MA Requirements

The MA requirements are designed to be completed in one calendar year. There are two tracks: Research and Course Track. In both tracks, the student works closely with a faculty mentor.

General MA Requirements

These requirements apply to both tracks.

  • Courses may not be double-counted. Each course may only be used to satisfy a single degree requirement, even if it may qualify for more than one requirement.
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better, with the exception of the following for which a P (passing) grade will be accepted (where P = C- or better):
    • AS.360.625 Responsible Conduct of Research
    • Graduate courses in other departments only offered as Pass/Fail with the written approval from the mentor and Director of Graduate Studies.
    • One Cognitive Science course may be converted to Pass/Fail with written approval from the instructor, mentor, and Director of graduate Studies.
  • The majority of requirements must be completed in the spring and fall semesters. Only research ethics, research, and readings courses are offered year-round, including the summer and intersession terms.

Research Track Requirements

  • One course in either formal methods or statistics, such as AS.200.657 Advanced Statistical Methods, AS.050.670 Mathematical Models of Language, AS.050.671 Bayesian Inference, AS.050.672 Foundations of Neural Network Theory, or equivalent with mentor’s written permission
  • Two lab or research seminars, 800-level
  • Three additional courses, 600- to 800-level (not including directed readings or independent research courses)
  • Four courses of AS.050.839 Research in Cognitive Science with the mentor. Student registers in research every term: fall, intersession, spring, and summer. Satisfactory fulfillment is determined by the mentor as is the distribution of 18 credit-hours across each term.
  • AS.360.625 Responsible Conduct of Research (in-person)
  • Capstone: Produce a research paper that is approved by the faculty mentor and pass an Oral Defense before their mentor and another faculty member.

Students in the Research Track must work on full-time research overseen by their faculty mentor. They are expected to make as much progress on their research as is possible within the time frame of the program. The research is expected to be of a qualify that can lead to conference and journal publications.

Course Track Requirements

  • Seven courses, 600- to 800-level or above (not including directed readings or independent research courses)
    Up to four courses may be substituted with written permission from the mentor(s) and Director of Graduate Studies.
  • Two lab or research seminars, 800-level
  • Three total courses of directed readings and/or research, including one in intersession. Satisfactory fulfillment is determined by the mentor as is the distribution of 9 credit-hours across each term. Course Options:
    • AS.050.800 Directed Readings in Cognitive Science (previously AS.050.690)
    • AS.050.839 Research in Cognitive Science
  • 360.625 Responsible Conduct of Research (in-person)
  • Capstone: Produce a portfolio of accomplishments from the program (e.g., course assignments, seminar papers) overseen by the faculty mentor, prepare a reading list and set of discussion questions, and present what has been learned from the year of study at an Oral Presentation supervised by your mentor and another faculty member.