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 concentration 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 concentration is designed for students majoring in psychology, philosophy, computer science, or linguistics, although all students are welcome.
A special major is also available through a petition to the Academic Standing Committee. See our website for more information.
Requirements for the Concentration
To encourage breadth within the concentration, 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- four six-credit courses plus one two-credit lab course)
CGSC 130 Introduction to Cognitive Science
CGSC/PSYC 232/233 Cognitive Processes and laboratory in Cognitive Processes (8 credits)
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.
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Cognitive Science Courses
CGSC 100 How We Make Important Decisions This Argument and Inquiry seminar will focus on how individuals and groups of people make important decisions, both personal and professional, and how teams of people make policy decisions. We'll look at reasoning and decision-making from a variety of frameworks, including those of formal logic, cognitive psychology, social psychology, scientific hypothesis testing, business management. Case studies of major political, economic, or technology policy decisions will be examined and discussed. Students will also analyze and reflect on their own academic and career decisions, learning to describe and explore different decision-making styles and approaches. 6 credits; AI, WR1;
Fall;
Kathleen M Galotti
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;
Fall;
Justin M London
CGSC 232 Cognitive Processes 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. Prerequisite: Psychology 110, Cognitive Science 100, Cognitive Science 130 or instructor permission; concurrent registration in Cognitive Science 233. 6 credits; WR2, LS;
Winter;
Kathleen M Galotti
CGSC 233 Laboratory Research Methods in Cognitive Science Students will participate in the replication and planning of empirical studies, collecting and analyzing data relevant to major cognitive phenomena. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Cognitive Science 232; Psychology 110, Cognitive Science 100, Cognitive Science 130 or permission of the instructor. 2 credits; LS;
Winter, Spring;
Kathleen M Galotti
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;
Not offered 2015-16
CGSC 330 Embodied Cognition This seminar will consider recent work in philosophy, cognitive science and linguistics critical of views of human cognition as "disembodied" and Cartesian. Philosophical sources of the early critiques of symbolic AI and "cartesianism" will be considered (Merleau-Ponty, Dewey), as will the enactive (Cuffari, Di Paolo, and De Jaegher) and ecological (Chemero, Cowley, Steffensen) critiques of language, and current work on embodied cognition by Eleanor Rosch, Hubert Dreyfus, John Haugeland, Andy Clark and Evan Thompson. The seminar will include materials relevant to students in philosophy, linguistics, psychology and cognitive science. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 130, or Cognitive Science/Psychology 232 or permission of the instructor. 6 credits; HI;
Not offered 2015-16
CGSC 380 Seminar in Developmental Psychology: Cognitive Development During the Preschool Years We will consider the development of memory, perception, and attention, as well as concepts and categorization, problem-solving and thinking, during the years from two to six. We will focus particularly on how these developments are reflected in children's spontaneous behavior and play. Course requirements will include readings, class discussions, short papers, a final project, and regular observation of preschoolers or kindergarteners. Prerequisite: Psychology 250 or Educational Studies 234 or permission of the instructor. 6 credits; SI;
Not offered 2015-16
CGSC 385 Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood We will consider the development of memory, perception, and attention, as well as concepts and categorization, problem-solving and thinking, during the years from six to 11. We will focus particularly on how these developments are reflected in children's academic learning and social relationships. Course requirements will include readings, class discussions, short papers, a final project, and regular observation of school-aged children. Prerequisite: Psychology 250 or Educational Studies 234 or permission of instructor. 6 credits; SI;
Not offered 2015-16
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 decisions, 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;
Not offered 2015-16
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, Spring;
Kathleen M Galotti
CGSC 396 Directed Research in Cognitive Studies Senior majors in cognitive studies will work with the director 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;
Fall, Spring;
Kathleen M Galotti, Cherlon L Ussery