Cognitive Science

Overview

Cognitive Science is the science of the mind. Drawing on the fields of philosophy, psychology, neurobiology, mathematics, computer science, and linguistics, Cognitive Science studies the nature of consciousness, the interaction of mind and matter, and the relationship between thought and language. Cognitive Science addresses long-standing questions about the nature of thought, intelligence, perception, memory, emotion, and other aspects of our mental life by employing the methodologies of the contributing disciplines mentioned above, including philosophical reflection and argument, experimental psychology, the modeling of intelligence with machines, and the investigation of the biological basis of cognition.

Requirements

Major

To major in Cognitive Science, students take total of at least 48 units. Along with six required courses, students select at least one course each from the approved list of courses in Computation, Linguistics and Philosophy. Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Computation, Linguistics and Philosophy, or selected from the additional electives list.

Required Courses

Computation

Students must select one course from the list below:

Linguistics

Students must select one course from the list below:

Philosophy

Students must select one course from the list below:

Additional Electives

Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Computation, Linguistics, and Philosophy, or can be selected from the additional electives list. A maximum of 4 units can be applied to the major from COGS 193, COGS 293, COGS 395, and COGS 495. All students are also encouraged to take statistics and computer science coursework.

Honors in the Major

Honors in Cognitive Science may be awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in their course work and distinction in their senior comprehensive project. To be eligible, students must have a 3.5 grade point average in the major and a 3.25 overall grade point average. In addition, the comprehensive project or thesis must be judged as a "pass with distinction."

Minor

A total of 24 units. Students must take COGS 101, and 20 additional units of courses any of which can come from the list of required courses, the approved lists of courses in Linguistics and Philosophy, or have a COGS designation. One of these can be a course selected from the additional electives list. A maximum of 4 units of research may be applied to the minor.

Second-Stage Writing

Students fulfill the second-stage writing requirement by earning at least a B- in COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science. Note that this course is typically only offered in the Fall semester, and we strongly recommend students plan ahead to avoid potential conflicts with study abroad. Students who do not successfully complete COGS 201 with a grade of B- or better will be required to submit a writing portfolio to the Department Chair no later than the midterm of the following semester. This portfolio will be prepared in consultation with the COGS 201 instructor.

Comprehensive Requirement

In the senior year the student carries out a project or writes a thesis on a topic in Cognitive Science related to their prior coursework. The project or thesis is coordinated with the work of the Cognitive Science Senior Seminar. All majors take the Senior Seminar in the fall semester of the senior year. It is highly recommended that all students complete COGS 201 prior to their senior year.

Transfer Credit Policies

The Cognitive Science Department may accept online courses for major, minor, and general elective credit. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.

Advising Information

Students interested in the Cognitive Science major are encouraged to take COGS 101 during the first year and COGS 201 (Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science) during sophomore year. All interested students should meet with a Cognitive Science faculty member early on to discuss opportunities for research, study abroad, and more. If you wish to be invited to our events (such as seminars, social events, and open advising sessions), please contact the department chair.

Placement Information

No placement exams are specifically required for the Cognitive Science major.

Sample 4-Year Plan

Curricular Notes

Our major is flexible and has multiple introductory courses with no prerequisites, including:

• COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science
• COGS 104: Introduction to Neuroscience
• COGS 220: Animal Cognition
• COGS 230: Mind, Brain, and Behavior
• PHIL 150: Formal Logic

All of these courses count towards the major.

Cognitive Science Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Cognitive Science:

• No previous coursework in Cognitive Science is required, but students transferring in as juniors should have completed the majority of their Core requirements prior to coming to Occidental. 

General advice for transfer students wanting to major in Cognitive Science:

• Transfer students should retain syllabi for courses taken at other institutions in order to facilitate evaluation of course equivalency and major requirement fulfillment.

• Students are encouraged to be proactive in planning the courses they will take during their time at Occidental.

• There are no courses other than COGS 490 that must be taken at Occidental, but many of the required courses are not offered at other institutions. 

• A rising junior transfer student who has not taken any courses in transfer that count toward the major will only have four free courses slots during their time at Occidental and need to plan carefully to make sure that they complete all major and core requirements in four semesters. Rising sophomores or students starting mid way through their sophomore year can complete the major and all Core requirements at Occidental, but if they would like to study abroad they should have taken several courses that will meet major or Core requirements.

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

Transferring and starting Occidental in the fall:

• Students entering as juniors (those with four semesters remaining) will be allowed to take both COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science and COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science concurrently. In order to do so, they will need to request a registration override from the department chair or transfer adviser. 

• Sophomores or students starting mid way through their sophomore year (with six or five semesters remaining) should take COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science, unless they have taken an approved equivalent course elsewhere. In that case, they should take COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science.

Transferring and starting Occidental in the Spring:

• Students entering as juniors (those with four semesters remaining) should take COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science, but will need to wait until the fall semester to take COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science. 

• Sophomores or students starting mid way through their sophomore year (with six or five semesters remaining) should take COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science, unless they have taken an approved equivalent course elsewhere. In that case, they would wait until the fall to take COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science.

Courses

Cognitive Science Courses

Faculty

Appointed Faculty

Carmel Levitan, chair

Professor 

B.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Carolyn Brighouse

Professor; Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs

B.A., University of Liverpool; M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California

Shengyun Gu
Assistant Professor
B.A., Tianjin Medical University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Connecticut; Ph.D., East China Normal University

Justin Li

Associate Professor

B.S., Northwestern University; Ph.D., University of Michigan

Stephanie Nelli
Assistant Professor
B.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ph.D., University of California, San Diego

Aleksandra (Sasha) Sherman

Associate Professor 

B.A., Rutgers University; Ph.D., Northwestern University

On Special Appointment

Alan Knoerr

Associate Professor, Emeritus

B.A., Oberlin College; Sc.M., Ph.D., Brown University

Samantha R. O'Connell
B.A., Northwestern University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Nevada

Dylan Sabo, designated transfer adviser 

Resident Associate Professor

Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kevin Urstadt

Resident Assistant Professor

B.A., Rutgers; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Other faculty associated with the Cognitive Studies department can be viewed here.