Cognitive Science studies the computational and representational structure of the mind by combining linguistics, philosophy, computer science (especially artificial intelligence), and psychology.    Courses for the minor in cognitive science focus on three areas:  

1)     broad foundational issues in linguistics, psychology, and computing;
2)     narrower issues in mental representation, computation, theoretical linguistics, and   epistemology;
3)     problems in cognition, data processing, and language and formal representation that are related to students' particular interests.

    The minor is administered through the Dept. of Linguistics and Cognitive Science.  It requires 18 credits, distributed as follows (most of these courses have prerequisites, as listed): 

    A.    All the following:

        CISC 108, 106 or 181  General Computer Science
        LING 101  Introduction to Linguistics
        PSYC 100  General Psychology
        CGSC 270  Introduction to Cognitive Science

    B.    One of the following:
        LING 404  Structure of Language                (Prereq: LING101)
        LING 418  Meaning and Language Use         (Prereq: LING101)
        CGSC 340  Cognition                                (Prereq:  PSYC 207 & 209)

    C.    One of the following:
        CISC 220  Data Structures    (Prereq:  CISC 181, Coreq:  MATH 210 or 241))
        CISC/CGSC 481  Artificial Intelligence                (Prereq:  CISC 220 & 310)
        EDUC/LING 462  Language Acquisition
        PHIL 205  Logic
        PSYC 310  Sensation & Perception                 (Prereq:  PSYC 207 & 209)
        PSYC/CGSC 314  Brain & Behavior                 (Prereq: PSYC 207 & 209)
        CGSC 485  Seminar in Cognitive Science
        CGSC/PHIL 330 Philosophy of Mind
        CGSC/PHIL 404  Animal Minds
        CGSC/PHIL 450 Topics in Philosophy of Mind
        PSYC 344  Psychology of Language              (Prereq: PSYC 207 & 209)
        PSYC 320  Intro. To Neuroscience
        ANTH 202  Human Evolution
        ANTH 205  Anthropology and Human Nature
        Or any of the courses not chosen under B.

A grade of “C” or better is required in all courses.
No more than 3 courses may be from a single department.        

For further information, contact:    

Dr. Nancy Schweda Nicholson
Undergraduate Director
Dept. of Linguistics and Cognitive Science
46 E. Delaware Ave. Newark DE. 19716
(302) 831-2837
email: