The M.S. program in Cognitive and Information Sciences trains students in experimental, analytical, and computational methods and theories concerning human perception, cognition, behavior, and interaction. The program allows students to concentrate their studies on basic research in preparation for continued study at the doctoral level, or students may concentrate on applied methods and skills useful to careers in cognitive data science, careers at the interface of humans and technology, and other non-academic career paths that stem from cognitive science training. Cognitive science is a growing interdisciplinary field that combines knowledge and techniques from the social, natural, and computational sciences, as well as philosophy, to address problems related to mind, brain, and behavior. Due to this intrinsic interdisciplinarity, researchers often need training in multiple disciplines for advanced study, beyond what is typically covered in most undergraduate degree programs.
Students may choose either a thesis track or a capstone track, with both tracks designed so that coursework may be completed in two full-load semesters. The capstone or thesis may then be completed by end of the subsequent Summer.
