In the first semester, students follow a pluri-disciplinary core curriculum that introduces them to the conceptual and methodological foundations of cognitive science.

Core courses

Required · all 6 courses

Neurons, networks, and behavior by K. Benchenane

Perception, memory, and core knowledge by C. Lunghi, P. Mamassian & M. Lunven

Cognitive models and artificial intelligence by H. Stein

Evolutionary foundations of social and cultural behavior by N. Baumard & JB André

Language by S. Mascarenhas

Representational foundations of mind by D. Buehler

Quantitative tools

1 of 2 courses · by placement test

Option A Producing and using data in cognitive science by D. Nettle

Option B Mathematical tools for data science, machine learning, and statistical modeling by A. Pellegrino

PSL Week

November

A PSL Week course →

Chosen from a wide range of options offered by different institutions within PSL (ENS, Mines Paris, Dauphine, ESPCI, Chimie Paris, etc.).

M1 · Second semester

Advanced specialisation

Feb – June · 30 ECTS

The thread running through the semester

Research-laboratory internship

An internship carried out throughout the semester, with a workload of 2 days per week.

2 days / week

Specialised courses

≈ 3 courses chosen from 12

Experimental methods in psychological sciences by S. Tsuji & C. Lorenzi

Cognitive neuro-anatomy: from concepts to neuro-imaging methods by A. Valero-Cabré & T. Andrillon

Neural modelling by S. Ostojic

Foundations of computational neuroscience by B. Gutkin & J. Barbosa

Understanding human behavior with cognitive models by V. Wyart

Methods in cultural evolution by A. Bluet

Causal statistics for treatment models by M. Gurgand

Formal tools in the study of language by P. Amsili

Semantics by S. Mascarenhas

Phonology by M. Giavazzi

Writing in philosophy by D. Buehler

Psychological capacities by V. Giardino, F. de Vignemont, M. Arcangeli & J. Dokic

PSL Week

March

A PSL Week course →

Chosen from a wide range of options offered by different institutions within PSL (ENS, Mines Paris, Dauphine, ESPCI, Chimie Paris, etc.).

Second year · M2

M2 · First semester

Research topics

Sept – Jan · 30 ECTS

In the first semester, students are exposed to current research topics in cognitive science through interdisciplinary courses.

Interdisciplinary courses

≈ 6 courses chosen from 21 · 30 ECTS

How to approach the neural code by C. Tallon-Baudry & T. Andrillon

Action, decision, volition by E. Koechlin

Learning and decision making by S. Palminteri & M. Lebreton

The bayesian brain by F. Meyniel

Self and consciousness by C. Tallon-Baudry & F. De Vignemont

Art and cognition by D. Pressnitzer

Comparative cognition by R. Malassis

Machine learning: principles and applications by S. Cocco

Interplay between deep learning and cognitive science by L. Bonnasse-Gahot

Theoretical neuroscience by J. Ranft et S. Ostojic

Education & cognition by E. Pasquinelli & F. Ramus

Behavioral public policy by M. Perona

Human sensory ecology by C. Lorenzi

Science: curiosity, communication, and trust by H. Mercier

Evolution and social cognition by P. Boyer

Auditory perception by D. Pressnitzer

Visual perception by P. Mamassian

Language processing and acquisition by S. Tsuji

Language in the visual modality by J. Kuhn, J. Mertz & P. Schlenker

Super Semantics by P. Schlenker, B. Spector & E. Chemla

Advanced issues in philosophy of cognitive science by Institut Jean Nicod

External courses

optional · replaces 1–2 courses from the list

Other ENS departments

Behavioral ecology Department of Biology

Evolutionary ecology Department of Biology

Collège de France · PSL (in French)

Psychologie cognitive expérimentale by S. Dehaene

Linguistique générale by L. Rizzi

M2 · Second semester

Internship & thesis

Feb – June · 30 ECTS

The culmination of the master

Research internship

A five-month internship, in an academic laboratory in France or abroad, or in the non-academic sector under joint academic supervision.

5 months

Output

Thesis

The writing of a thesis in the form of a scientific article.

Assessment

Oral defence

An oral presentation of the research carried out during the internship.