Cognitive Psychology Specialization

Cognitive psychology deals with broad, exciting questions that have puzzled people for centuries - things like why we have conscience, why we believe some things to be true and others false, and how we can improve the way we think, act, and decide. The primary topic areas in cognitive psychology are paying attention, perceiving, recognizing objects, acquiring knowledge, memory, language as a tool for thinking and communicating, solving problems, drawing conclusions, and evaluating claims. In short, cognitive psychology is about how the human mind works. The mind is a product of the brain, so there are many interconnections between cognitive psychology and biological psychology. In fact, professionals in neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology are all investigating aspects of cognitive science from the perspective of their disciplines. Students completing this specialization learn information relevant to occupations in rehabilitation, work with the elderly, and educational settings. The cognitive specialization is an especially good choice for students preparing for a career in teaching at the elementary or secondary school level.

Please get in touch with the Cognitive Psychology coordinator, Dr. Tamra Bireta(609-771-3069), tbireta@tcnj.edu for more information.

Faculty affiliated with the Cognitive Psychology Specialization:

Cognitive Psychology Courses Requirements

Core Courses (Taken in sequence)

PSY 101 - General Psychology
PSY 121 - Methods and Tools of Psychology
PSY 203 - Design and Statistical Analysis
PSY 299 - Research Seminar

Foundation Courses (Choose 3):

PSY 213 - Learning and Memory
PSY 214 - Cognitive Psychology
Other Foundation Course (Choose 1)
- Your advisor may be able to help you in making selections

Specialized Courses (Choose 3):

Recommendations:

Must Choose 1 of the following:
- PSY 303 - Advanced Behavioral Statistics
- PSY 311 - Sensation and Perception
- PSY 346 - Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSY 371 - Cognitive Seminar (or a 400-level cognitive seminar
One external course (outside of psychology) +
- PHL 120 - Introduction to Logic
- PHL 421 - Philosophy of Language (prerequisite: once course in philosophy or permission of instructor)
- PHL 422 - Philosophy of Mind (prerequisite: once course in philosophy or permission of instructor)
- ECO 101 - Microeconomics
- BIO 171 - Human Form and Function
- LNG 201 - Introduction to the English Language
- ECE 202 - Theories and Philosophies of Early Childhood Education
- ASL 101 - American Sign Language I
One other Specialized Course
- Your advisor may be able to help you in making selections

[Please check PAWS for the semester offerings]

* Students may apply one of these courses as a Specialized courses. Others may apply as a Psychology Option.

+ Only one out-of-department course may count as a Specialized course in the Psychology major.

Psychology Option

One course (Recommended at 300-Level or 400-Level)

Senior Experience (Choose 1)

Your advisor may be able to help you in making selections

[Please check PAWS for the semester offerings]

Additional Information

Students are encouraged to consider satisfying their TCNJ Liberal Learning requirements by completing the Cognitive Science Interdisciplinary Concentration.