认知科学系博士课程的主要目标是培训新一代的认知科学家，他们可以将多个现有学科融合到一种全新的，真正的心智/大脑综合科学中。第二个目标是培训在研究型大学的传统学科部门中具有竞争力的毕业生。由于相关传统学科中公认的许多最激动人心的研究进展都是通过跨学科研究而产生的，因此我们部门提供的认知科学培训可以提高毕业生作为各种部门职位候选人的吸引力。
The Department of Cognitive Science PhD program's primary goal is to train a new generation of cognitive scientists who can meld multiple existing disciplines into a new, genuinely integrated science of the mind/brain. A secondary goal is to train graduates who are competitive for positions in traditional disciplinary departments at research universities. Because many of the most exciting research developments recognized within the related traditional disciplines arise through interdisciplinary research, the training in cognitive science offered by our department can promote a graduate's attractiveness as a candidate for positions in a variety of departments. For example, a student who is studying language processing in normal and brain-damaged subjects, and is trained in the methods of both cognitive neuropsychology and neuroimaging, with a solid foundation in theoretical linguistics and additional coursework in psychology or neuroscience, is potentially employable in a number of departments. A student with in-depth training in theoretical phonology, a solid background in computational and psychological approaches to phonological research, and ancillary training in other branches of linguistics is well positioned to conduct state-of-the-art research and teaching valuable for both a linguistics department and a cognitive science program.