Symbolic Systems Program

Interdisciplinary program at Stanford University

The Symbolic Systems Program or SymSys is a unique degree program at Stanford University for undergraduates and graduate students. It is an interdisciplinary degree encompassing the following:

* Computer Science
* Linguistics
* Mathematics
* Philosophy
* Psychology
* Statistics

It is separate from Cognitive Science in that it is more expansive in scope.[1]

## Notable Stanford Graduates from the Program

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* Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, who graduated on 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in symbolic systems and cognitive science.[2]
* Marissa Mayer, from CEO of Yahoo from 2012 to 2017, who graduated in 1997 with BS in symbolic systems.[2]
* Mike Krieger, the co-founder and former CTO of Instagram, who graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in the SymSys program.[3] Krieger, in the same year that he was to be awarded his bachelor's degree, won the Barwise Award for Distinguished Contribution to Symbolic Systems.[4]

* Scott Forstall, was the software development team leader for the original iPhone at Apple Inc. as well as was a Broadway producer.[5][6][7]
* Matt Flannery, the founder of the microlending organization Kiva.[8]
* James Rucker, the co-founder of Color of Change.[9]
* Srinija Srinivasan, the former editor-in-chief of Yahoo!, the co-founder of Loove (a music venture), and vice chair of Stanford University's board of trustees and a board member of the On Being Project.[10][11]
* Nadeem Hussain is the associate professor of philosophy and, by courtesy, German studies at Stanford University.[12]
* Tania Lombrozo, the director of the Concepts and Cognition Lab and Professor of Psychology at Princeton University and was formerly professor of psychology at UC Berkeley.[13][14]
* Erica Robles-Anderson, associate professor of media, culture, and communication at New York University (NYU).[15]

## Barwise Award for Distinguished Contributions to Symbolic Systems

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Inaugurated in 2001, the K. Jon Barwise Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Symbolic Systems Program was created in honor of the late Kenneth Jon Barwise, Professor in the Department of Philosophy, who served as the first faculty director of Symbolic Systems and a member of the program's founding committee.[4]

## The Symbolic Systems Distinguished Teaching Award

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Inaugurated in 2021, the award recognizes the contributions to the teaching of Symbolic Systems. With support from the School of Humanities and Sciences, the award recipients each receive a certificate and a monetary award.[16]

## References

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1. ^ "What's in a name? | Symbolic Systems Program". symsys.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
2. ^ a b "Marissa Mayer - Business Executive - Interviewees - Life Stories". www.lifestories.org. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
3. ^ Stone, Madeline. "The Most Successful Stanford Alumni In Tech". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
4. ^ a b "Barwise Award for Distinguished Contributions to Symbolic Systems | Symbolic Systems Program". symsys.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
5. ^ "Junior Convocation Featuring iPhone's Scott Forstall | The Unofficial Stanford Blog". 2019-03-08. Archived from the original on 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
6. ^ tluong (2017-06-22). "Creating Magic: A Conversation with Original iPhone Engineers & Software Team Lead Scott Forstall". CHM. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
7. ^ "Scott Forstall | The Broadway Producers". Retrieved 2024-07-22.
8. ^ "Matt Flannery". Kiva. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
9. ^ Louisiana's Jena Six beating case galvanizes S.F.'s 'black MoveOn' (sfgate.com)
10. ^ "Srinija Srinivasan | Stanford HAI". hai.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
11. ^ "Interview with the founder". Loove Labs. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
12. ^ "Nadeem J.Z. Hussain | Department of Philosophy". philosophy.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
13. ^ "Tania Lombrozo". WJCT News 89.9. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
14. ^ "People at the Concepts & Cognition Lab". Concepts & Cognition Lab. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
15. ^ "Erica Robles-Anderson | NYU Steinhardt". steinhardt.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
16. ^ "Symbolic Systems Distinguished Teaching Award | Symbolic Systems Program". symsys.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-29.

## External links

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The Symbolic Systems 25th Anniversary