Course 9: Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Course 9: Brain and Cognitive Sciences

The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences is rooted in a tradition of intensive academics and research, where rigorous coursework is coupled with hands-on, collaborative research. Lectures are taught by world-class faculty, and students have access to their professors in the lab. Together, they seek answers to questions about how humans think, learn, behave, and feel.

The Department has created a tiered undergraduate curriculum that ensures graduates have the skills and preparation needed to excel as leaders in their chosen fields. The undergraduate program begins with foundational courses in a broad range of subjects, including computer science and programming, neural computation, and probability and statistics. The second and third tiers allow for increased focus and deeper exploration through course offerings in areas such as cellular neurobiology, psycholinguistics, and genetic engineering.

Degree Chart

DEGREE CHART

General Institute Requirements (GIRs)

The General Institute Requirements include a Communication Requirement that is integrated into both the HASS Requirement and the requirements of each major; see details below.



Summary of Subject Requirements Subjects
Science Requirement 6
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement [two subjects can be satisfied by 9.00 and one other HASS subject in the Departmental Program]; at least two of these subjects must be designated as communication-intensive (CI-H) to fulfill the Communication Requirement. 8
Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) Requirement [can be satisfied by 6.0001/6.0002and 9.01 in the Departmental Program] 2
Laboratory Requirement (12 units) [can be satisfied by a laboratory in the Departmental Program] 1
Total GIR Subjects Required for SB Degree 17


Physical Education Requirement  
Swimming requirement, plus four physical education courses for eight points.  

Departmental Program

Choose at least two subjects in the major that are designated as communication-intensive (CI-M) to fulfill the Communication Requirement.




Required Subjects Units
Tier I  
6.0001 Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python 6
6.0002 Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science 6
9.00 Introduction to Psychological Science 12
9.01 Introduction to Neuroscience 12
9.40 Introduction to Neural Computation 12
9.07 Statistics for Brain and Cognitive Science 12
Tier 2  
Select three of the following; up to seven may be taken: 36-84
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology  
The Human Brain  
Developmental Neurobiology  
Computational Psycholinguistics  
Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing  
Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience  
Perception  
Neural Circuits for Cognition  
Emergent Computations Within Distributed Neural Circuits  
Computational Cognitive Science  
Infant and Early Childhood Cognition (CI-M)  
Tier 3  
Select up to four of the following: 0-48
Disorders and Diseases of the Nervous System  
Current Topics in Developmental Neurobiology (CI-M)  
Genes, Circuits, and Behavior  
The Brain and Its Interface with the Body  
Neuroscience of Morality (CI-M)  
Laboratory  
Select one of the following: 1 12
Experimental Molecular Neurobiology (CI-M)  
Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (CI-M)  
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics (CI-M)  
Machine-Motivated Human Vision (CI-M)  
Research  
Select one of the following (Laboratory cannot also count for Research): 12-18
Experimental Molecular Neurobiology (CI-M)  
Systems Neuroscience Laboratory (CI-M)  
Research and Communication in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (CI-M)  
Research in Brain and Cognitive Sciences  
Laboratory in Psycholinguistics (CI-M)  
Machine-Motivated Human Vision (CI-M)  
Undergraduate Research  
Restricted Electives  
Select zero to four subjects. 9.URG cannot count as a Restricted Elective 0-48
Units in Major 168-174
Unrestricted Electives 54-72
Units in Major That Also Satisfy the GIRs (48-60)
Total Units Beyond the GIRs Required for SB Degree 180

The units for any subject that counts as one of the 17 GIR subjects cannot also be counted as units required beyond the GIRs.

1

These subjects can count toward either the Laboratory or or the Research requirement, but not both.

Restricted Electives




2.003[J] Dynamics and Control I 12
2.184 Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement 12
5.07[J] Biological Chemistry I 12
5.12 Organic Chemistry I 12
5.13 Organic Chemistry II 12
6.003 Signals and Systems 12
6.027[J] Biomolecular Feedback Systems 12
6.034 Artificial Intelligence 12
6.036 Introduction to Machine Learning 12
6.042[J] Mathematics for Computer Science 12
6.045[J] Automata, Computability, and Complexity 12
6.046[J] Design and Analysis of Algorithms 12
6.801 Machine Vision 12
6.803 The Human Intelligence Enterprise 12
6.806 Advanced Natural Language Processing 12
6.819 Advances in Computer Vision 12
7.03 Genetics 12
9.72 Vision in Art and Neuroscience 12
18.03 Differential Equations 12
18.06 Linear Algebra 12
18.404 Theory of Computation 12
24.211 Theory of Knowledge 12
24.900 Introduction to Linguistics 12
24.901 Language and Its Structure I: Phonology 12
24.902 Language and Its Structure II: Syntax 12
24.903 Language and Its Structure III: Semantics and Pragmatics 12
24.904 Language Acquisition 12

Use this Course 9 Petition if you wish to make a substitution to fulfill a program requirement for Course 9. 

 

Course Offerings

FALL 2020

 

Subject # Units Title Time Location Faculty Notes
9.01 (4-0-8) U Intro to Neuroscience MW 1–2:30pm + recitation Virtual Bear  
9.011 (6-0-12) G Systems Neuroscience MWF 2–4pm Virtual Desimone, Miller  
9.014 (3-1-8) G Quantitative Methods and Computational Models in Neurosciences MW 11am–12pm, F 10am–12pm Virtual Jayazeri  
9.015J (3-0-9) G Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core I TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Littleton, Sheng Same as 7.65J
9.016 (4-0-8) G Acoustics, Production and Perception of Speech TR 1–2:30pm + recitation Virtual Gosh, Nakajima Same as HST.714J
9.07 (4-0-8) U Statistics for Brain and Cognitive Science MW 9:30–11:30am + recitation Virtual Brown  
9.17 (2-4-6) U Systems Neuroscience Lab M 3–4pm, F1–5pm + recitation Virtual Flavell, Harnett  
9.175 (3-0-9) G Robotics TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Slotine Same as 2.165
9.19 (4-0-8) U&G Computational Psycholinguistics MW 9:30–11am Virtual Levy  
9.21/9.021J (5-2-5) U Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing MW 11am–12:30pm + recitation Virtual Han, Heldt Same as 2.791J, 6.021J, 20.370J, 2.794J, 6.521J, 20.470J, HST.541J
9.41 (2-12-4) U Research and Communication in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science M EVE 7–9pm Virtual Ogren, Wilson  
9.422J  (3-0-9) G Principles of Neuroengineering TR 10:3-am–12pm Virtual Boyden Same as 20.452J, MAS.881J
9.455J (2-0-7) G Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies R 2–4pm Virtual Boyden, Jacobson Same as 15.128J, 20.454J, MAS.883J
9.49/9.490 (3-0-9) U&G Neural Circuits for Cognition TR 2:30–4pm Virtual Fiete  
9.520J (3-0-9) G Statistical Learning Theory and Applications TR 11am–12:30pm Virtual Poggio, Rosasco Same as 6.860
9.58 (3-0-9) U Projects in the Science of Intelligence W 1:30–3:30pm + recitation Virtual Poggio  
9.66J/9.660J (3-0-9) U Computational Cognitive Science TR 1–2:30pm + recitation Virtual Tenenbaum Same as 6.804J
9.72/9.720 (2-2-8) U Vision in Art and Neuroscience TR 3–5pm Virtual Sinha BCS majors may count subject as a restricted elective
9.85 (3-0-9) U Infant and Early Child Cognition TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Schulz  
9.S911 (1-0-0) G Fellowship Applications Workshop TBA Virtual Kanwisher  
9.S917 (2-0-4) G MIT Colloquium on the Brain and Cognition: Background Research Seminar W 12pm Virtual DiCarlo  
3.056/3.64 (3-0-9) U&G Materials Physics of Neural Interfaces MW 11am–12:30pm Virtual Anikeeva  

 

SPRING 2021

Subject # Units Title Time Location Faculty Notes
9.00 (4-0-8) U Intro to Psychological Science TR 2–3:30pm + recitation Virtual Gabrieli  
9.012 (6-0-12) G Cognitive Science TR 1–4pm Virtual Gibson, Sinha, Tenenbaum  
9.013J (3-0-9) G Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Core II MW 1–2:30pm Virtual Feng, Tsai Same as 7.68J
9.017 (2-2-8) G Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Computations MW 11am–12pm, Lab F 1–3pm Virtual Halassa  
9.073 (3-0-9) G Statistics for Neuroscience Research MW 9:30–11am Virtual Brown Same as HST.460
9.09J (3-0-9) U Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology MW 10-11:30am Virtual Heiman, Littleton Same as 7.29J
9.110J (3-0-9) G Nonlinear Control System Design TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Slotine Same as 2.152J
9.12 (2-4-6) U Experimental Molecular Neurobiology T 3–5pm, Lab R 9am–1pm and F 1–5pm Virtual Choi, Flavell, Zhang  
9.13 (3-0-9) U The Human Brain MW 11am–12:30pm Virtual Kanwisher  
9.123 (3-6-3) G Neurotechnology in Action TR 2:30–4pm Virtual Jasanoff, Boyden, Jonas Same as 20.203J
9.18J/9.181J (3-0-9) U&G Developmental Neurobiology TR 10–11:30am Virtual Heiman, Nedivi Same as 7.49J/7.69J
9.24 (3-0-9) U Disorders and Diseases of the Nervous System F 1–4pm Virtual Sur  
9.26J (3-0-9) U Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience F 10am–1pm Virtual Zhang Same as 20.205J
9.271J (3-0-9) G Pioneering Technologies for Interrogating Complex Biological Systems MW 1–2:30pm Virtual Chung Same as HST.562J/ 10.562J
9.S52 (3-0-9) U Language and the Brain TR 10:30am–12pm Virtual Fedorenko  
9.28 (3-0-6) U Current Topics in Developmental Neurobiology TR 10–11:30am Virtual Nedivi  
9.285J (6-0-6) G Neural Coding and Perception of Sound MWF 9:30–11:30am (1/28/21 to 5/1/21) Virtual Delgutte, Brown, McDermott, Polley Same as HST.723
9.301J (3-0-6) G Neural Plasticity in Learning and Memory R 1-4pm Virtual Tonegawa Same as 7.98J
9.32 (3-0-9) U Genes, Circuits, and Behavior MW 2:30–4pm Virtual Feng  
9.34J (3-0-9) G Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Hogan Same as 2.183J
9.35 (4-0-8) U Perception TR 2:30-4pm + recitation Virtual McDermott  
9.357 (2-0-7) G Current Topics in Perception M 3–5pm Virtual Adelson  
9.40 (4-0-8) U Introduction to Neural Computation TR 10:30am–12pm + recitation Virtual Fee  
9.521J (4-0-8) G Mathematical Statistics: A Non-Asymptotic Approach TR 1–2:30pm Virtual Rakhlin same as IDS.160
9.53/9.530 (4-0-8) U&G Emergent Computations within Distributed Neural Circuits MW 3:30–5pm Virtual Ajemian  
9.55/9.550 (3-0-6) Consumer Behavior TR 2:30–4pm Virtual Rand Same as 15.847
9.59J (3-3-6) U Laboratory in Psycholinguistics MW 1-2:30pm, Lab F 1–4pm Virtual Gibson Same as 24.905J
9.60 (2-1-9) U Machine Motivated Human Vision TR 11am–12:30pm Virtual Sinha  
9.822J (4-0-8) G Psychology and Economics W 4–7pm Virtual Prelec Same as 14.137J
9.S916 (2-0-3) G Special Topics (to be determined) T 4–5:30pm Virtual Levy  
9.S918 (2-0-4) G MIT Colloquium on the Brain and Cognition: Background Research Seminar W 12–1pm Virtual    

 

Full course catalog at MIT Registrar

Minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences

The Minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences consists of six subjects arranged in two tiers of study, intended to provide students breadth in the field as a whole and some depth in one or two areas of specialization. To find out more, please visit the course catalog.

How to Declare a Minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences

  1. The Minor Application should be filled out by the end of your sophomore year, but no later than Add Date one full term before the term in which you expect to receive the S.B. degree.
  2. Visit the Registrar website to print out the Minor Application form.
  3. Please contact bcs-undergrad-admin@mit.edu to set-up a time to discuss applying for a minor in BCS, and completion of minor.  You must bring your unofficial transcript which can be obtained from Student Services in 11-120.

NOTE: If you decide not to earn a Minor after applying for one, it is essential that you promptly notify the Academic Office. 

Undergraduate Research in BCS (UROP)

MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) cultivates and supports research partnerships between MIT undergraduates and faculty. Participating in a UROP through the department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences gives students an incredible opportunity to be a part of the exciting research taking place here in Bldg. 46.

Please take some time to explore BCS faculty profiles on our website and learn about what their labs are investigating!

Browse current UROP opportunities posted on MIT’s UROP website.

For more information or questions please contact bcs-undergrad-admin@mit.edu 

Career Outlook

Graduates of our program are superbly equipped for the next stage of their career, whether they plan to enter the field directly or pursue further education and training. The paths they choose are as varied as the interests that brought them to MIT. From medicine and computer science to K-12 education, robotics, artificial intelligence, and academia, BCS alumni can be found working in many different settings.  

Example careers of alumni who entered the Cell/Molecular Neuroscience field:
- Pharmaceutical Scientist 
- Senior Research Scientist 
- Project Manager 
- Graduate school or Medical School 

Example careers of alumni who entered the Systems Neuroscience field: 
- Data Scientist
- Research Technician
- Senior Business Analyst 
- Graduate school or Medical School 

Example careers of our alumni who entered the Cognitive Neuroscience field: 
- Clinical Research Coordinator 
- Management Consultant 
- Analyst 
- Graduate school, Medical School, or Law School 
Example careers of alumni who entered the Computational Neuroscience field:
- Computational Neuroscientist 
- Software Developer 
- Computational Modeling and Machine Intelligence Scientist 
- Data Analytics Specialist 
- Graduate school
 

Contact

For more information, contact:

BCS Academic Office

Building 46 Room 2005

bcs-undergrad-admin@mit.edu