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What is Symbolic Systems?

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The Symbolic Systems Program (SSP) at Stanford University focuses on computers and minds: artificial and natural systems that use symbols to communicate, and to represent information. SSP brings together students and faculty interested in different aspects of the human-computer relationship, including...

  • cognitive science: studying human intelligence, natural languages, and the brain as computational processes;
  • artificial intelligence: endowing computers with human-like behavior and understanding; and
  • human-computer interaction: designing computer software and interfaces that work well with human users.

Symbolic Systems' affiliated faculty come from several departments at Stanford, including Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Communication, Statistics, and Education. Our students are exposed to the tools of these disciplines -- formal methods, philosophical analysis, computer programming, and empirical research -- with the aim of being able to apply the appropriate tool(s) to a chosen area of specialization. SSP alumni are found in various occupations, including software design and applications, teaching and research, law, medicine, and public service.


If you had an account on the old Symsys site: You can log in under the "Deme Account" option using your old username and password. If you don't remember your username and/or password, email davies at stanford edu.

What's New in Symbolic Systems?

Eight current students who are undergraduates or recent graduates from Symbolic Systems have been appointed as undergraduate peer Advising Fellows for the Academic Year 2017-2018:

  • Antonio Aguilar ('18), Human-Computer Interaction
  • Sara Altman ('16, M.S. '17), Cognitive Science [Continuing AF, Autumn Quarter]
  • Bora Erden ('17), Neurosciences; Coterm, Computer Science [Continuing ...

Full Article
Posted by Admin 1 month, 1 week ago

Office hours for the Symbolic Systems Advising Fellows and Program Administrators will resume on September 25, 2017.  If you are viewing this in the newsroll, click "Full Article" to see the complete list of office hours. Watch here for updates. (NOTE: Office hours are not held on holidays or during ...


Full Article
Posted by Admin 2 years, 11 months ago
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