Transcript:
One unofficial transcript must be uploaded for each higher education institution you previously attended or are currently attending. All transcripts must be in English; if translation is required it must be from a professional third-party service, then both the translation and the original language transcript must be provided. If admitted, you will then be required to submit final official transcripts to the graduate admissions office
Curriculum Vitae:
Be sure to include relevant background and research experience in an up-to-date copy of your uploaded resume or CV.
Personal Statement:
(~1 page) This should include specific academic interests that the applicant wishes to pursue. Applicants should include primary and secondary research interests (see below), relevant background, previous experience, and the mentor’s name. For applicants with no previous background in cognitive science, the statement should describe their formal background, previous exposure to issues in cognitive science, particular interests in the field, and why this program is an appropriate program of study and research for them.
Recommendation Letter:
Exactly two letters of recommendation are required. In the online application you will be asked to provide the recommenders’ contact information, which will trigger an automated instructional email to those individuals. One letter must be from your faculty mentor, in which he/she supports your application, approves intended coursework/research proposal, and evaluates your suitability for our program. The second recommendation should be detailed, address the applicant’s suitability for study/research in cognitive science, provide an evaluation of the candidate’s previous research experience (if relevant) and future promise, as well as contact information. Both recommenders must submit online through the provided application system instructions.
Program Proposals:
Each MA track requires a specialized program proposal that must be approved by the faculty mentor before application submission. When composing a proposal, you should reference the MA Requirements web page for program requirements and sample programs.
Research Proposal:
Required specific content is detailed below. Faculty mentor approval is required prior to submission of the online application.
Front Page: Title, abstract (200 words), applicant’s full name, faculty mentor, date of application submission
Scientific Aims: (1 page) Specify the research project’s purpose
Background and Significance: (~3 pages) Explain the current state of knowledge and how knowledge will be advanced by the project
Preliminary Data: (~2 pages) Describe any of your previous research that relates to the project or that reviews relevant findings from mentor’s prior research
Research Design and Methods: (~3 pages) Detail the theoretical framework, experiments or other data sources, and methods of analysis that will be used in the research; propose a timetable for conducting the research
Expected Outcome: (~1 page) Anticipate possible discoveries of the research and their theoretical significance
References: Format in the style relevant for the faculty mentor’s field