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The interdepartmental graduate specializations in cognitive science are available as electives to students who are enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs in Audiology and Speech Sciences, Computer Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geography, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Physiology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Telecommunication, and Zoology. The College of Social Science administers the specializations. One of the most important remaining mysteries in science is the nature of mind, whether mind be embodied in the biological stuff of neurons in a brain, or in the silicon stuff of computer chips in an artificial brain-like system. At the most general level, cognitive science is directed toward this mystery: How do biological systems process complex information to produce thought and adaptive behavior, and can artificial systems be endowed with the same capabilities? The scientific study of the nature of mind requires a concerted effort by investigators with many intellectual talents, from many different theoretical perspectives and empirical traditions, and across many different academic disciplines. The Cognitive Science Program at Michigan State University represents a cross-college, campus-wide effort directed at the study of complex information processing and intelligent systems. Cognitive scientists at MSU come from a wide range of backgrounds, including psychology, computer science, linguistics, audiology and speech sciences, philosophy, neuroscience, education, physiology, physics, telecommunications, psychiatry, and zoology, and a large range of research topics are investigated by cognitive science faculty. It is the intention of the Cognitive Science Program that graduate students who elect one of the specializations (master's or doctoral level) will recognize cognitive science as an interdisciplinary field that encompasses approaches to solving the problems of understanding the mind from a number of sharply different directions. Specialization students will not only learn about, but will also experience the process of engaging in research on these problems, under more than one disciplinary umbrella. The specializations are supervised by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Cognitive Science Program. Students must meet the requirements of both the degree program and the specialization. Students should work closely with their academic advisors to ensure that meaningful experiences that are directly related to cognitive science are included in their degree programs. With the approval of the department or school and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the student's degree program. An interdepartmental graduate specialization in cognitive science is offered at both the master's and the doctoral level, although a given student may not receive certification for the specialization at both levels. If a student has completed some of the requirements for the specialization that is available to master's students, but is subsequently admitted to the doctoral program and plans to complete the requirements for the specialization that is available to doctoral students, the requirements that the student has completed may be counted toward the requirements for the specialization that is available to doctoral students. Admission to the specializations is by cognitive science faculty approval. A student who is seeking admission must have earned a bachelor's degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.00, and have been admitted to one of the disciplinary majors leading to the master's or doctoral degree programs referenced above. To be considered for acceptance into the specialization, the student should submit a cover letter requesting admission and a personal statement describing the student's interest in cognitive science and their objectives in seeking admission to the specialization. Additional supporting documentation may be requested as needed. Admission to the program must be approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee (comprising four members elected from among the cognitive science faculty) and Director of the Cognitive Science Program. The student and the major professor select a guidance committee that will oversee the student's program of study for the specialization. In the event that a guidance committee already has responsibility for overseeing a student's master's or doctoral degree program, that same guidance committee may also oversee the student's program of study for the specialization, provided that the membership of the committee includes at least two persons who are members of the cognitive science faculty, at least one of whom is outside the student's major department. The cognitive science faculty members will represent that faculty on the committee. Requirements for the Specializations in Cognitive Science Master's Students must:
In addition to meeting the requirements referenced above, the thesis of a student on Plan A must reflect the integration of the student's discipline and cognitive science. Doctoral Students must:
Required Core Courses The courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for an interdepartmental graduate specialization in cognitive science must be approved by the student's guidance committee for the specialization. The courses should be selected within the context of the student's educational and career goals and with the goal of demonstrating competence in at least two areas of cognitive science. The student must complete CREDITS
With the prior approval of the Cognitive Science Graduate Affairs Committee, other courses may be substituted for the ones listed here. Upon completion of the requirements for the degree program and of the interdepartmental graduate specialization in cognitive science, the student should contact the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Cognitive Science Program and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee, by the Director of the Program and by the Dean of the College of Social Science, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student's academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student's transcript. Further information about the graduate program can also be obtained by writing directly to: Cognitive Science Program, 130 Psychology Research Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1117, John M. Henderson, Ph.D. Professor and Director Cognitive Science Program
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