Cognitive Science Program
Quick Index
Cognitive science studies the human mind viewed as a
computational process. It lies at the confluence of
computer science,
educational and cognitive development,
linguistics, neuroscience,
neurobiology, philosophy, psychology,
and certain areas of mathematics.
Cognitive science has arguably
been the most important development in the study of human thinking in the
past twenty years; its influence can be seen across a wide variety of disciplines,
from logic to communication disorders.
Theoretical cognitive science seeks to model and explain such phenomena as perception, memory, reasoning and language. The goal of theoretical cognitive science is to determine those knowledge structures and processes that characterize organisms as biological information processing systems, to explain how these organisms come to possess this knowledge, and to account for the patterns in the breakdown of this knowledge.
Applied cognitive science studies the educational and social uses of the findings of theoretical cognitive science. One area of growing interest is instructional or cognitive learning strategies that change the way teachers and students interact in the classroom. Cognitive learning strategies are grounded in theories of how children learn, think, remember, and solve problems, and are applied to knowledge domains that are included in school instruction (i.e., mathematics, science, reading, and writing). The purpose of this research is to understand how students become expert at learning and to design more creative learning environments.
The University of Delaware has a number
of faculty members with strengths in both applied and
theoretical cognitive science.
For years, an informal research group has met regularly to discuss recent
research in Cognitive Science. Similarly, faculty members in the Departments of
Linguistics and
Computer and Information Science,
and at the
Center for Applied Science and
Engineering are actively involved in collaborative research associated with
cognitive engineering and speech science.
The Program in Cognitive Science draws on
faculty and courses from Linguistics,
Computer and Information Science, Psychology,
Anthropology, Philosophy,
Education, and the Speech
Lab of the A.I. du Pont Children's
Hospital. At the undergraduate level, there are minors in Cognitive
Sciences and Linguistics,
plus there are opportunities to pursue individualized degrees in Cognitive and Linguistic
Science, and Pre-Professional Speech Pathology.
At the undergraduate level, there are minors in Cognitive Sciences and Linguistics, plus there are opportunities to pursue individualized degrees in Cognitive and Linguistic Science, and Pre-Professional Speech Pathology. A major in Cognitive Science is under preparation and should be operational by the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year.
At the graduate level, there is a recently approved masters degree in Linguistics and Cognitive Science with two tracks, one in Linguistics and the other in Cognitive Science. In addition, there is course work leading to the equivalent of a secondary specialization in Cognitive Science as part of the Ph.D. in Linguistics.
Inquiries about the Program should be directed to:
Prof. Peter Cole
Director,
Program in Cognitive Science
University of Delaware
42 E. Delaware Ave.
Newark,
DE 19716
pcole@udel.edu
Undergraduate
CGSC 314 Brain and Behavior
CGSC 340 Cognition
CGSC 340 Cognition
CGSC 366 Independent Study
CGSC 466 Independent Study
CGSC 496 Psycholinguistics
Graduate
CGSC 666 Special Problem
CGSC 667 Advanced Introduction to Cognitive Science
CGSC 696 Psycholinguistics
CGSC 890 Studies in Cognitive Science
Undergraduate Minors in Linguistics and Cognitive Science
Individualized Undergraduate Degrees
The course of study in Pre-professional Speech Pathology is designed to prepare students for graduate work and professional training. It is NOT a professional degree in itself. The courses focus on the scientific study of cognition, language and speech and are designed to meet the basic science requirements proposed by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). However, the course of study does NOT include substantial course work in disordered language or language deficits. As a result, students wishing to do graduate degrees in Speech Pathology or Audiology must be aware that it is very likely that they will be required to do additional course work before entering a Master's program in Speech Pathology or Audiology. Prospective students are advised to contact Master's programs while doing their BA at UD so that they can better coordinate the choice of elective courses in consultation with their faculty advisors
Linguistics and Cognitive Science
There is currently no undergraduate major in linguistics or cognitive science, but we expect one to be in operation by Fall of 2007. At present, it is possible to major in this area by enrolling in an individually designed major. Such individually designed majors are designed to give students a broad theoretical training in language, cognition, and computing complemented by a specialization in the student's area of interest. Students also have opportunities to participate in summer institutes in Cognitive Science and to engage in internships and traineeships at local industries, research units, and clinics as a practical complement to their theoretical work. The goal of this program is to produce a student who has integrated graduate and undergraduate study while still at the undergraduate level and who is well prepared for both graduate school in Cognitive Science (in any of its contributing disciplines) or for a career in industry. This course of study can be pursued through an individualized degree program (e.g., the BALS). Students should consult with the Undergraduate Advisor for Cognitive Science and then prepare a proposal.
There are few programs comparable to the above which permit students to engage in such exciting interdisciplinary study. Students coming out of programs like these will have the potential to go on to the very best graduate programs in the disciplines of cognitive science, speech pathology and audiology, or work in emerging industrial fields such as speech technology, the development of human-computer interfaces, and other aspects of cognitive engineering.
A masters degree in Linguistics and Cognitive Science with two tracks, one in Linguistics and the other in Cognitive Science was recently approved by the University Senate, and will go into operation in August, 2006.
The Ph.D. in Linguistics
allows secondary specialization in Cognitive Science.