May 13, 2008

The cognitive science program at California State University, Fresno recently completed the approval process for its new major and minor, and one of its students already is turning his experience with the program into a career in the field.

Michael Oliver, the first student to graduate from Fresno State with a minor in cognitive science, will begin his graduate work at Johns Hopkins University this fall. His interests focus on how the brain allows us to speak a language.

The bachelor of science degree in cognitive science will be available for the first time this fall. The minor in cognitive science previously was available through Special Programs.

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary area of study that draws from courses in computer science, linguistics, philosophy and psychology to develop an introductory understanding of human intelligence. Students choose from among three tracks: cognition and knowledge, language and computer science and informatics.

Oliver began taking cognitive science classes with Drs. Michael Wolf and Pedro Amaral through the Department of Philosophy and went on to earn a McNair Program fellowship to do research with Dr. Lorin Lachs in the Department of Psychology.

For more information, contact Lachs, program director, at llachs@csufresno.edu.

Related link: www.csufresno.edu/cogsci