Hampshire College

Division I:  Learning Approaches to Inquiry in Cognitive Science: Hampshire's Division I distribution requirement is designed to introduce students to different approaches to academic inquiry, providing the tools necessary for planning their own educational program. Courses at the 100-level in cognitive science introduce areas of CS inquiry through reading, writing, and project work. Some 200-level courses are available to beginning students who are prepared for a higher level of challenge.

Division II: Concentrating in Cognitive Science: The program areas in CS provide a rich set of opportunities for students to design their concentrations in consultation with the faculty. CS concentrators are expected to achieve considerable depth in CS by taking 10 to 12 core courses that relate to a set of core questions. Concentrators must also develop significant interdisciplinary breadth, through courses in CS, the other Hampshire schools, or the Five Colleges that contribute additional perspectives to the concentration. Concentrations include independent projects that prepare students for the yearlong Division III research project. 

CS concentrations are motivated by a wide range of core questions. Many students are interested in the nature of phenomena such as consciousness, the emotions; psychopathology; autism; language; attention and memory; morality; and the human propensity for music and visual art. Other students are interested in the evolution of the brain and behavior and in the nature of other animals' minds and communication systems.  Some concentrations center on using computers to produce animated films or other forms of digital art or to explore new programming techniques and theories, such as artificial life, evolutionary computing, and artificial neural networks. Other concentrations are organized around issues in child development, learning, education, and the schools. 

Division III: Advanced Independent Projects in Cognitive Science: The concentration in CS prepares a student to undertake a yearlong advanced undergraduate research or production project.  CS's faculty and facilities directly support a range of projects, including studies of the brain processes in the EEG/ERP laboratory; studies of child development in the cognitive development laboratory; studies of artificial intelligence and evolution using techniques in genetic programming, artificial neural networks, and artificial life; studies of animal behavior at local and remote sites; studies of learning and teaching methods in schools; studies of significant questions in the philosophy of mind and brain; and advanced projects in digital animation and other digital arts. CS also supports projects undertaken at sites away from Hampshire at field sites, at laboratories at other colleges and universities, and in internships.