Cognitive
Science Program: Requirements for Majors
Cognitive science is the scientific study of the mind with the goal of understanding the nature of thought. Students learn the ways in which converging sources of evidence may be integrated to discover the mechanisms underlying the complex adaptive properties of human cognition. The major in cognitive science gives a broad foundation in this interdisciplinary field, encompassing cognitive psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and related disciplines. Required introductory courses survey basic phenomena and approaches; basic methodology courses impart the required methods of cognitive science; core courses provide foundations of disciplines within cognitive science; and elective courses allow students to pursue more advanced study in particular disciplines. A junior proseminar focuses on ongoing research in the field by Northwestern faculty. Qualified seniors will be invited to take a senior honors seminar to engage in independent research under the guidance of department faculty and to write a senior thesis.
For additional information about the Program in Cognitive Science, write to cogsci@northwestern.edu.
Major in Cognitive Science
Program courses
Required introductory courses (3): COG SCI 207, 210, 211
Basic methodology requirements (3): EECS110 or 111; PSYCH 201, 205
Core course requirements (3): 1 course from three of the following five areas:
• Artificial intelligence: EECS 348
• Cognitive neuroscience: PSYCH 212, 361
• Cognitive psychology: PSYCH 228
• Learning sciences: LOC 212, 301
• Linguistics: LING 250, 260, 270
Advanced proseminar requirement (1): COG SCI 366 (should be taken in the Fall quarter of the junior year)
Advanced electives (6): 6 courses, with at least 3 in one area (major emphasis) and at least 2 outside that area
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A SAMPLE OF THE SORTS OF COURSES THAT CAN COUNT FOR THE ADVANCED ELECTIVE REQUIREMENT. WRITE TO cogsci@northwestern.edu FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER CANDIDATES TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
• Anthropology: ANTHRO 360; 389; 390; 395 or 595; 471
• Artificial intelligence: EECS 325, 332, 337, 344, 432, 437-1,2
• Cognitive neuroscience: PSYCH 312-2, 321, 324, 358, 363, 364, 365, 460, 470; COMM SCI 303; BIOL SCI 302, 306, 314, 377 (see the Undergraduate Program in Biological Sciences for prerequisites for these courses)
• Cognitive psychology: PSYCH 333, 334, 335, 358, 360, 362, 460, 461, 466
• Learning and instruction: COMM SCI 303, 306, 350, 392, 492; LOC 301 (if not counted as a core course), 401, 423, 429, 439; MUSIC ED 437
• Linguistics: LING 310, 311, 330, 333, 334, 341, 350, 360, 361, 370, 371
• Music cognition: MUS THRY 351; MUSIC ED 437, 438
• Philosophy: PHIL 325, 327, 353
Other 300- and 400-level courses may be counted as advanced electives with consent of the cognitive science adviser. It is strongly recommended that students pursue independent study (399) in cognitive science or in one of the departments listed above. This course may count as an advanced elective. For students pursuing honors, the second quarter of the honors seminar (398-2) may count as an advanced elective. Note: Cognitive science majors who wish to double major must show a minimum of 11 courses not doublecounted in any other major(s). Cognitive science majors seeking a minor in another discipline cannot doublecount for that minor any courses used to meet the major requirements in cognitive science.
Cognitive science is the scientific study of the mind with the goal of understanding the nature of thought. Students learn the ways in which converging sources of evidence may be integrated to discover the mechanisms underlying the complex adaptive properties of human cognition. The major in cognitive science gives a broad foundation in this interdisciplinary field, encompassing cognitive psychology, linguistics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and related disciplines. Required introductory courses survey basic phenomena and approaches; basic methodology courses impart the required methods of cognitive science; core courses provide foundations of disciplines within cognitive science; and elective courses allow students to pursue more advanced study in particular disciplines. A junior proseminar focuses on ongoing research in the field by Northwestern faculty. Qualified seniors will be invited to take a senior honors seminar to engage in independent research under the guidance of department faculty and to write a senior thesis.
For additional information about the Program in Cognitive Science, write to cogsci@northwestern.edu.
Major in Cognitive Science
Program courses
Required introductory courses (3): COG SCI 207, 210, 211
Basic methodology requirements (3): EECS110 or 111; PSYCH 201, 205
Core course requirements (3): 1 course from three of the following five areas:
• Artificial intelligence: EECS 348
• Cognitive neuroscience: PSYCH 212, 361
• Cognitive psychology: PSYCH 228
• Learning sciences: LOC 212, 301
• Linguistics: LING 250, 260, 270
Advanced proseminar requirement (1): COG SCI 366 (should be taken in the Fall quarter of the junior year)
Advanced electives (6): 6 courses, with at least 3 in one area (major emphasis) and at least 2 outside that area
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A SAMPLE OF THE SORTS OF COURSES THAT CAN COUNT FOR THE ADVANCED ELECTIVE REQUIREMENT. WRITE TO cogsci@northwestern.edu FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER CANDIDATES TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
• Anthropology: ANTHRO 360; 389; 390; 395 or 595; 471
• Artificial intelligence: EECS 325, 332, 337, 344, 432, 437-1,2
• Cognitive neuroscience: PSYCH 312-2, 321, 324, 358, 363, 364, 365, 460, 470; COMM SCI 303; BIOL SCI 302, 306, 314, 377 (see the Undergraduate Program in Biological Sciences for prerequisites for these courses)
• Cognitive psychology: PSYCH 333, 334, 335, 358, 360, 362, 460, 461, 466
• Learning and instruction: COMM SCI 303, 306, 350, 392, 492; LOC 301 (if not counted as a core course), 401, 423, 429, 439; MUSIC ED 437
• Linguistics: LING 310, 311, 330, 333, 334, 341, 350, 360, 361, 370, 371
• Music cognition: MUS THRY 351; MUSIC ED 437, 438
• Philosophy: PHIL 325, 327, 353
Other 300- and 400-level courses may be counted as advanced electives with consent of the cognitive science adviser. It is strongly recommended that students pursue independent study (399) in cognitive science or in one of the departments listed above. This course may count as an advanced elective. For students pursuing honors, the second quarter of the honors seminar (398-2) may count as an advanced elective. Note: Cognitive science majors who wish to double major must show a minimum of 11 courses not doublecounted in any other major(s). Cognitive science majors seeking a minor in another discipline cannot doublecount for that minor any courses used to meet the major requirements in cognitive science.