carleton.ca/ics/graduate/m-cog-sc/

For more information, please contact

Institute of Cognitive Science 2201 Dunton Tower1125 Colonel By Dr.Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6

Mrs. Lianne Dubreuil, Graduate Administrator

2208 Dunton TowerPhone: 613-520-2600, ext. 1739Fax: 613-520-3544Email: lianne_dubreuil@carleton.ca

Supervisor of Graduate Studies

2201 Dunton TowerFax: 613-520-3985Email: ICS_GraduateSupervisor@carleton.ca

Cognitive SCienCe

Master of

Capital Opportunity. Global Community. Higher Degree.

The institute’s faculty and students are drawn from all over the world and members of the department are engaged in a number of inter-national collaborations.

Many of our research projects involve cultural differences between peoples, spanning from how different representations of numeral systems infl uence math learning, to the grammars of different languages, to the effect of the media on thought.

In studying the mind, we investigate both what makes us different from one another, as well as the commonalities that draw us together.

The MCogSc provides training for a variety of possible careers. Examples are positions in research and teaching, human-computer inter-action, information technology, educational policy and technology, and applications to identifi cation and treatment of cognitive path-ologies, including language and mental illness.

The degree provides in-depth knowledge of specialized fi elds, and its interdisciplinary nature also trains our graduates to work pro-ductively with scholars from multiple fi elds. An MCogSc is a solid foundation for further graduate studies in numerous disciplines and also provides training that is highly valued in both the public and private sectors.

The MCogSc degree is part of a fully integrated Cognitive Science program that also includes an honours BA and a PhD degree.

Ottawa offers many opportunities for the cogni-tive scientist. Research on cognition is relevant to various private companies that have offi ces here, such as Adobe, CAE, IBM, and Xerox. In addition, Ottawa is home to major governmental organizations that support research in cognition, such as Statistics Canada, the Department of National Defence, the National Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We also benefi t from our close proximity and partnerships with the University of Ottawa.

Ottawa is a lively and livable city, featuring a wealth of art galleries, theatres, national museums, and international cuisines, and a vibrant nightlife. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the Gatineau Hills in nearby Quebec, the Rideau Canal (a World Heritage Site), the many parks, and the easily accessible Ontario countryside.

Are you interested in how people, animals, or computers think? Cognitive scientists study thoughtfrom a variety of different perspectives.

Cognitive science is an exciting discipline that integrates elements of philosophy, psychology, linguistics, computer science and neuroscience into a unifi ed fi eld of study.

Cognitive scientists study cognition, language, perception and action from all these perspectives, ranging from abstract concepts at one end to well-defi ned empirical research on language and cognition and computer modelling at the other.

Program OverviewCognitive Science is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human and artificial cognition. It integrates research from experimental psy-chology, theoretical and computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, and other related areas, to address questions about learning, knowing, and thinking. Students in Cognitive Science are expected to draw on work from at least three of the contributing disciplines. The researchers who are involved in Carleton’s programs in Cognitive Science have strengths in areas such as consciousness, cognitive develop-ment, mathematical cognition, cognitive and computational modelling, human performance, applied cognition, syntax, semantics, phonetics, pragmatics, philosophy of mind and language, symbolic and computational logic, intelligent information systems, knowledge representation, natural language understanding, swarm and collective intelligence, evolutionary computing, and areas of neuroscience. The program also involves researchers from industry, government agencies, and other post-secondary institutions.

Program RequirementsThere are two options for the MCogSc program — Research Project or Thesis. The former places more emphasis on course work than on super-vised research, whereas the latter places a greater emphasis on supervised research.

The project-based MCogSc is a 5.0 credit program. Students must take three foundational courses (a general issues course and two methods courses), three of five courses on the core cogni-tive science disciplines of artificial intelligence, psychology, linguistics, philosophy and neurosci-ence, and must complete a 1.0 credit research project. The remaining credits are satisfied by other courses selected in consulation with the graduate supervisor and thesis supervisor.

The thesis-based MCogSc is also a 5.0 credit program. Students must take three foundational courses (a general issues course and two methods courses) and three of five courses on the core cognitive science disciplines. The remaining credits are satisfied by the master’s thesis.

The degree is expected to take no more than four (4) terms to complete for full-time students. Students will enroll in courses while also con- ducting research.

Specific program requirements can be found in the Graduate Calendar online at carleton.ca/calendars/grad/current/programs/cognitivescience_m.html.

Admission RequirementsThe requirement for admission into the MCogSc program is a four-year bachelor’s degree (honours) with an average of at least A-.

More information can be found online at carleton.ca/ics/graduate/m-cog-sc/ carleton.ca/ics/graduate/m-cog-sc/how-to-apply/

Language RequirementsApplicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate a fluent knowledge of English. This is normally done in one of the following ways:

n an overall score of 70 on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment™ (CAEL)

n a paper-based TOEFL score of 580

n an internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score of 86 over-all with a minimum score in each component of:

n writing - 22 n speaking - 22 n reading - 20 n listening - 20

n an overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each band score

n a final grade of B- or higher in Carleton University courses ESLA 1900 or ESLA 1905

n an acceptable certification that the language of instruction in your most recently completed undergraduate or graduate degree was English.

Applications and Deadlines Applications have two components: an online form and paper document submissions. To complete the online portion, please visit https://gsapplications.carleton.ca/applynow.php. Once the online form is completed and the application fee paid, print out the application summary and submit it with all supplementary paper documentation listed below. All applicants must submit their completed application by February 1st to be considered for admission for the Fall term of that year.

Application Requirements n Two signed copies of the online application summary

n Research statement (1-3 pages)

n Writing samples (1 sample for domestic stu-dents, 2 samples for international students)

n Brief curriculum vitae (1-3 pages)

n Supervisor preference form

n English-language test scores (if applicable)

n Two referee forms and letters of reference

n Two sets of official transcripts

The applicant’s research statement should provide a clear and focused description of their research interests, including the research question(s) they wish to address and why they wish to enroll in the program.

Financial AssistanceWe provide our top-ranked domestic students with substantial financial assistance in the form of teaching and/or research assistantships and scholarships based on academic excellence. International students may also be eligible for financial assistance. Applications received by February 1st will automatically be considered for financial assistance. Applicants who apply after the February 1st deadline may be consid-ered for funding, but this cannot be guaranteed. For additional information on scholarships visit the website of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs at carleton.ca/fgpa.

Graduate Studies in Cognitive SCienCe

Institute of Political Economy:

established in

1993