nature and Diversity (4)
01:185:301 Cognition and Decision-Making (4) (offered every other spring semester)
01:185:310 The Concept of Concepts in Cognitive Science (3) (offered every other fall semester)
01:185:320 Research Methods in Cognitive Science (3)
01:185:410 Language and
Cognition (3)
01:185:411 Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science I (4) (offered each spring semester only)
01:185:412 Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science II (3)
01:185:420 Learning in Humans and Machines (3)
01:185:430 Cognitive Neuroscience through Case Studies (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)
01:640:361 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)
01:960:379 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 more than the required three courses offered by cognitive science in requirement #1, any additional course 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) (cell biology and neuroscience [CBN] majors)
01:146:295 Essentials of Cell Biology and Neuroscience (3) (non-CBN majors)
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 I (1-3)
01:185:396 Research in Cognitive Science II (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)
01:615:421 Language Typology (3)
01:615:431 Investigations into an Unfamiliar Language (3)
01:615:435 Experimental Methodologies in Language Acquisition (3)
01:615:440 Language Development (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)
01:830:301 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 - Writing Intensive (3)
01:830:410 Advanced Topics in Psychobiology (3)
01:830:411 Advanced Topics in Psychobiology - Writing Intensive (3)
01:830:412 Neuropsychopharmacology (3)
01:830:463 Behavioral Pharmacology (3)
01:830:480 Advanced Topics in Visual Perception (3)
01:830:484 Language Acquisition (3)
01:940:363 Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World (3)
01:940:368 The Bilingual Mind (3)
01:960:384 Intermediate Statistical Analysis (3)
14:125:405 Introduction to Neural Processes (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. The same course cannot be used to fulfill both the formal/analytic and elective requirements.
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 a formal/analytic methods course, at least three cognitive science courses, and at least 6 credits of upper-division electives. 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 mail the undergraduate director(s) at undergrad@ruccs.rutgers.edu; or consult
the cognitive science undergraduate webpage.