How do the brain and mind work? What is the relation between the mental and the physical? Are the mind and brain forms of computers? What are language, thought, choice, learning, emotion and motivation? How do they work, in humans, other organisms and machines?
New this semester, the Program in Cognitive Science in LSA examines these questions and many more through an interdisciplinary approach involving the departments of Linguistics, Philosophy and Psychology.
More than 150 students are enrolled in the introductory course, CogSci 200. This class will provide a pathway to explore the sciences of mind, brain and behavior.
Majors will select one of four tracks: Language and Cognition; Computation and Cognition; Philosophy and Cognition and Decision and Cognition. Each track will offer learning opportunities from at least three departments. Students will complete their learning experience with a senior capstone course.
“The cognitive science major will provide students for the first time with the opportunity to learn about this new and important interdisciplinary field of inquiry regarding the nature of the human mind and brain as well as the implications concerning our behavior in multiple domains,” says Sam Epstein, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of linguistics and director of the cognitive science major.
“It will also provide opportunities for new cross-disciplinary research and teaching collaborations between the three co-sponsoring departments as well as other departments offering courses directly relevant to cognitive science.”
