Cognitive Science Program

Undergraduate Programs

The Cognitive Science Program offers an undergraduate minor and a concentration. Our undergraduate program stresses skill acquisition, as opposed to a grab-bag of survey courses, and aims to foster the abilities that make students into scientists.

The goals of the program include gaining a better understanding of the human mind, of teaching and learning; of mental abilities and of the development of intelligent machines that either simulate or augment the capabilities of human minds in illuminating ways.

You may have already fulfilled some or all of the Cognitive Science requirements through your major and Core Curriculum courses! Click below to see the list of approved Cognitive Science courses or to see a typical course selection for CogSci students from different departments.

* List of Approved Cognitive Science Courses 18.docx
Current List of Approved Cognitive Science Courses
CogSci @ Villanova

Students in the Cognitive & Behvioral Neuroscience (CBN) program can complete the CogSci minor without any additional coursework. The following five courses fulfill the requirements for the CogSci minor, and are either required or elective courses for CBN:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4200 (Biopsychology)
  3. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  4. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — CBN Elective
  5. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — CBN Electives

Other course combinations can be used to complete the minor as well. In addition, CBN majors can complete the CogSci concentration by taking only one additional course (CSC 1050, Algorithms & Data Structures) beyond the requirements for the major. The following course would complete the CogSci concentration and fulfill several CBN requirments:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4200 (Biopsychology)
  3. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  4. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — CBN Elective
  5. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — CBN Electives
  6. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — CBN Elective
  7. CSC 1050 (Algorithms & Data Structures) — Free elective for CBN majors

Other course combinations would fulfill the CogSci requirements as well. Click here for a complete list of CogSci courses.

Course requirements accurate as of June 7, 2016. See the CBN major webpage for current requirements for the major.

CogSci @ Villanova

This page shows exactly how a concentration in Cognitive Science can be combined with a major in Computer Engineering. These guidelines are easily adapted for a minor in Cognitive Science which entails fewer courses.

Requirements for a Concentration in Cognitive Science: CSC 1051 - Algorithms & Data Struc I , CSC 4500 - Artificial Intelligence OR CSC 4510 - Machine Learning , PSY 4500 - Cognitive Psychology , PHI 4610 - Philosophy of Mind , CGS 5900 - Cognitive Science Seminar , and two electives from the approved list of Cognitive Science electives.

This list of electives includes , ECE 5445 - Intro to Neural Networks , and CSC 4730 - Human Computer Interaction.

Click here for a full list of approved Cognitive Science Courses

Click here for a detailed 4-year course plan.

CogSci @ Villanova

Computer Science (CS) majors can complete the CogSci minor by taking one additional course beyond the requirements for the CS major and the College's Core Curriculum . The following courses will fulfill requirements for both the CS major and CogSci minor:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science
  2. CSC 1051 (Algorithms & Data Structures I)
  3. CSC 4170 (Theory of Computation)
  4. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — CS Electives
  5. Any other course listed under Biology, Cognitive Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Languages, or Philosophy in the list of approved CogSci courses — Free elective for CS majors

CS majors can complete the CogSci concentration by taking two additional courses beyond their requirements for the major. The following seven couses would fulfill the CogSci concentration requirements:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science
  2. CSC 1051 (Algorithms & Data Structures I)
  3. CSC 4170 (Theory of Computation)
  4. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — CS Electives
  5. CSC 4380 (Information Visualization), CSC 4730 (Human Computer Interaciton), CSC 5900 (Seminar in Computing, with CogSci Program approval), CSC 5930 (Topics in Computer Science, with CogSci Program appoval), or CSC 5993 (Independent Study, with CogSci Program approval)
  6. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Free elective for CS majors
  7. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Free elective for CS majros

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of CogSci courses.

Course requirements accurate as of June 7, 2016. See the CS major webpage for current requirements for the major.

CogSci @ Villanova

Philosophy majors can complete the CogSci minor with no additional coursework beyond the requirements for the Philosophy degree and the College's Core Curriculum. The following courses would allow Philosophy majors to complete the CogSci minor:

  1. PHI 2010 (Logic & Critical Thinking), PHI 2710 (Belief, Doubt, & Certainty), PHI 4200 (Philosophy of Language), PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind), or PHI 4990 (Independent Study & Research, with CogSci Program approval) — Philosophy Elective
  2. One additional PHI course from those listed above — Pholosophy Elective
  3. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science
  4. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I
  5. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II

Philosophy majors can complete the CogSci concentration by taking two additional courses beyond the requirements for their major. The following courses would fulfill the requirements for a CogSci concentration and work towards degree requirements in Philosophy:

  1. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Philosophy Elective
  2. PHI 2010 (Logic & Critical Thinking), PHI 2710 (Belief, Doubt, & Certainty), PHI 4200 (Philosophy of Language), or PHI 4990 (Independent Study & Research, with CogSci Program approval)
  3. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology ) — Core Social Science
  4. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I
  5. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II
  6. CSC 1050 (Algorithms & Data Structures) — Free elective for Philosophy majors
  7. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Free elctive for Philosophy majors

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of approved CogSci courses.

Course requirements accurate as of June 7, 2016. See the Philosophy major webpage for current requirements for the major.

CogSci @ Villanova

Psychology majors completing the B.A. degree can also fulfill the requirements for a CogSci minor with no additional courses beyond the requirements for the major and Core Curriculum. The following courses would complete the CogSci minor requirements:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  3. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I OR Psychology Elective
  4. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II
  5. CGS 5910 (Language Processes) — Psychology Elective

In addition, Psychology B.A. majors can fulfill the CogSci concentration requirements with three additional courses in addition to their degree requirements. The following seven course would fulfill the CogSci concentration requirements:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  3. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I OR Psychology Elective
  4. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II
  5. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Free elective for Psychology majors
  6. CSC 1051 (Algorithms & Data Structures I) — Free elective for Psychology majors
  7. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Free elective for Psychology majors

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of approved CogSci courses.

Course requirements accurate as of June 7, 2016. See the Psychology B.A. major webpage for current requirements for the major.

CogSci @ Villanova

Psychology B.S. majors can complete the CogSci minor with one additional course beyond the requirements for their major. The following five courses would fulfill both Psychology B.S. requirements and fulfill the CogSci minor:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  3. PSY 4200 (Biopsychology)
  4. CGS 5910 (Language Processes) — Psychology Elective
  5. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind), CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence), or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — Free electives for Psychology majors

Psychology B.S. majors can complete the CogSci concentration by taking three additional courses beyond the requirements for the major. The following seven courses would fulfull Psychology B.S. and CogSci concentration requirements:

  1. PSY 2050 (Research Methods)
  2. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology)
  3. PSY 4200 (Biopsychology)
  4. CSC 1050 (Algorithms & Data Structures I)
  5. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Free elective for Psychology majors
  6. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC 4510 (Machine Learning) — Free electives for Psychology majors
  7. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Free elective for Psychology majors

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of approved CogSci courses.

Course requirements accurate as of June 7, 2016. See the Psychology B.S. major webpage for current requirements for the major.

CogSci @ Villanova

In addition to the majors listed above, students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who are interested in Cognitive Science can  complete the program requirements while fulfilling many of their Core Curriculum requirements. Four of the five courses needed for the CogSci minor also complete Core requirements, which means that many B.A. majors can complete the CogSci minor with only one additional course. The following courses are suggested for B.A. majors:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science I
  2. PSY 2800 (Human Factors), PSY 4200 (Biopsychology), PSY 3300 (Perception), or PSY 5100 (Animal Learning & Cognition) — Core Social Science II
  3. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I
  4. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II
  5. Any other course listed under Biology, Cognitive Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Languages, or Philosophy in the list of approved CogSci courses — Most likely a free elective for B.A. majors

The CogSci concentration can be completed by taking seven courses, four of which fulfill Core Curriculum requirements, which means that B.A. majors can complete a CogSci concentration with three additional courses beyond the Core requirements. The following courses are suggested:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science I
  2. PSY 2800 (Human Factors), PSY 4200 (Biopsychology), PSY 3300 (Perception), or PSY 5100 (Animal Learning & Cognition) — Core Social Science II
  3. MSE 2701 (Sounds of Human Language) — Core Science I
  4. MSE 2400 (Evolution and Learning in Computational and Robotic Agents) — Core Science II
  5. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Most likely a free elective
  6. CSC 1051 (Algorithms & Data Structures I) — Most likely a free elective
  7. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Most likely a free elective

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of CogSci courses.

 

 

CogSci @ Villanova

Students majoring in another B.S. program can complete the CogSci minor by taking three additional courses beyond the requirements for the Core Curriculum. The following five courses are recommended for B.S. majors:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science I
  2. PSY 2800 (Human Factors), PSY 4200 (Biopsychology), PSY 3300 (Perception), or PSY 5100 (Animal Learning & Cognition) — Core Social Science II
  3. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind), CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence), or CSC (4510) Machine Learning — Likely free electives for non-CS B.S. majors
  4. A fourth course from the list of approved CogSci courses — Likely a free elctive for B.S. majors
  5. A fifth course from the list of approved CogSci courses — Likely a free elctive for B.S. majors

Important: A student's five courses must include at least one approved course from three of the following disciplines: Biology, Cognitive Science, Computing Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Languages, Philosophy, and Psychology.

The CogSci concentration can be completed by most other B.S. majors by taking five additional courses in addition to the Core Curriculum. The following courses are recommendded:

  1. PSY 4500 (Cognitive Psychology) — Core Social Science I
  2. PSY 2800 (Human Factors), PSY 4200 (Biopsychology), PSY 3300 (Perception), or PSY 5100 (Animal Learning & Cognition) — Core Social Science II
  3. PHI 4610 (Philosophy of Mind) — Likely a free elective for B.S. majors
  4. CSC 4500 (Artificial Intelligence) or CSC (4510) Machine Learning — Likely free electives for non-CS B.S. majors
  5. CSC 1051 (Algorithms & Data Structures I) — Likely a free elctive for non-CS B.S. majors
  6. CGS 5900 (Cognitive Science Seminar) — Likely a free elective for B.S. majors
  7. One other course from the list of approved CogSci courses — Likely a free elctive for B.S. majors

Other course combinations are possible as well. Click here for a complete list of CogSci courses.