Brain and cognitive sciences

Brain science and cognitive science are complementary and interactive in their research objectives. Both approaches examine perception, performance, and intervening processes in humans and animals. Central issues in the discipline include the interpretation of sensory experience; the reception, manipulation, storage, and retrieval of information within the nervous system; and the planning and execution of motor activity. Higher level functions include the development of formal and informal reasoning skills; and the structure, acquisition, use, and internal representation of human language. The Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences prepares students to pursue advanced degrees or careers in artificial intelligence, machine learning, neuroscience, medicine, cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, education research and technology, and human-machine interaction. Methods of inquiry in the brain and cognitive sciences are drawn from molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience; cognitive and perceptual psychology; computer science and artificial intelligence; linguistics; philosophy of language and mind; and mathematics. The undergraduate program is designed to provide instruction in the relevant aspects of these various disciplines. The program is administered by an Undergraduate Officer and an Undergraduate Administrator, consulting as necessary with faculty members from these disciplines who also serve as advisors to majors, helping them select a coherent set of subjects from within the requirements, including a research requirement. Members of the faculty are available to guide the research. The Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) major incorporates programming and computational skills to meet the increasing demands for those skills in both graduate school and the workforce . The major offers a tiered system of subjects with enough flexibility to allow multiple avenues through the Brain and Cognitive Sciences curriculum,...