Cognitive Science

Cognitive Science examines different approaches to questions concerning the nature of mind, the representation of knowledge, the acquisition, comprehension, and production of language, the development of learning and intelligence, the use of information to draw inferences and make decisions, and the assessment of "goodness of fit" between purportedly similar systems (e.g., the computer and the mind). Exploration of some or all of these questions has been and is being undertaken in such disciplines as cognitive psychology, linguistics, philosophy, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, social cognition, anthropology, education and others.

The minor in Cognitive Science therefore represents a formal means of bringing together students and faculty in different disciplines who share common interests. We seek to enrich the view provided by any one discipline through an exploration or the methodologies of others. The minor is designed for students majoring in psychology, philosophy, computer science, or linguistics, although all students are welcome.

Requirements for the Cognitive Science Major

Required courses: 46 credits

CGSC 130 Introduction to Cognitive Science (6 credits)
CGSC 232/CGSC 233/PSYC 232/PSYC 233 Cognitive Processes and Laboratory in Cognitive Processes (8 credits) (not offered in 2017-18)
CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science or PHIL 210 Logic (6 credits)
LING 115 Introduction to Theory of Syntax (6 credits)
PSYC 200/201 Measurement and Data Analysis (8 credits)
CGSC 391/392 (6 credits)
CGSC 396 Senior Seminar (3 credits)
CGSC 400 Integrative Exercise (3 credits)

Elective Courses: 24 credits from the following list. At least two must be a 300-level course. To ensure sufficient interdisciplinarity, no more than four courses may be taken from any one department or program.

BIOL 365 Topics in Neuroscience
BIOL 368 Seminar: Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 386 Neurobiology
CGSC 100 Cognitive Development in Childhood
CGSC 236 Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making
CGSC 340 Phenomenology and Cognitive Science (not offered in 2017-18)
CGSC 386 Adolescent Cognitive Development: Developing an Identity and Life Plans
CS 254 Computability and Complexity
CS 314 Data Visualization (not offered in 2017-18)
CS 321 Artificial Intelligence
CS 322 Natural Language Processing
CS 344 Human-Computer Interaction
CS 361 Artificial Life and Digital Evolution (not offered in 2017-18)
ECON 265 Game Theory and Economic Applications (not offered in 2017-18)
ECON 267 Behavioral Economics
EDUC 234 Educational Psychology
LING 216 Generative Approaches to Syntax
LING 217 Phonetics and Phonology
LING 275 First Language Acquisition (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 280 Field Methods in Linguistics
LING 285 Japanese Linguistics in Kyoto Seminar: The Linguistics of the Japanese Writing System
LING 315 Topics in Syntax (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 317 Topics in Phonology (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 325 Syntax of an Unfamiliar Language
LING 340 Topics in Semantics
MUSC 100 I Got Rhythm: The Science of Musical Time
MUSC 227 Perception and Cognition of Music (not offered in 2017-18)
NEUR 127 Foundations in Neuroscience
PHIL 100 Science, Faith and Rationality
PHIL 112 Mind, Matter, Consciousness (not offered in 2017-18)
PHIL 212 Epistemology (not offered in 2017-18)
PHIL 225 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 246 Probability: The Very Guide of Life?
PHIL 303 Bias, Belief, Community, Emotion
PSYC 100 Mind, Brain, Behavior
PSYC 216 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 220 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 234 Psychology of Language (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 238 Memory Processes
PSYC 250 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 258 Social Cognition (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 366 Cognitive Neuroscience (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 371 Evolutionary and Developmental Trends in Cognition
PSYC 374 Applying Cognitive Psychology to Education
PSYC 375 Language and Deception (not offered in 2017-18)
SOAN 260 Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism (not offered in 2017-18)

Requirements for the Cognitive Science Minor

To encourage breadth within the minor, normally no more than four courses taken from a single department or program may be counted toward the minimum eight required.

Core Courses: (26 credits of four six-credit courses plus one two-credit lab course)

CGSC 130 Introduction to Cognitive Science
CGSC 232/CGSC 233/PSYC 232/PSYC 233 Cognitive Processes and Laboratory in Cognitive Processes (8 credits) (not offered in 2017-18)

Plus any two of the following courses:

CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science
LING 115 Introduction to Theory of Syntax
PHIL 210 Logic

Elective Courses: 24 credits from the following list. At least one must be a 300-level course. To ensure sufficient interdisciplinarity, no more than four courses may be taken from any one department or program.

BIOL 365 Topics in Neuroscience
BIOL 368 Seminar: Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 386 Neurobiology
CGSC 100 Cognitive Development in Childhood
CGSC 236 Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making
CGSC 340 Phenomenology and Cognitive Science (not offered in 2017-18)
CGSC 386 Adolescent Cognitive Development: Developing an Identity and Life Plans
CS 254 Computability and Complexity
CS 314 Data Visualization (not offered in 2017-18)
CS 321 Artificial Intelligence
CS 322 Natural Language Processing
CS 344 Human-Computer Interaction
CS 361 Artificial Life and Digital Evolution (not offered in 2017-18)
ECON 265 Game Theory and Economic Applications (not offered in 2017-18)
ECON 267 Behavioral Economics
EDUC 234 Educational Psychology
LING 216 Generative Approaches to Syntax
LING 217 Phonetics and Phonology
LING 275 First Language Acquisition (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 280 Field Methods in Linguistics
LING 285 Japanese Linguistics in Kyoto Seminar: The Linguistics of the Japanese Writing System
LING 315 Topics in Syntax (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 317 Topics in Phonology (not offered in 2017-18)
LING 325 Syntax of an Unfamiliar Language
LING 340 Topics in Semantics
MUSC 100 I Got Rhythm: The Science of Musical Time
MUSC 227 Perception and Cognition of Music (not offered in 2017-18)
NEUR 127 Foundations in Neuroscience
PHIL 100 Science, Faith and Rationality
PHIL 112 Mind, Matter, Consciousness (not offered in 2017-18)
PHIL 212 Epistemology (not offered in 2017-18)
PHIL 225 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 246 Probability: The Very Guide of Life?
PHIL 303 Bias, Belief, Community, Emotion
PSYC 100 Mind, Brain, Behavior
PSYC 216 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 220 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 234 Psychology of Language (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 238 Memory Processes
PSYC 250 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 258 Social Cognition (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 366 Cognitive Neuroscience (not offered in 2017-18)
PSYC 371 Evolutionary and Developmental Trends in Cognition
PSYC 374 Applying Cognitive Psychology to Education
PSYC 375 Language and Deception (not offered in 2017-18)
SOAN 260 Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism (not offered in 2017-18)

Cognitive Science Courses

CGSC 100 Cognitive Development in Childhood This Argument and Inquiry seminar will focus on the cognitive changes experienced by children in the preschool and elementary school years, in such realms as perception, attention, memory, thinking, decision-making, knowledge representation, and the acquisition of academic skills. Weekly observation at local day care centers or elementary schools will be a required course component. 6 credits; AI, WR1; Fall; Kathleen M Galotti

CGSC 130 Revolutions in Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Science An interdisciplinary study of the history and current practice of the cognitive sciences. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, biology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: scientific revolutions, the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, and the extended mind. 6 credits; SI; Not offered 2017-18

CGSC 130 The Musical Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Science An interdisciplinary examination of issues concerning the mind and mental phenomena involved in the uniquely human activity of making and understanding music. The course will draw on psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, biology, and philosophy. Topics to be discussed include: the embodied cognition of rhythm; linguistic syntax and musical structure; mental representations of musical sound and action; musical learning and development; tone and beat deafness; and perfect pitch and neural plasticity. 6 credits; SI, WR2; Spring; Justin M London

CGSC 232 Cognitive Processes Cross-listed with PSYC 232. An introduction to the study of mental activity. Topics include attention, pattern recognition and perception, memory, concept formation, categorization, and cognitive development. Some attention to gender and individual differences in cognition, as well as cultural settings for cognitive activities. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Psychology/Cognitive Science 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement. Prerequisite: Psychology 110, Cognitive Science 100, Cognitive Science 130 or instructor permission; concurrent registration in Cognitive Science 233. 6 credits; WR2, LS; Not offered 2017-18

CGSC 233 Laboratory in Cognitive Processes Cross-listed with PSYC 233. Students will participate in the replication and planning of empirical studies, collecting and analyzing data relevant to major cognitive phenomena. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Psychology/Cognitive Science 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Cognitive Science 232; Psychology 110, Cognitive Science 100, Cognitive Science 130 or permission of the instructor. 2 credits; LS, QRE; Not offered 2017-18

CGSC 236 Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making An examination of the way people think and reason, both when given formal laboratory tasks and when facing problems and decisions in everyday life. Students consider their own reasoning and decision making through course exercises. Topics include models of formal reasoning, decision making, heuristics and biases in thinking and problem-solving, moral reasoning, improving skills of higher order cognition. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or Cognitive Science 100 or 130. 6 credits; FSR, WR2; Winter; Kathleen M Galotti

CGSC 340 Phenomenology and Cognitive Science This course will provide an in-depth study of phenomenology, covering both its history and contemporary debates, and phenomenology-inspired research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience. Roughly half the course will be devoted to the history of phenomenology, setting the main views within their historical context and explaining how these views respond to the difficulties of their predecessors. The other half will discuss contemporary philosophical debates and scientific research involving phenomenological approaches. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 130 required, 200-level Cognitive Science, Psychology or Philosophy course recommended. 6 credits; HI; Not offered 2017-18

CGSC 386 Adolescent Cognitive Development: Developing an Identity and Life Plans An examination of recent literature on how adolescents develop their value system, explore their goals, begin to make life-framing decision, establish new relationships, and discover answers to the question "Who am I?" Course readings will involve primary literature, and the course is discussion-based. Prerequisite: Psychology 250, Educational Studies 234 or consent of the instructor. 6 credits; SI; Winter; Kathleen M Galotti

CGSC 394 Collaborative Research in Cognitive Science This course will be centered around a collaborative research project in cognitive science. Students enrolled will meet with the instructor to complete background readings and discussions, then will create recruiting materials, consent forms, IRB applications, debriefing statements, stimuli, and task instructions. They will then gather data from research participants and participate in data entry, analysis, and writing up the results. This course may be repeated multiple terms. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 233 or Psychology 233. 2 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Fall, Winter, Spring; Kathleen M Galotti

CGSC 396 Directed Research in Cognitive Studies Senior majors in cognitive studies will work with the instructor to develop a thesis proposal for their comps project. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 130, Cognitive Science/Psychology 232/233 and Psychology 200/201 or instructor consent. 3 credits; NE; Not offered 2017-18