Requirements of the Minor
The minor in Cognitive Science normally requires that you have a major or minor (planned or declared) in one of the participating disciplines:
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Linguistics (including specialists in linguistics from the foreign language departments)
• Mathematics
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Psychology
Students undertaking other majors may seek permission to take the minor by contacting the Director of Cognitive Science.
To complete the minor, students must earn a minimum of 18 credits distributed as follows:
6 credits for the two core Cognitive Science courses:
- Introduction to Cognitive Science (ICOS 2201, fall)
- Research Modules in Cognitive Science (ICOS 2950, spring)
12 credits consisting of four designated distribution courses in at least two of the participating disciplines outside of your major
(see list of participating departments and restrictions on courses designated as fulfilling the distribution requirement on our courses page)
The Distribution Requirement
The purpose of the distribution requirement is to give the student a broad background in Cognitive Science. This is why students are required to take at least one designated course in at least two departments outside of their major field (for a list of participating departments, see above).
For the purpose of the distribution requirement, Cognitive Science (ICOS) counts as a department. Therefore, if the student takes a course offered (or cross-listed) by Cognitive Science—other than the two core required courses (ICOS 2201, ICOS 2950)—this counts as one of the two departments outside the student’s major.
In addition, it is possible for a course taken in the student’s major department to count toward fulfilling the Cognitive Science minor if and only if:
- That course is not counting toward the major for that student, and
- The student has taken at least one designated course in two different departments other than their major.
Due to overlap with the core curriculum, students can only allow one course to double count for the core and as an elective for the minor. All elective courses must be approved by the Director.
For more information about courses designated as fulfilling the distribution requirement, see our courses page.
The Cognitive Science Senior Thesis Option (ICOS 4970, ICOS 4971)
Students who are not doing a thesis for their major are encouraged to exercise the Cognitive Science Senior Thesis option. They should enroll in the Senior Thesis in Cognitive Science (ICOS 4970, ICOS 4971) for a minimum of four credits distributed across the two semesters. The number of credits and their distribution across semesters must be approved by the thesis mentor. Regardless of the number of credits, the senior thesis substitutes for one of the four distribution courses. Thus, students undertaking a thesis in Cognitive Science need to take only 3, instead of 4, designated distribution courses.
View a list of faculty in Cognitive Science, including the areas in which they are prepared to mentor theses. Students are also encouraged to seek suggestions from the Director. Students considering the thesis option should identify a senior thesis mentor as early as possible, preferably no later than the beginning of their senior year, and they should plan to work on the thesis throughout the year.
Theses in some disciplines might require preparatory work during the junior year, which can be started within the context of a Cognitive Science tutorial (ICOS 4949, ICOS 4941).
- All students undertaking a Cognitive Science thesis should notify the Director at the beginning of the senior year, at the latest.
- The student must submit an abstract outlining the proposed thesis to the Director no later than October 15th of the senior year.
- This abstract must be signed by the faculty mentor, thereby indicating the mentor’s approval of the abstract, and the mentor’s willingness to advise and grade the thesis.
- The deadline for submitting the final draft of the thesis to the mentor is the final day of classes in the spring semester.
- Upon completion of the thesis, the student must submit the thesis title, an abstract outlining the completed work, and an electronic version of the thesis to the Director.
- Usually, the format of the thesis (e.g., the form for references) will be dictated by the customs of the discipline in which the thesis mentor works.
Students who will be undertaking a thesis to fulfill the requirements of their major are encouraged, but not required, to conduct the thesis in an area related to cognitive science. However, they should not enroll for any thesis credits other than those required for the major.