Cognitive Science
About Cognitive Science
Our Program and Courses
Cognitive science is a major within F&M’s Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind program. Through a blended lens of philosophy, computer science, psychology, biology, and more, you’ll explore how minds fit into the natural world. You’ll search for answers to questions such as: What is the basis for consciousness? How do minds and mental abilities develop as we mature? Can other animals — or even computers or robots — think? You’ll build a perspective of cognitive science partly informed by moral psychology, bridging sciences and humanities to uncover the inner workings of the mind and achieving a deeper level of understanding than any single discipline alone could provide.
By the time you graduate, you will have acquired:
- An understanding of the major theories in cognitive science
- A broad perspective of the nature of the mind informed by both cognitive science and moral psychology
- An understanding of the complexity of the approaches and perspectives involved in studying the nature and function of the mind
- The ability to construct, evaluate, and critique philosophical arguments and accounts
- Skills in scientific research, including the ability to form research questions, collect data, and analyze and interpret results
- The ability to think, write, and speak clearly and logically
Wondering what a course in cognitive science is like? Explore our course catalog to discover how cognitive science courses span the sciences and humanities.
Learning Outside the Classroom
In cognitive science, you’ll find a new breed of faculty, energized and invigorated by blending fields of study in cutting-edge scholarship, discussion, and research. While they bring their vast knowledge and expertise to the classroom, they’re also dedicated to helping you discover research and study-abroad opportunities to hone your skills in critical thinking and philosophical analysis.
Research Opportunities
A staple of your academic experience at F&M is the extraordinary opportunity to engage in research and independent study. You’ll find remarkable opportunities to join your professors’ research projects,
allowing you to leave your footprint on what often are years-long endeavors.
Explore research at F&M
Off-Campus Study
Off-campus study, in the U.S. and internationally, is encouraged. Cognitive science
majors have studied in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. They have also embarked
on specific courses, studying cognitive science in Hungary and child development in
Denmark.
Learn more about off-campus study at F&M
Success Beyond F&M
What happens after you graduate with a degree in cognitive science? The distinct mixture of scientific and humanistic skills gained by studying cognitive science at F&M — including critical and creative thought, analysis and interpretation of data and theory, and the ability to communicate, write, debate and listen — help you develop useful and productive skills that are highly valuable whether you are entering graduate school or beginning your chosen career.
Alumni Spotlight
“Now I can’t conceive of a better way to approach this study than through the multidisciplinary
approach of cognitive science.”
Anastasiia Grigoreva '20 was the 2020 recipient of the Williamson Medal, the College’s
most prestigious award for student achievement. She graudated summa cum laude with
a major in cognitive science and a minor in philosophy. "I do think I have always
been interested in the study of the human mind; I just did not have the conceptual
tools to engage with it until I got to F&M," Grigoreva said. "Now I can’t conceive
of a better way to approach this study than through the multidisciplinary approach
of cognitive science."
Read More »“It was a euphoric moment for me.”
Caroline Lawrence '18 was the 2018 recipient of the Williamson Medal, the College’s
most prestigious award for student achievement. Lawrence said she always was interested
in a small liberal arts college with an excellent program in cognitive science, and
Franklin & Marshall was the natural choice. She graduated summa cum laude with a double major in cognitive science and government and honors in cognitive science.
Her deep social conscience and her desire to know what makes us fully human have guided
her studies at F&M. She said that the liberal arts approach prepared her well for
a summer 2017 internship at IBM and a unique challenge—finding a way to enable a fully
conscious but immobilized person to communicate. In the last week of her internship,
she succeeded. "The prototype finally worked," she remembered. "The algorithm was
recognizing the brain waves and the thought patterns. All of the software was performing
correctly. It was a euphoric moment for me."
Related Fields of Study
Computer Science
As technology evolves and our understanding of computerized systems increases, computer science has become more advanced. At F&M, you’ll explore this ever-changing field, learning the mathematical basis of modern computer science, gaining technical and programming skills, and understanding how to put theory into practice.
Philosophy
Learn to think clearly and creatively about the big questions: the nature of meaning, morality, justice, art, the mind, knowledge, language, and reality. By studying philosophy at F&M, you’ll search for understanding while discovering how to value the reason for an answer as much as the answer itself.
Psychology
Embark on a journey of the mind and learn all about why we do the things we do. From non-human animal behavior to language development and neurological impairment, your time spent studying psychology at F&M will unlock a whole new world of understanding of how the brain works.
Cognitive Science in Action
July 10, 2023
Child-Robot Research Merges Psychology and Technology
Learn how F&M students conducted an interdisciplinary graduate-level study and gained valuable insights into the future of education.
December 10, 2015
Your Brain: The Great Connector
Aristotle once said, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." As he shared his groundbreaking research in neuroscience, a Franklin & Marshall College professor pointed out that brain function closely follows that axiom. "Any cognitive function takes many parts of the brain, and any part of the brain can be involved in many different cognitive functions," Michael Anderson told a well-attended Dec. 10 Common Hour, F&M's weekly community discussion.