Alongside their master’s degree in cognitive science, students can also earn a minor, which leads to a certificate (for about 30 credits) noted on their diploma. A minor certifies skills acquired beyond cognitive science, which carries weight on the job market, and the master’s program strongly encourages students to take advantage of it. Two kinds of minors are open to them: the minors of PSL University and the minors of the ENS diploma.
PSL University minors
The PSL minors are the ones most relevant to a student in cognitive science. Three are offered:
- DATA science (contact: Valentin Wyart)
- Public Policy, in collaboration with the INSP (contact: Dyenifer Matos). This minor is selective and requires an application. It also includes a mandatory internship, in addition to the internships required by the master’s program, and this internship may require a gap year.
- Deeptech and Innovation
ENS minors
The ENS also offers minors within its own diploma, and they are open to every student of the master, Normalien or not. The full list is on the ENS website. Among them, three are of particular interest to cognitive science students:
How to complete a minor
The exact requirements depend on the minor, but every minor amounts to a total of 30 ECTS credits, earned by:
- taking certain specific courses within the cognitive science master’s program;
- taking additional courses outside the master’s program (in other departments of the ENS, in other institutions of PSL, or at the INSP for the Public Policy minor);
- sometimes completing a specific internship related to the minor.
Questions about a minor should go to the coordinators of that minor, not to the master’s secretariat.