Cognitive Systems = Computational Linguistics + Machine Learning + Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
One of the core technologies of the 21st century is the development of computer systems that model human cognitive abilities. Today's computers use language: Speak to your iPhone, and Siri will answer your questions; type some text into Google Translate, and it will be translated into another language; tweet what you thought about a movie, and computers will analyze and summarize your opinion. Today's computers learn: Amazon will recommend new books to you based on other books you liked; computers learn to drive cars through deserts; and the analysis of “Big Data” is the next big thing in industry. And today's computers can reason: Automated planning systems schedule production tasks in factories and control Mars probes; computers compose music; and chess-playing programs have beaten the human world champion. There is already a great deal of collaboration between these fields in current research, and even neighboring areas like psycholinguistics are now complementing experimental methods with computer models that deliver quantitative predictions of human cognitive processes.
MSc Cognitive Systems in Potsdam
The Master's in Cognitive Systems at the University of Potsdam teaches you how to build computer systems that process language, that learn, that reason, and that solve problems autonomously. It is a four-semester program that is jointly taught by the Department of Computer Science and the computational linguistics and psycholinguistics groups within the Department of Linguistics. The program lays strong foundations in computational linguistics, knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning, and statistical modeling for psycholinguistics.
Intensive hands-on experience and independent research
After covering the foundations, you will attend specialized classes where you learn about the state of the art in selected research areas. Two of your classes will be project seminars, in which you form a team with other students to define your own research project or experiment, and then work on these projects together. The final semester is devoted to the MSc thesis. All courses in the MSc Cognitive Systems are taught in English. Admission of approximately 20 students per year guarantees small study groups and intensive mentoring.
Excellent job perspectives
Potsdam and Berlin have a rapidly growing industry focusing on cognitive technologies. Ranging from start-ups to research and development centers of major corporations, these companies offer project opportunities, and graduates with skills in Cognitive Systems will be in high demand.