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 entrée 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