Program Overview

Computation and Cognition Program

The Computation and Cognition program at MIT offers a Bachelor of Science degree that combines the study of computation and cognition. This interdisciplinary program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the computational and cognitive processes that underlie human behavior and intelligence.

General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements for the Computation and Cognition program include:

• Science Requirement: 6 subjects
• Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement: 8 subjects, with at least two designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement
• Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement: 2 subjects, which can be satisfied by 9.01 and 6.1200[J], 6.2000, 6.3000, 6.3700, 18.03, 18.05, 18.06, 18.600, 18.C06[J] in the Departmental Program
• Laboratory Requirement: 1 subject, which can be satisfied by a laboratory in the Departmental Program
• Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree: 17
• Physical Education Requirement: swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points

Departmental Program

The Departmental Program for Computation and Cognition requires students to choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. The required subjects include:

• 6.100A: Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python
• 9.01: Introduction to Neuroscience
• 18.06: Linear Algebra
• or 18.C06[J]: Linear Algebra and Optimization
• Select one of the following:
  • 6.1200[J]: Mathematics for Computer Science
  • 6.120A: Discrete Mathematics and Proof for Computer Science
  • 18.03: Differential Equations
• Select one of the following:
  • 6.3700: Introduction to Probability
  • 18.05: Introduction to Probability and Statistics
  • 18.600: Probability and Random Variables
  • 6.3800: Introduction to Inference
  • 9.07: Statistics for Brain and Cognitive Science 1
• EECS Program Subjects:
  • 6.3900: Introduction to Machine Learning
  • Select two of the following:
    • 6.1010: Fundamentals of Programming
    • 6.1210: Introduction to Algorithms
    • 6.2000: Electrical Circuits: Modeling and Design of Physical Systems
  • Select one of the following:
    • 6.3000: Signal Processing
    • 6.3100: Dynamical System Modeling and Control Design
    • 6.3950: AI, Decision Making, and Society
    • 6.4110: Representation, Inference, and Reasoning in AI
• BCS Program Subjects:
  • Brain Systems/Neurophysiology:
    • Select one of the following:
      • 9.09[J]: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 1
      • 9.13: The Human Brain 1
      • 9.18[J]: Developmental Neurobiology 1
      • 9.21[J]: Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing 1
      • 9.35: Perception 1
      • 9.36: Neurobiology of Self 1
      • 9.40: Introduction to Neural Computation 1
      • 9.67[J]: Materials Physics of Neural Interfaces (CI-M)
  • Computation and Cognition:
    • Select one of the following:
      • 9.19: Computational Psycholinguistics 1
      • 9.39: Language in the Mind and Brain
      • 9.49: Neural Circuits for Cognition 1
      • 9.53: Emergent Computations Within Distributed Neural Circuits 1
      • 9.66[J]: Computational Cognitive Science 1
      • 9.85: Infant and Early Childhood Cognition 1
• Program Electives:
  • One subject from the Electives list
• Laboratory:
  • One subject from the Laboratory Subjects list
• Advanced Project:
  • Select one of the following:
    • 6.UAR[J]: Seminar in Undergraduate Advanced Research (CI-M)
    • 9.41: Research and Communication in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (CI-M)
    • 9.58: Projects in the Science of Intelligence (CI-M)
    • 6.4200[J]: Robotics: Science and Systems (CI-M)
    • 6.4210: Robotic Manipulation (CI-M)
    • 6.8301: Advances in Computer Vision (CI-M)
    • 6.8611: Quantitative Methods for Natural Language Processing (CI-M)
• Units in Major: 150-174
• Unrestricted Electives: 48-72
• Units in Major That Also Satisfy the GIRs: (36-48)
• Total Units Beyond the GIRs Required for SB Degree: 180-198

Program Electives

The program electives for Computation and Cognition include:

• 6.4100: Artificial Intelligence
• 6.4200[J]: Robotics: Science and Systems
• 6.8301: Advances in Computer Vision
• 6.8611: Quantitative Methods for Natural Language Processing
• 9.09[J]: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 1
• 9.13: The Human Brain 1
• 9.18[J]: Developmental Neurobiology 1
• 9.19: Computational Psycholinguistics 1
• 9.21[J]: Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing 1
• 9.24: Disorders and Diseases of the Nervous System
• 9.26[J]: Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience
• 9.35: Perception 1
• 9.36: Neurobiology of Self 1
• 9.40: Introduction to Neural Computation 1
• 9.42: The Brain and Its Interface with the Body
• 9.49: Neural Circuits for Cognition 1
• 9.53: Emergent Computations Within Distributed Neural Circuits 1
• 9.66[J]: Computational Cognitive Science 1
• 9.85: Infant and Early Childhood Cognition 1
• 6.3800: Introduction to Inference
• 9.60: Machine-Motivated Human Vision
• 2.74: Bio-inspired Robotics
• 9.39: Language in the Mind and Brain
• 6.1040: Software Design
• 16.84: Advanced Autonomous Robotic Systems
• 6.C25[J]: Real World Computation with Julia
• 6.4210: Robotic Manipulation
• 6.1120: Dynamic Computer Language Engineering

Laboratory Subjects

The laboratory subjects for Computation and Cognition include:

• 6.2040: Analog Electronics Laboratory (CI-M)
• 6.2050: Digital Systems Laboratory (CI-M)
• 6.2060: Microcomputer Project Laboratory (CI-M)
• 6.2370: Modern Optics Project Laboratory (CI-M)
• 6.4200[J]: Robotics: Science and Systems (CI-M)
• 6.4880[J]: Biological Circuit Engineering Laboratory (CI-M)
• 9.17: Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (CI-M)
• 9.59[J]: Laboratory in Psycholinguistics (CI-M)
• 9.60: Machine-Motivated Human Vision (CI-M)