Skip to main content

Linguistics and Cognitive Science

Basic Structure of the Program

  • The program offers two different majors: The Linguistics major and the Cognitive Science major.
  • A prerequisite for the Linguistics major is solid competency in a foreign language
  • The Cognitive Science major brings together courses from Computer Science, Linguistics, Psychology, Philosophy, and Biology that deal with issues in information processing and the mind/brain. Most courses for the Cognitive Science major are taken in those departments.
  • Linguistics 1: Introductory Linguistics, is the entrĂ©e into the Linguistics major.
  • Cognitive Science 2: Cognition, is a prerequisite to the Cognitive Science major, though it is not prerequisite to most major courses.
  • Linguistics and Cognitive Science jointly sponsors an FSP to New Zealand with the Anthropology department in the winter term. Prerequisites include LING 1 and one other Linguistics course in the 20s. Those concentrating on Linguistics on the FSP will take a course on the Maori language while in New Zealand. See the Off-Campus Programs Office for information and application.

Courses for the Student with Little or No Background Who Wants to Explore Linguistics and Cognitive Science

  • Linguistics
    • LING 1: Introductory Linguistics
    • LING 17: Sociolinguistics
    • LING 18: History of the English Language (=ENGL 18)
  • Cognitive Science
    • COGS 2: Cognition (=PSYC 28, PSYC 1 or COSC 5 is prerequisite)
    • PHIL 26: Philosophy and Computers
    • PSYC 40: Introduction to Computational Neuroscience

Information for the First-Year Student Who Plans on Pursuing Studies in Linguistics

  • LING 1: Introductory Linguistics, is the best introduction to the field of Linguistics, and is a prerequisite for the major.
  • Solid competency in a foreign language is also a prerequisite for the major. This requirement may be met by taking two courses in a language beyond the first-year level.
  • Linguistics majors are encouraged to study a second language not closely related to the first.

Information for the First-Year Student Who Plans on Pursuing Studies in Cognitive Science

  • COGS 2: Cognition (=PSYC 28), is a prerequisite to the major.
  • COSC 5: Introduction to Computer Science, is a core course in the major curriculum.
  • PHIL 26: Philosophy and Computers, is also a core course in the major curriculum, and is offered without prerequisites.
  • PSYC 10: Experimental Design, Methodology, and Data Analysis Procedures, is also a prerequisite for the major.
  • Because this is a smaller program, courses are offered with less frequency and thus students must plan ahead carefully.   Exceptions may be allowed, particularly to accommodate conflicts necessitated by the D-Plan.

Current Enrollments, Class Size, and Distributives

The ORC

The Linguistics and Cognitive Science home page

Last Updated: 9/9/09