Interdisciplinary Programs

The Science Studies Program at UC San Diego is an interdiscipinary graduate program committed to interdisciplinary investigations of science and technology.  Understanding, interpreting, and explaining the scientific enterprise demand a systematic integration of the perspectives developed within both humanistic and social scientific fields.  Philosophers at UCSD can join students from Anthropology, Communication, History, and Sociology in working towards such integration, while receiving a thorough training at the professional level in their home field. Philosophy students normally apply to join the program when they are accepted to the department, but it is an option to join in second year.  For more information, please see the Science Studies Program page.

Specialization Eligibility

The graduate specialization in cognitive science (SCS) is only available to students currently enrolled in a PhD program at UC San Diego in the following departments: Anthropology, Communication, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Data Science, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology. Doctoral students in these departments may apply for the specialization through the SCS administration, housed in the Department of Psychology, with the endorsement of the student’s primary research adviser and department chair.

Admission to Specialization

Students are eligible to join the SCS specialization at any time pre-candidacy; post-candidacy requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may require additional justification relating to time to degree.

Specialization Requirements

In addition to the PhD requirements of their home department, admitted students are required to complete the following:

• Successful completion of COGS 203
• 4 additional electives from the approved list of SCS courses
• 1 quarter of PSYC 277: Current Directions in Cognitive Science
•  Include on their dissertation committee at least one member among SCS-affiliated faculty outside their home department

A graduate specialization in Interdisciplinary Environmental Research (PIER) is available for select doctoral students in philosophy. PIER students seek solutions to today’s environmental challenges.

The PhD specialization is designed to allow students to obtain standard training in their chosen field and an opportunity to interact with peers in different disciplines throughout the duration of their doctoral projects. Such communication across disciplines is key to fostering a capacity for interdisciplinary “language” skills and conceptual flexibility.

Specialization Requirements

• Complete all course work, dissertation, and other requirements of the philosophy PhD
• Sixteen-unit interdisciplinary boot camp (summer, SIO 295S-295LS)
• Eight units from a secondary field (outside the home department)
• Six units (three quarters) Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Forum (SIO 296)
• At least one chapter of the dissertation will be broadly related to environmental research and will be interdisciplinary in nature.

Admission to Specialization

Students are first admitted into the philosophy doctoral program. Admission to PIER is a competitive process with six to eight students granted admission each year from across ten participating UC San Diego departments. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to enroll in the specialization.

We advise students to begin PIER in their third year upon completion of core philosophy course requirements.

The following items should be combined into a single PDF document and submitted to cmbc@ucsd.edu.

• Student’s CV
• Half-page abstract of proposed thesis work
• Up to one-page statement of student’s interest in interdisciplinary environmental research including career goals.
• Nomination letter from advisor acknowledging student’s academic ability and interdisciplinary environmental interest. The letter must include a commitment for summer stipend support.

PIER Fellowships

When funding is available, all applicants will be considered for one year of PIER Fellowship support.

Reading more about the PIER program and application details here.