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’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
Student Spotlight
F&M Student Co-Creates Innovative AI Ethics Course
At F&M, students aren't just learning about artificial intelligence ethics; they're actively shaping the curriculum itself. Elshaddai “El” Muchuwa ’26, a cognitive science and government double major, played a central role in the innovative new course, “Teaching and Learning Machine Ethics,” led by Assistant Professor of Computer Science Jason “Willie” Wilson. “El was the co-creator of this course and was deeply involved in all aspects of developing this course,” Wilson said, who was in the beginning stages of creating the Machine Ethics syllabus and seeking student input when he began working with Muchuwa. “What 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,” Muchuwa said. “Because in an age where machines and AI and technology affect everybody, we need it.”Read More »
Alumni Spotlight
An Interest in the Mind Leads to Studying Human-AI Interaction
When she arrived at F&M, Raluca Rilla ’23 was most interested in the mind. “I was very eager to study language and cognition, but I wasn’t entirely sure how to approach my questions,” 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. “I was determined to maintain the same level of creativity and openness that interdisciplinarity affords in all of my future academic and professional pursuits,” she said. Today, Rilla is pursuing a master’s degree in cognitive systems at the University of Potsdam in Germany. “Without the training and mentorship that I received at F&M, I would not have been as well equipped to study human-AI interaction,” she said. “I am certain that the critical thinking skills that I developed at F&M will be indispensable for navigating artificial intelligence research.”Read More »
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
June 5, 2025
Students Study AI Ethics and Implications
A spring course, “Teaching and Learning Machine Ethics,” does more than explore the basic fundamentals of AI. It prepares students to teach machine ethics.
August 1, 2024
Success Beyond F&M: An Interest in the Mind Leads to Studying Human-AI Interaction
Raluca Rilla ’23, a cognitive science and psychology double major at F&M, is pursuing a master’s degree in cognitive systems at the University of Potsdam in Germany. “Without the training and mentorship that I received at F&M, I would not have been as well equipped to study human-AI interaction," she said.
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.