Honours Pathways

To satisfy the requirement for the coursework pathway, you would need to complete 1.5 credits at the 3000 level or higher in CGSC, COMP, NEUR, PHIL, PSYC, or LING.

To complete the Project Pathway, students must register in CGSC 4909, as well as a CGSC course at the 3000 level or higher. CGSC 4909 extends over a full academic year. Students will work in small groups undertaking a research project within the scope of the course topic. They engage in a comprehensive investigation of one of the big questions in Cognitive Science and contribute by completing an original research project.

Students wishing to complete a thesis must take CGSC 3908 prior to registering for the thesis (CGSC 4908). There is also a major GPA requirement of an 8.0 required to be eligible for the thesis. A thesis is designed to allow a student to gain research experience. A student will work closely with a supervisor and conduct research in a specific topic. They will then put together a final deliverable due at the end. More information on the specifics is covered in CGSC 3908. This is recommended for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree.

In order to be eligible for a thesis, you must find a faculty member willing to supervise your research. Research in Cognitive Science follows a mentorship model. Thus, typically, the topic of a thesis will overlap to a substantial degree with the research expertise of the thesis supervisor. Students should approach potential supervisors in the winter of their third year. Consider approaching potential supervisors with whom you have taken a class, for example. Students should make the effort to find out about the professor’s area of research and be prepared to discuss their interests in that area. Most supervisors will not require students to have formulated a detailed outline of a potential project. However, the extent to which the student will be expected to lead the project will depend upon the individual professor and the discipline.

Students can approach any faculty member at Carleton as a potential supervisor. Adjunct faculty members can also supervisor honours projects, however, a co-supervisor from the Department is required. All faculty members who are fully or partially appointed in the Department of Cognitive Science are listed on our webpage.

More information about writing a thesis can be found in the thesis guidelines document.

Once you have secured a thesis supervisor, you are required to submit a thesis contract for approval. Once approved, you will be directed to register in CGSC 4908A.

The answer to this question will depend on which graduate program you are interested in. Students who graduate from Cognitive Science have experience that allows them to apply to a variety of graduate programs. It is best to research programs that you may interested in as soon as possible to confirm their admission requirements. Questions about each program are best answered by the program administrator. For questions about a graduate degree in Cognitive Science, please visit our Graduate Program webpage.

Students who are registered in the co-op program may also register in CGSC 4908A in the Fall/Winter term of their fourth year, with the intention of getting started on their thesis. If possible, they may be able to continue working on the thesis in the Winter and Spring/Summer terms. It is permissible to be registered in one-half credit during a work term. When they return to school in September, they should register in 4908 C. Whether or not they register in 4908 B in the Spring/Summer term will depend on the student’s individual circumstances. Please consult with the co-op advisor or the Undergraduate Administrator in Cognitive Science for further
information.

If you still have questions, please contact your Undergraduate Advisor by email at cogsci@Carleton.ca.