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2021-2022 Pitzer Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Cognitive Science Major

Arising as a named field in the middle of the 20th century, Cognitive Science (CogSci) is the interdisciplinary investigation of the mind. It seeks to understand the nature of cognition (in a broad sense) by making use of a variety of disciplinary lenses, based on the belief that no single academic discipline can give a full or complete explanation of the mind. As with many interdisciplinary endeavors, the full scope of disciplinary membership varies from program to program, but most accounts attribute central roles to six co-equal disciplines: Anthropology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Computer Science. Aspects of each of these disciplines-for example, philosophy of mind or the computer science subfield of artificial intelligence-attempt to investigate such mental phenomena as belief acquisition, language development, evolution of consciousness, or the relationships among art, culture, and cognition, to name only a few topics.

 

Pitzer Advisers: C. Fought, T. Justus, B. Keeley, D. Moore, C. Strauss.

Requirements for the Major

Requirements for the Major in Cognitive Science (11 credits)

 

  1. Introductory course (1 credit): COGS 011 PZ   [Introduction to Cognitive Science] or, with adviser and instructor permission, LGCS 011 PO  [Introduction to Cognitive Science].

 

  1. Breadth Requirement (6 credits): With the advice of your academic adviser, one course each from six of the following seven areas.

 

  1. Philosophy of Mind: PHIL 030 JT    [Knowledge, Mind, & Existence], PHIL 185C PZ   [Topics in Philosophy of Cognitive Science: Senses]; PHIL 185N JT   [Topics in Neurophilosophy]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  2. Biology, Neuropsychology, and Neuroscience: PSYC 101 PZ   [Brain and Behavior] or NEUR 095 JT   [Foundations of Neuroscience]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  3. Computer Science: CSCI 004 PZ [Introduction to Computer Science]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  4. Development and Evolution: COGS 123 PZ   [Minds & Machines]; PSYC 125 PZ   [Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience]; PSYC 138 PZ  [History and Science of Innateness]; PSYC 152 PZ   [Infancy]; PSYC 154 PZ    [Cognitive Development]; PSYC 155 PZ   [Behavioral Epigenetics]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  5. Linguistics and Psycholinguistics: LGCS 010 PZ   [Introduction to Linguistics];PSYC 127 PZ  [Language and Cognition]; LGCS 115 PZ  [Bilingualism]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  6. Cognition and the Arts: PSYC 126 PZ   [Music Cognition]; PSYC 128 PZ   [Cognitive Film Studies]; PSYC 182 PZ   [Seminar in Psychology of Art]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.
  7. Anthropology, Culture, and Society: ANTH 003 PZ   [Language, Culture, and Society]; ANTH 070 PZ   [Psychological Anthropology]; ANTH 075 [Cognitive Anthropology]; ANTH 083 PZ   [Life Stories]; LGCS 110 PZ   [Language and Gender]; LGCS 112 PZ   [Language and Society]; LGCS 166 PZ  [Topics in Sociolinguistics]; or an alternative Claremont Colleges course with adviser and instructor approval.

 

  1. Depth Requirement (4 credits): With the advice of your academic adviser, four additional upper-division courses from one or two of the areas above, normally including at least one methods course (e.g., experimental methods, field methods, or studio course) and at least one seminar appropriate to the specialization. With adviser and instructor permission, honors candidates may count 1 credit of COGS 191 PZ [Senior Thesis] towards the depth requirement.

 

All major requirements must be taken on a letter-grade basis (with the exception of spring 2020). Normally, at least 7 of the 11 major courses will be taken at Pitzer.

Pitzer students who declare the cognitive science major may be invited to submit a proposal for a senior honors thesis (see Cognitive Science Honors). Students from other Claremont Colleges that require a thesis as a basic requirement of graduation should consider the Cognitive Science major offered by Pomona College, which includes a thesis program for all students.

Cognitive Science Honors

During the spring semester of the junior year, selected students who have maintained a 3.50 GPA overall, a 3.50 GPA in the major, and who have taken appropriate methodology and writing intensive courses may be invited to submit a proposal for a senior honors thesis. Those accepted topursue an honors thesis will enroll in COGS 191 PZ [Senior Thesis] for one or both semesters of the senior year, in accordance with the recommendation of the thesis adviser. Those students who complete an exemplary thesis while maintaining the required GPA will be awarded honors.

Cognitive Science Double Major

Students pursuing a double major in cognitive science and another discipline may overlap no more than two courses between the two sets of major requirements. Please also check the catalogue for any additional stipulations of the other major.

 

Cognitive Science Combined Major

Because cognitive science is inherently interdisciplinary, combined majors in cognitive science are not available.

Cognitive Science Minor

Pitzer does not currently offer a minor in cognitive science, and Pitzer students may not pursue the off-campus minor offered at Pomona, per general language in the Pitzer catalogue. Please refer to the paragraph on Academic Minors under Academic Information.

Cognitive Science Courses