RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Troy, NY
Cognitive Science Department

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BACKGROUND
Title: Cognitive Engineering (PhD)
Est: Fall 2003
Semester
Granted last 3 years: 12
Part-time: no
Distance learning available: no
HFES student chapter: no
Program: The program's philosophy of doctoral training is captured by the phrase: Teaching Integrated Cognitive Systems (TICS). TICS is based on three powerful ideas. First, "next generation" artificial intelligence (AI): the design and construction of fully integrated artificial cognitive systems that reach across the full spectrum of cognition, from low-level perception/action to high-level reasoning, implemented in significant part on the basis of empirical data regarding natural cognitive systems. Second, "next generation" computational cognitive modeling: the design and implementation of cognitive architectures that extend beyond currently available architectures (e.g., ACT-R and SOAR) toward Newell's original dream of an architecture that accurately reflects the full range of cognitive processes present in natural cognitive systems. Third, cognitive engineering: engineering the interface between natural cognitive systems and task environments by, once again, exploiting the empirical data concerning natural cognitive systems.
Contact: Wayne D. Gray, PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Carnegie Building, 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180; 518/276-3315; grayw@rpi.edu, http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/.
Catalog: (free) http://catalog.rpi.edu/; 518/276-6789.

APPLICATION
Deadlines: 1/1 fall
Fee: $45

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
GPA: 3.0
GRE: 1200 v + q, (minimums)
Other: Undergraduate degrees in computer science, information technology, psychology, or philosophy are preferred. However, a keen interest in cognitive science or artificial intelligence is more important than the particular degree.
Research: high
Work experience: medium
Letters: high
Interview: high

ADMISSIONS
Students applying last year: 40
Accepted: 3
Entered program: 3
Openings/year: 1-4

TUITION AND FEES
All doctoral students in good standing will be fully supported for four years.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
% receiving: 100
Amounts: Full tuition plus $18,000 nine-month stipend
Available: TA, RA, tuition exempt
Apply: all students considered with application, separate application not required

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
PhD: 80 units (min), 1st-3rd year research projects, no qualifying exam, practical experience encouraged but not required, no languages required, 4-5 years to complete

CURRICULUM
Required courses (units): Issues in Cognitive Science (2 credits each semester), Formal Methods in Cognitive Science (4), Research Design and Statistics (4)
Required courses outside department: 0 (however outside courses are encouraged)
Recommended courses outside department: TBD depending on student's research interests
Class size: 3-8

RESEARCH/TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Research facilities: In 2012, three of our laboratories moved into renovated space in Winslow (down the hill from Carnegie) and extensive renovations and extensive renovations were completed on the laboratory space on the 2nd floor of Carnegie. Other laboratory space is available for cognitive science in Sage. See Web site for information on each laboratory. Across the department facilities include motion-capture equipment (PandA Lab, two 500 mhz eyetrackers, three 120 mhyz eyetrackers, four acoustic booths, two eegs, and access to RPI?s supercomputer system.
Teaching: Students are encouraged to teach after they have acquired a masters degree. However, in the words of RPI President Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, teaching without research is like confession without sin, with the latter there is not much to talk about in the former. Hence, the program's focus is on training researchers.
Current research: For more information on the program's extensively funded research, visit http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu.

STUDENT STATISTICS
Active: 22

FACULTY:
Selmer Bringsjord, PhD 1987, Brown U; artificial intelligence, philosophy, integrated cognitive systems.
Nick Cassimatis, PhD 2002, MIT; integrated cognitive models, human-level artificial intelligence, physical reasoning, natural language understanding.
Brett R. Fajen, PhD 1999, U of Connecticut; perception and action, visual perception, ecological psychology.
Wayne D. Gray, PhD 1979, U of California, Berkeley; interactive behavior, computational cognitive modeling, cognitive engineering.
Michael J. Kalsher, PhD 1988, Virginia Tech; safety and warnings, forensic psychology, design and statistics.
Michael J. Schoelles, PhD 2002, George Mason U; integrated cognitive systems, computational cognitive modeling, computational linguistics.
Mei Si, PhD 2010, USC; virtual or mixed realities for games, training, and health interventions.
Ron Sun , PhD 1991, Brandeis U; computational cognitive models, cognitive architectures, skill learning, computational studies of consciousness, multi-agent interaction, connectionist and hybrid models.
Bram van Heuveln, PhD 2000, Binghamton U; philosophy, computationalism, consciousness.
Yingrui Yang, PhD 1997, New York U; reasoning, mental models, strategies.

[Updated May 2012]