The Department of Philosophy, Psychology, and Cognitive Science represents the merger of Philosophy and Psychology and the development of Cognitive Science. Cognitive Science, broadly defined as the study of the mind/brain, how it is structured, and how it can be represented and simulated, is theoretically grounded in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, logic, and philosophy of knowledge. Its practical applications include artificial intelligence, human factors, industrial/organizational psychology and psychopharmacology.

The department has a long tradition of teaching and scholarship in applied areas of psychology, which has led to its current focus on applied cognitive science. The Minds and Machines program and laboratory provides a new expression of the department’s interests in applied cognitive science that integrates the research activities of the philosophers and psychologists in the department. An important goal of the Minds and Machines program and laboratory is to prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing “Information Economy.”

For areas of advanced study and research, faculty, undergraduate and graduate programs, dual-majors and requirements in philosophy, please look under Philosophy. For areas of advanced study and research, faculty, undergraduate and graduate programs, dual-majors, and requirements in psychology, please look under Psychology. For more information on the new Minds and Machines program and laboratory please see Psychology.