Cognitive Science Combined PhD completion requires courses in core cognitive science, elective cognitive science courses, comprehensive exam, and an interdisciplinary thesis.
Course and thesis completion plans and progress is recorded on the Combined PhD Plan of Study & Progress Report Form.
Required Core Courses
- An introductory course, Issues and Methods in Cognitive Science (3 units).
- Students should complete this course by the end of the second year of their program. By completing this course, students become eligible to apply for travel grants.
- Topics in Cognitive Science (1 unit), taken twice (2 semesters)
- Research Applications Seminar (formerly Cognitive Science Practicum) (2 units), taken twice (2 semesters).
- This course should be taken as you prepare your dissertation topic proposal or equivalent.
Hours Required
- A total of 30 hours of cognitive science courses, to include:
- 9 hours of required cognitive science core courses and
- 21 hours of other elective cognitive science courses
- At least 12 of the 21 elective hours must be outside the home department, including courses in at least two different departments outside the home department. Each of these outside the home department courses must be at least two credits.
*Up to six units may be transferred from a different accredited institution. Candidate will submit a proposal of course substitutions based on the approved course list which will demonstrate comparable course content. A decision to accept substitute course work is at the discretion of the Academic Program Director and/or curriculum committee based on the available information.
*Independent Study: if a student needs to replace one required course to satisfy program requirements due to unavoidable scheduling issues,complete and submit the Independent Study Approval Form to ICSPrograms@colorado.edu.
Comprehensive Exam
- Pass the Comprehensive Exam in your degree department
Interdisciplinary Thesis Requirements
- The original contributions of the dissertation research should exploit state-of-the-art methods from the perspective of at least two disciplines.
- Students are encouraged to have their doctoral research co-supervised by two faculty members representing different disciplines.
- At least one supervisor will be an ICS faculty fellow.
- The doctoral committee will include at least two ICS faculty fellows from outside the home department.
- In accordance with the rules of the graduate school, students must take at least 30 hours of dissertation research.