Cognitive Science, Bachelor of Arts at Johns Hopkins University

Cognitive science is the study of the human mind and brain, focusing on how the mind represents and manipulates knowledge and how mental representations and processes are realized in the brain. Conceiving of the mind as an abstract computing device instantiated in the brain, cognitive scientists seek to understand the mental computations underlying cognitive functioning, and how these computations are implemented by neural tissue. Also of central interest in cognitive science are questions about how cognitive functions develop, and how they break down when the brain is damaged.

Cognitive science is a relatively new field, having emerged at the interface of cognitive psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and computer science. As a consequence of this diverse ancestry, cognitive science incorporates a variety of perspectives and methodologies, including linguistic analysis, empirical studies of normal cognitive functioning in adults, developmental studies of children, cognitive neuropsychological research on cognitive deficits, functional neuroimaging studies, and computational modeling.

Our cognitive science undergraduate program reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the field, allowing students to approach the study of the mind and brain from multiple perspectives. Students gain broad knowledge of the field as a whole, plus a greater depth of the understanding in two of the sub-disciplines within the field. Training emphasizes not only learning about the principal theories and evidence, but also development of the conceptual and practical skills needed for understanding and conducting theoretical and empirical work in the field. Undergraduate students in the department also have many opportunities to get involved in research.