Cognitive Science Major

Major Requirements

Courses

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

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 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 095L 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 138 PZ  [History and Science of Innateness]; PSYC 152 PZ   [Infancy];  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];  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.

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 199 PZ [Senior Thesis] towards the depth requirement.

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

Thesis

Pitzer students who declare the cognitive science major may be invited to submit a proposal for a senior honors thesis. 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.

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.

Honors in Cognitive Science

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 199 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.