Cognitive Science Minor

Office:
SBSB 3131B

Telephone:
(760) 750-8092

Program Coordinator:
Dustin Calvillo, Ph.D.

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Program of Study

The Minor in Cognitive Science at California State University San Marcos offers students the opportunity to broaden their academic experience through systematic study of the interdisciplinary field of Cognitive Science. Cognitive Science has a variety of definitions, but one simple one is that it is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the mind. The field involves contributions from the disciplines of psychology, computer science, linguistics, communication, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, music, mathematics, and social science. The Minor in Cognitive Science allows students to focus on the domain of Cognitive Science from multiple perspectives, and to customize their course selections in accordance with their individual interests within the field. The program requires courses from at least four different disciplines, and allows courses from several more. Students choosing to pursue the minor in Cognitive Science will get exposure to some of the breadth of this emerging field of study. The minor is appropriate for students in any major, but may be especially of interest to students majoring in one of the disciplines that are related to the cognitive sciences. This minor helps to prepare students for graduate study in related fields, as well as for a variety of careers in both the public and private sectors.

Requirements

Completion of twenty-seven (27) units, at least twelve (12) of which must be at the upper-division level. Students are advised that some optional courses have prerequisites, and should plan accordingly.

Core Courses

MATH 160 - Calculus with Applications, I Units: 5
CS 111 - Computer Science I Units: 4
PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology Units: 3
PSYC 362 - Cognitive Processes Units: 3

Brain and Mind

Select at least one course:

BIOL 348 - Brain and Mind Units: 3
CS 473 - Artificial Neural Networks Units: 3
PSYC 360 - Biopsychology Units: 3
PSYC 361 - Brain and Mind Units: 3
PSYC 465 - Human Neuropsychology Units: 3

Language and Mind

Select at least one course:

LING 300 - Linguistics in the Classroom Units: 3
LING 351 - Language Acquisition Units: 3
LING 360 - Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics Units: 3
LING 371 - Linguistic Anthropology Units: 3
LING 381 - Language and Gender Units: 3

Communication and Distributed Cognition

Select at least one course:

COMM 355 - Communication and Collaboration Units: 3
COMM 400 - Discourse Analysis Units: 3

Electives

Select at least one course:

ANTH 215 - Human Origins Units: 3
CS 471 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Units: 3
CS 574 - Intelligent Information Retrieval Units: 3
CS 575 - Machine Learning Systems Units: 3
LBST 361 - The Social Construction of Science Units: 3
PHIL 210 - Symbolic Logic Units: 3
PSYC 392 - Laboratory in Sensation and Perception Units: 3
PSYC 393 - Laboratory in Cognitive Psychology Units: 3