The University of Memphis is the home of many interdisciplinary research centers, including the Institute for Intelligent Systems. The IIS has several full-time faculty and faculty affiliates that participate in research focused on perception, cognition, and intelligence. They are also host to an interdisciplinary minor in Cognitive Science, available to any undergraduate not minoring in Psychology (see section on the Cognitive Science concentration under the Psychology major for student seeking training in this area).

Students majoring in Philosophy, Computer Science, Management, Economics, and many more can benefit from taking coursework in diverse areas that interrelate in their focus on human and computer thinking and intelligence.

The goals of the minor are to 1) develop computational thinking 2) develop a unique perspective and approach to problem solving and 3) gain depth and appreciation for issues that pertain to cognition and intelligence and 4) develop computer skills desirable and useful in industry, research, and teaching.