A graduate certificate in the exciting and fast-growing interdisciplinary field of Cognitive Science can be earned by completing 12 credits selected from among five disciplinary course groups of contemporary inquiry: Cognition and Computation; Philosophy and Cognition, Psychology and Cognition, Language and Cognition and Neuroscience and Cognition. Both PhD candidates and Master’s degree candidates from any department in the Rackham Graduate School are eligible for certification. Students interested in the Graduate Certificate should email cogsci-gradcertificate@umich.edu.
New Curriculum Beginning Fall 2020
Starting in Fall 2020, there are new requirements for the Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate. Certificate students must complete four classes, including:
COGSCI 700, the new interdisciplinary Current Topics in Cognitive Science seminar class
3 additional classes from at least 2 different disciplinary Groups (Cognition and Computation; Philosophy and Cognition, Psychology and Cognition, Language and Cognition and Neuroscience and Cognition)
Below are the course lists for each disciplinary group. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are less frequently offered courses. Courses marked with double asterisk (**) are topics classes for which only specific sections have been approved.
Students who began the Certificate prior to Fall 2020 can earn a Certificate under the old requirements (see below) or the new requirements.
Computation and Cognition
EECS 492 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
EECS 545 Machine Learning
EECS 592 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
LING 541/EECS 595/SI 561 Natural Language Processing
PSYCH 643 Theory of Neural Computation*
PSYCH 721 Mathematical Psychology*
PSYCH 808 Complexity and Emergence**
PSYCH/EECS 644 Computational Modelling of Cognition**
SI 563 Game Theory
SI 630 NLP: Algorithms & People
Language and Cognition
LING 512 Intro to Phonetics
LING 513 Introduction to Phonology
LING 515 Generative Syntax
LING 516 Semantics and Pragmatics
LING 541/EECS 595/SI 561 Natural Language Processing
LING 612 Advanced Phonetics*
LING 613 Advanced Phonology*
LING 615 Advanced Syntax
LING 616 Advanced Semantics
LING 792 Intro to Neurolinguistics**
LING 792 Topics in Neurolinguistics**
LING 812 Seminar in Phonetics*
LING 815 Seminar in Syntax*
PHIL 409 Philosophy of Language*
PHIL 615 Seminar in Philosophy of Language(*)(**)
PSYCH 547 Exper Methods in Lg Processing Rsrch
PSYCH 808 Analyzing Language Corpora**
PSYCH 808 Seminar in Psycholinguistics**
PSYCH 808 Seminar in Second Language Acquisition**
PSYCH/LING 745 Psychology of Language
PSYCH/LING 756 Development of Lg and Comm Skills
Neuroscience and Cognition
BIOMED 517 Neural Engineering
LING 792 Intro to Neurolinguistics **
MATH/BIOINF 568 Mathematical & Computational Neuroscience
PSYCH 643 Theory of Neural Computation
PSYCH 741 Basic Processes in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYCH 758 Developmental Neuroscience of Human Behavior
PSYCH 808 Neurophysiology of Decision-Making **
PSYCH 808 Neuroimaging Data, Concepts, & Analysis **
PSYCH 808 The Science of Self Control **
PSYCH 840/BioMed 499 Introduction to Functional FMRI
PSYCH 841 Designing and Analyzing Functional MRI Experiments*
PSYCH 958 Developmental Population Neuroscience **
PSYCH 988 Genetics for Behavioral and Social Sciences **
Philosophy and Cognition
LING 516 Semantics and Pragmatics
LING 616 Advanced Semantics
PHIL 409 Philosophy of Language*
PHIL 413 Formal Methods
PHIL 443 Foundations of Rational Choice Theory
PHIL 444 Groups & Choices
PHIL 615 Philosophy of Language(*)(**)
PSYCH 808 The Science of Self Control **
PSYCH 958 Concepts and Categories**
SI 563 Game Theory
Psychology and Cognition
PSYCH 547 Exper Methods in Lg Processing Rsrch
PSYCH/EECS 644 Computational Modelling of Cognition
PSYCH 721 Mathematical Psychology*
PSYCH 741 Sensory Processes
PSYCH 743 Human Learning and Memory
PSYCH 744 Perception
PSYCH/LING 745 Psychology of Language
PSYCH/LING 756 Development of Lg and Comm Skills
PSYCH 747 Models of Thinking*
PSYCH 748 Complex Cognitive Processes
PSYCH 751 Cognitive Development
PSYCH 808 Complexity and Emergence**
PSYCH 808 Seminar in Psycholinguistics**
PSYCH 808 Seminar in Second Language Acquisition**
PSYCH 808 Social Cognition in Development**
PSYCH 808 The Science of Self Control **
PSYCH 958 Concepts and Categories**
PSYCH 958 Learning, Thinking & Problem-Solving**
SI 563 Game Theory
SI 588 Fundamentals of Human Behavior
Special Considerations for Masters/Embedded Masters Students
If you are either pursuing a Master's degree or have completed an embedded Master’s while doing a PhD program, there are special considerations regarding overlapping coursework between your home program and your certificate curriculum. Please be sure to review Rackham’s policies on double-counting courses with Master’s degrees here.
Students Enrolled in Graduate Certificate Prior to Fall 2020
Students who began the Certificate prior to Fall 2020 will remain on the old curriculum requirements:
A graduate certificate in the exciting and fast-growing interdisciplinary field of Cognitive Science can be earned by completing 12 credits selected from among five distinct areas of contemporary inquiry: Cognition and Computation; Philosophy and Cognition, Psychology and Cognition, Language and Cognition and Neuroscience and Cognition.
The course list below is organized into these five groupings. Both PhD candidates and Master’s degree candidates from any department are eligible for certification. The interdisciplinary curriculum of the Certificate Program is drawn from existing courses within the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Psychology, Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Linguistics. Of the four required courses (a minimum of 12 credit hours), the Certificate Program requires that at least two courses (a minimum of 6 credit hours) must be taken outside of the student’s home graduate program.
Previous Curriculum Course List (SP/SU 2020 or earlier)
Computation and Cognition
EECS 492 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
EECS 545 Machine Learning
EECS 592 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
PSY 643 Theory of Neural Computation
PSY/EECS 644 Computational Modelling of Cognition
PSY 721 Mathematical Psychology
PSY 808 Complexity and Emergence
Language and Cognition
LING 512 Intro to Phonetics
LING 513 Introduction to Phonology
LING 515 Generative Syntax
LING 541/EECS 595/SI 561 Natural Language Processing
PSY 547 Experimental Methods in Language Processing Research
LING 612 Advanced Phonetics
LING 613 Advanced Phonology
LING 615 Advanced Syntax
LING 815 Seminar in Syntax
LING 812 Seminar in Phonetics
LING 514 Semantics and Pragmatics
LING 614 Advanced Semantics
PSY 745/LING 745 Psychology of Language
LING/PSY 756 Development of Language and Communication Skills
PSY 808 Analyzing Language Corpora
PSY 808 Seminar in Psycholinguistics
PSY 808 Seminar in Second Language Acquisition
Neuroscience and Cognition
PSY 643 Theory of Neural Computation
PSY 741 Basic Processes in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY 758 Developmental Neuroscience of Human Behavior
PSY 840/BioMed 499 Introduction to Functional FMRI
PSY 841 Designing and Analyzing Functional MRI Experiments
PSY 958 Developmental Population Neuroscience
PSY 988 Genetics for Behavioral and Social Sciences
PSY 808 Neurophysiology of Decision-Making
Philosophy and Cognition
400 level Philosophy courses are already approved for graduate credit which can be earned only if the student meets extra work requirements as specified by the Instructor
PHIL 409 Philosophy of Language
PHIL 443 Rational Choice
PHIL 482 Phil of Mind
Courses that may be counted, depending on content and by petition:
PHIL 413 Formal Methods
PHIL 414 Mathematical Logic
PHIL 420 Philosophy of Science
PHIL 429 Ethical Analysis
Certificate candidates with more Philosophy background can take the following 500 and 600 level courses
PHIL 615 Philosophy of Language (a Weinberg funded seminar)
Courses that may be counted, depending on content and by petition:
PHIL 576 Topics in Social-Political Philosophy
PHIL 602 Philosophy of Science
PHIL 616 Philosophy of Mathematics
PHIL 640 Seminar in Ethics
Psychology and Cognition
PSY 741 Sensory Processes
PSY 743 Human Learning and Memory
PSY 747 Models of Thinking
PSY 748 Complex Cognitive Processes
PSY 751 Cognitive Development
PSY 958 Learning, Thinking & Problem-Solving
