What can I do with a major in Cognitive & Linguistic Sciences?
Contemporary aproaches to research in a number of areas are increasingly interdisciplinary. Therefore, cognitive & linguistic sciences majors are desirable applicants to graduate programs in any of the disciplines represented in the concentrations. Former majors in cognitive science have gone on to graduate work in psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and computer science at leading institutions. Although there are programs that grant advanced degrees in cognitive science (see below), students must typically enter the institution through standing departments.
Cognitive & linguistic sciences also provides excellent background for students interested in any profession that involves understanding the workings of the human mind. It is particularly useful for those interested in pursuing careers in education, law, speech pathology, marketing/advertising, software design, human-computer interaction, and behavioral economics.
Students interested specifically in career paths in linguistics should look at the Linguistic Society of America's websites: Why Major in Linguistics? and Linguistic Enterprises.
Graduate Programs in Cognitive Science and related areas:
By no means exhaustive of the possibilities for advanced training in cognitive science and related areas, the following list includes some of the more prominent degree-granting programs in cognitive science. Students should investigate the Cognitive Science Society site on the internet:
Students interested in programs in linguistics should consult this Linguistics Society of America website.
This Linguistic Society guide to
choosing a graduate program was developed for linguistics students
but the advice
is general and would be good advice for anyone seeking a program in
the cognitive sciences.
