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
Bridging Extended Reality and the Mind
“Kha provided a deeper perspective from those disciplines, asking foundational questions:
‘How 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?’”
Jensen said.
Read More »Student Spotlight
F&M Student Co-Creates Innovative AI Ethics Course
“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 »Take Your Next Step
January 12, 2026 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 Learning by doing is in our DNA as Diplomats. For Sujal Shah ’27 and Kha Nguyen ’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 A spring course, “Teaching and Learning Machine Ethics,” does more than explore the basic fundamentals of AI. It prepares students to teach machine ethics. Cognitive Science in Action
Behind the Scenes: Student-Coded Robots in Action
What is Extended Reality–and Why are F&M Students Researching It?
Students Study AI Ethics and Implications
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.