Cognitive Science at the Universíty of Helsinki - a Brief History

What has since become the Cognitive science unit was originally established as a study program in the late 1980's. At that time it was a joint effort by the departments of psychology, philosophy and linguistics. The timeline on this page provides a brief history of cognitive science at the University of Helsinki. (For a history of the department of psychology click here).

1988 The Cognitive science study program is initiated. The first students to major in Cognitive Science (n=5) begin their studies in the faculty of Arts. Teaching is arranged by the departments of linguistics, philosophy and psychology. The study program is placed in the Department of Psychology, and supervised by Docent Göte Nyman.

1991 First Master of Arts Degree in Cognitive Science (Patrick Mayt).

1997 The office of Professor of Cognitive Science is established at the deparment of psychology, the first of its kind in Finland. Doctor of Social Sciences Pertti Saariluoma is appointed professor of cognitive science for a term of five years.

1997 Usability School is established (a joint masters level study program of Helsinki University of Technology, University of Helsinki and University of Art and Design Helsinki
The goal of Usability school is to give the students expertise in usability and to act as a good basis for post-graduate studies.

1998 Yearly admission is doubled to 10 students per year.

2002 Doctor of Philosophy Christina M. Krause is appointed Professor of Cognitive Science for a term of five years.

2002 The Department of Psychology moves to its current location in Siltavuori campus.

2003 The post of amanuensis in cognitive science is first established (Otto Lappi is selected).

2003 The first Doctoral dissertation in cognitive science. Pauli Salo (nowadays Pauli Brattico): Causatives and the Empty Lexicon, A Minimalist Perspective. Opponent prof. Ernest Lepore (Rutgers University).

2004 The Faculty of Behavioral science is established; the department of psychology (including cognitive science) become a part of the new faculty.

2005 The Study Program underwent a major update and core analysis, as part of the Bologna process.

2007 Christina M. Krause gets tenure.

2008 The post of amanuensis is discontinued, and a new post of university instructor established. (Otto Lappi continues).

2009 Cognitive science gets a 50% tenured univesity lecturer, as the lecturer in Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology (Jussi Saarinen) is now shared between Cognitive Science and Psychology.

2010 The Institute of Behavioral Sciences is established (combining the departments of Psychology, Education and Speech Sciences).