Cognitive Science
About Cognitive Science
Our Program and Courses
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
Learning Outside the Classroom
Research Opportunities
A staple of your academic experience at F&M is the extraordinary opportunity to engage in research and independent study. You鈥檒l find remarkable opportunities to join your professors鈥� 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
Student Spotlight
Bridging Extended Reality and the Mind
鈥淜ha provided a deeper perspective from those disciplines, asking foundational questions:
鈥楬ow do we define skill and determine when a skill has been learned? How do we transfer
learned knowledge from a classroom setting to a more complex workforce training context?鈥欌��
Jensen said.
Read More 禄Student Spotlight
F&M Student Co-Creates Innovative AI Ethics Course
鈥淓l was the co-creator of this course and was deeply involved in all aspects of developing
this course,鈥� Wilson said, who was in the beginning stages of creating the Machine
Ethics syllabus and seeking student input when he began working with Muchuwa.
鈥淲hat we will work on moving forward is making this information accessible outside
of F&M, so that other colleges can have access to creating components of machine ethics,鈥�
Muchuwa said. 鈥淏ecause in an age where machines and AI and technology affect everybody,
we need it.鈥�
Read More 禄Alumni Spotlight
An Interest in the Mind Leads to Studying Human-AI Interaction
鈥淚 was very eager to study language and cognition, but I wasn鈥檛 entirely sure how
to approach my questions,鈥� she said.
During her first semester, Rilla was inspired by connections she uncovered across
disciplines and decided to blend perspectives herself by double majoring in cognitive
science and psychology.
鈥淚 was determined to maintain the same level of creativity and openness that interdisciplinarity
affords in all of my future academic and professional pursuits,鈥� she said.
Today, Rilla is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in cognitive systems at the University
of Potsdam in Germany.
鈥淲ithout the training and mentorship that I received at F&M, I would not have been
as well equipped to study human-AI interaction,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am certain that the
critical thinking skills that I developed at F&M will be indispensable for navigating
artificial intelligence research.鈥�
Read More 禄
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鈥檒l 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鈥檒l 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
January 12, 2026
Behind the Scenes: Student-Coded Robots in Action
A group of international students spent the final weeks of the fall semester programming a robot to lead visiting students and families through a playful quiz about the College.
November 21, 2025
What is Extended Reality鈥揳nd Why are F&M Students Researching It?
Learning by doing is in our DNA as Diplomats. For Sujal Shah 鈥�27 and Kha Nguyen 鈥�28, this meant collaborating with their computer science professor to research how extended reality can be used for safer, more effective employee training.
June 5, 2025
Students Study AI Ethics and Implications
A spring course, 鈥淭eaching and Learning Machine Ethics,鈥� does more than explore the basic fundamentals of AI. It prepares students to teach machine ethics.