Undergraduate Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
in Cognitive Science
Cognitive science is the empirical study of intelligent systems. It is, by its very nature, an interdisciplinary science combining results from biology, computer science, linguistics, mathematics, neuroscience, philosophy and psychology. The major in Cognitive Science in the School of Arts and Sciences is designed to introduce students to the core literature of this multifaceted discipline and then allow them to specialize in some sub-area of cognitive science.
The BA in Cognitive Science requires a total of 16 credit units, divided
as follows:
ONE credit for the core course COGS 001
SIX credits in the breadth requirement
and NINE credits in a specialized track.
These categories are explained below. For links to more information about courses listed here, including whether they are offered in an upcoming semester, see below.
For further information on the BA in cognitive science, contact the Director of the program, Prof. Rolf Noyer.
Core Course: 1 credit
The interdisciplinary field of Cognitive Science is surveyed in the following course, which should normally be your first stop if you are interested in the major. Beginning in 2002, this course will be offered each fall term.Introduction to Cognitive Science (COGS 001/CIS 140/LING 105/PHIL 044/PSYC 107)
Breadth Requirement: 6 credits
To ensure more substantive knowledge of the wide-ranging fields that contribute to Cognitive Science, all students must take one course from each of the following six areas. Advanced Placement credit will not be counted toward the major requirements.- Psychology
Introduction to Experimental Psychology (PSYC 001)
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 151)
- Computation
Introduction to Programming (CIS 110)
Programming Languages and Techniques I (CIS 120)
Formal Logic I (PHIL 005)
- Language
Introduction to Linguistics (LING 001)
Introduction to Formal Linguistics (LING 106)
- Philosophy
History of Modern Philosophy (PHIL 004)
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind (PHIL 244)
Philosophy of Language (PHIL 405)
Philosophy of Psychology (PHIL 426)
- Neuroscience
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (BIBB 249/PSYC 149)
Introduction to Brain and Behavior (BIBB 109/BIOL 219/PSYC 109)
Cognitive Neuroscience (COLL 002.001)
- Mathematics
Introduction to Statistics (STAT 111)
Calculus (MATH 104, 114, 115, 140, 141, 150, 151)
Specialized Track: 9 credits
Beyond the more structured breadth requirements, the student follows an nine-course specialized track devised in collaboration with his or her faculty advisor. There is considerable flexibility in the choice of courses for many of these areas, but all courses must be approved by the advisor. Two of these courses may be foundational, but a course counted toward the breadth requirement cannot also be counted toward the track.Relevant courses are broken down in three concentrations, within which a more specific track will be constructed by the student in consultation with an advisor (a faculty member with expertise in the chosen area). When you declare the major, you will choose one of these three concentrations; but the specific track that you develop can include courses drawn from other concentrations as well.
For links to more information about courses listed here, including whether
they are offered in an upcoming semester, see below.
This list is not exhaustive; if you would like another course to be considered,
contact the director of the program, Prof. Rolf Noyer.
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Introduction to Brain and Behavior (BIBB 109/BIOL 219/PSYC 109) (required)
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (BIBB 249/PSYC 149)
Cellular Neurobiology (BIBB 251/BIOL 251)
Visual Neuroscience (BIBB 217/PSYC 117)
Chemistry of the Brain (BIBB 269)
Neuroendocrinology (PSYC 139/BIBB 260)
Animal Behavior (BIBB 231/BIOL 231/PSYC 131)
Animal Cognition (BIOL 432/PSYC 431)
Introduction to Evolution of the Brain (ANTH 179)
Brain, Behavior, and Evolution (BIBB 233)
Drugs, Brain and Mind (BIBB 370/PSYC 125)
Biological Bases of Psychological Disorders (BIBB 380)
Systems Neuroscience (BIOL 451)
Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience (PSYC 455)
Perception (PSYC 111)
Learning (PSYC 121)
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 151)
Psychology of Language (PSYC 135/LING 135)
Judgments and Decisions (PSYC 153)
Human Information Processing (PSYC 157)
Special Topics in Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 251)
Computer Analysis and Modeling of Biological Signals and Systems (LING 525)
Cognitive Development (PSYC 181)
Philosophy of Biology (PHIL 226)
Human Memory (PSYC 159)
Attention and Memory (PSYC 155)
Developmental Neurobiology (BIBB 350)
Behavioral Pharmacology (BIBB 481)
- Computation and Cognition
Networked Life (CIS 112)
Automata, Computability, and Complexity (CIS 262)
Introduction to Algorithms (CIS 320)
Logic and Computation (CIS 360)
Artificial Intelligence (CIS 391)
Formal Logic I, II (PHIL 005, PHIL 006/MATH 570)
Logic and Philosophy (PHIL 410)
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 151)
Human Information Processing (PSYC 157)
Perception (PSYC 111)
Special Topics in Perception (PSYC 211)
Research Experience in Perception (CIS 311/PSYC 311)
Experiments in Cognitive Science (PSYC 357)
Machine Perception (CIS 390)
Philosophy of Perception (PHIL 330)
Philosophy of Mathematics (PHIL 414)
Philosophy and Visual Perception (PHIL 423)
Philosophy of Science (PHIL 425)
Philosophy of Psychology (PHIL 426 or PHIL 526)
Recursion Theory (PHIL 411/CIS 571)
Topics in Logic (PHIL 412/CIS 518)
Set Theory (PHIL 413/CIS 572)
Model Theory (PHIL 416)
Modal Logic (PHIL 445)
Judgments and Decisions (PSYC 153)
Topics in Economic Theory: Game Theory (ECON 112)
Topics in Mathematics for Economics: Social Choice Theory (ECON 116)
Decision Processes (OPIM 102)
Advanced Decision Systems: Evolutionary Computation (OPIM 319)
Game-Theoretic Analysis (OPIM 401)
Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (PHIL 231)
Epistemology (PHIL 331)
Human Memory (PSYC 159)
Attention and Memory (PSYC 155)
Art of Decision Making (OPIM 402)
Game Theory (PHIL 432)
Visual Cognition (PSYC 459)
- Language and Mind
Introduction to Formal Linguistics (LING 106)
Introduction to Syntax (LING 150)
Language and Information (LING 252)
Formal Semantics and Cognitive Science (LING 255)
Sound Structure of Language (LING 330)
Morphological Theory (LING 404)
Phonetics I, II (LING 520, 521)
Computer Analysis and Modeling of Biological Signals and Systems (LING 525)
Phonology I, II (LING 530, 531)
Proof Theoretic Foundations of Linguistic Structure (LING 548)
Syntax I, II (LING 550, 551)
Semantics I, II (LING 553, 554)
Pragmatics I, II (LING 590, 591)
Psychology of Language (LING 135/PSYC 135)
Research Experience in Language (PSYC 335)
Learning (PSYC 121)
Animal Behavior (BIBB 231/BIOL 231/PSYC 131)
Animal Cognition (BIOL 432/PSYC 431)
Animal Communication (PSYC 241)
Mathematical Methods for Natural Language Processing (CIS 477)
Computational Linguistics (CIS 530)
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind (PHIL 244)
Wittgenstein: Mind and Language (PHIL 344)
Philosophy of Language (PHIL 405)
Computational Learning Theory (PHIL 517)
Recursion Theory (PHIL 411/ IS 571)
Modal Logic (PHIL 445)
Cognitive Development (PSYC 181)
See also suggestions of specific tracks within (and across) these broader concentrations.
Foundational Courses: Up to 2 credits
Some of the specialized-track courses may have prerequisites that fall outside the normal understanding of "cognitive science," and in some cases knowledge of basic sciences or other areas will make an important contribution to the student's mastery of the field.Consequently, students are permitted to satisfy up to two of the nine credits in the specialized track using the following foundational courses. Each course, however, must be approved by the advisor as relevant to the track.
Biology (for the concentration in neuroscience)
Introduction to Biology A, B (BIOL 101, 102)
Introduction to Biology -- The Molecular Biology of Life (BIOL 121)
Introduction to Biology -- The Design and Function of Living Systems (BIOL 122)
Chemistry (for the concentration in neuroscience)
Introductory Chemistry I (CHEM 001)
General Chemistry I, II (CHEM 101, 102)
Principles of Organic Chemistry (CHEM 241, 242)
Computer Science (for tracks in computation and engineering applications)
Programming Languages and Techniques I, II (CIS 120, 121)
Introduction to Computer Architecture (CIS 240)
Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science I, II (CIS 260, 261)
Economics (for tracks in game theory and decision processes)
Introductory Economics: Micro (ECON 001)
Introductory Economics: Macro (ECON 002)
Microeconomic Theory (ECON 003)
Mathematics (for tracks in logic or computation)
Calculus I, II (MATH 104, 114, 115, 140, 141)
Calculus III, IV (MATH 240, 241)
Mathematics in the Age of Information (MATH 210)
Physics (for tracks in speech processing or engineering applications)
General Physics: Mechanics, Heat and Sound (PHYS 101)
General Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics (PHYS 102)
Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion (PHYS 150 or 170)
Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation (PHYS 151 or 171)
Additional information
Double majors cannot double-count more than half the credits applied to the COGS major with another major -- that is, at least 8 courses must be counted solely for COGS. Similarly, no more than half the credits counted toward a minor can also be counted toward the major; so a six-credit minor must include three courses not counted toward COGS.Note that a grade of C- or better is required for any course counted toward the major.
Students who wish to receive a degree with honors must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 for courses counted toward the major, and 3.0 cumulative for all courses. The student must also complete a senior-year research project on a topic in cognitive science approved by the program director and supervised by a member of the faculty. Credit can be received by signing up for COGS 398, and this is applicable to any relevant area within the concentration. A thesis of approximately 30-40 pages is normally expected.
The Minor requires 6 credits, distributed as follows:
ONE credit for the introductory course COGS 001
THREE credits from different breadth areas (excluding Mathematics), and
TWO credits from a single concentration.
Finding out what courses are offered
Since the courses relevant to the COGS major are spread across a range of departments, it can be difficult to determine your options in a particular semester. To help out in this task, these links will take you to the information on courses in the relevant departments.
| Department | Course pages | Course descriptions | Advance registration | Current courses |
| BIBB | PSYC/BIOL | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| CIS | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| ECON | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| LING | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| MATH | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| OPIM | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| PHIL | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| PSYC | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
| STAT | Courses | Register | Timetable | Roster |
Involvement
Students enrolled in the Cognitive Science major are strongly encouraged to be actively involved at the Institute for Research in Cognitive Science (IRCS) by attendance at the weekly Noon Colloquium Series.
Students are also encouraged to be involved in the on-going events of IRCS-affiliated departments:
CIS
Linguistics
Math
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Psychology
For undergraduate application information, please visit Penn's Admissions Office.
