The department is focused in the areas of logic, artificial intelligence, and computer systems involving human-machine interaction. Students are prepared for cutting-edge jobs in the information economy. In this, the decade of the brain , Rensselaer s cognitive-based program in psychology prepares students for employment in technological environments as well as for continued study of human behavior at the doctoral level. Students may also take advantage of courses and research in other areas such as Management and Technology and the Lighting Research Center . The program integrates the theories, methods, and findings of the humanities and social sciences into a unified approach to understanding science, technology, and society.
Emphasis is placed on ethical and value dimensions, and on designing technologies.