Cognitive Science Concentration (CGSC)
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
A second alternative entry point into the concentration is enrollment in the Biology-Philosphy or Biology-Cognitive Science DYAD--linked sections of Biology 125 and Philosophy 100/CGSC 100. DYAD students may count successful completion as the equivalent of Cognitive Science 130.
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. (For the purposes of counting, the DYAD will count as part of the CGSC program.)
BIOL 368 Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 369 Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory (not offered in 2013-2014)
BIOL 379 Seminar: Behavioral Genetics
BIOL 386 Neurobiology
CGSC 100 How We Make Important Decisions
CGSC 236 Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making: Experimental Approaches (not offered in 2013-2014)
CGSC 330 Embodied Cognition
CGSC 380 Seminar in Developmental Psychology: Cognitive Development During the Preschool Years (not offered in 2013-2014)
CGSC 385 Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood (not offered in 2013-2014)
CGSC 386 Adolescent Cognitive Development: Developing an Identity and Life Plans
CS 254 Computability and Complexity
CS 321 Artificial Intelligence
CS 322 Natural Language Processing
CS 361 Evolutionary Computing and Artificial Life (not offered in 2013-2014)
ECON 265 Game Theory and Economic Applications
ECON 266 Experimental Economics
ECON 267 Behavioral Economics
EDUC 234 Educational Psychology
LING 216 Generative Approaches to Syntax
LING 217 Phonetics and Phonology
LING 265 Language and Brain (not offered in 2013-2014)
LING 275 First Language Acquisition (not offered in 2013-2014)
LING 315 Topics in Syntax (not offered in 2013-2014)
LING 316 Topics in Morphology (not offered in 2013-2014)
LING 317 Topics in Phonology (not offered in 2013-2014)
LING 325 Syntax of an Unfamiliar Language
LING 340 Topics in Semantics (not offered in 2013-2014)
MUSC 227 Introduction to the Perception and Cognition of Music (not offered in 2013-2014)
PHIL 100 Science, Faith and Rationality
PHIL 112 Mind, Matter, Consciousness (not offered in 2013-2014)
PHIL 212 Epistemology (not offered in 2013-2014)
PHIL 223 Philosophy of Language
PHIL 225 Philosophy of Mind (not offered in 2013-2014)
PHIL 228 Heaps of Liars: Logic, Language, and Metaphysics
PHIL 243 Animal Ethics: The Moral Status of Animals
PSYC 216 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 220 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 234 Psychology of Language (not offered in 2013-2014)
PSYC 238 Memory Processes
PSYC 250 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 258 Social Cognition
PSYC 267 Clinical Neuroscience
PSYC 362 Psychology of Spoken Words (not offered in 2013-2014)
PSYC 366 Cognitive Neuroscience (not offered in 2013-2014)
PSYC 371 Evolutionary and Developmental Trends in Cognition (not offered in 2013-2014)
PSYC 372 Perceptual & Cognitive Expertise
PSYC 375 Language and Deception
SOAN 260 Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism
SOAN 274 Language, Culture and Society (not offered in 2013-2014)
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 cr., AI, WR1, Fall—K. Galotti
CGSC 130. Rationality, Intuition, and the Nature of Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Science An inerdisciplinary examination of issues involving thinking, reasoning, and decision-making; mental representation; language, perception, and the acquisition of new knowledge; and the development of learning and intelligence. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and neuroscience, and will provide an overview of the history and pracive of the newly-emerging field of cognitive science. 6 cr., WR; SI, WR2, Not offered in 2013-2014.
CGSC 130. How to Build A Mind: An Introduction to Cognitive Science Cognitive science is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry involving biology, computer science, linguistics, philosophy and psychology whose aim is to understand the nature of the human mind. This course will explore current models of human cognition, including artificial intelligence, connectionism, modularity theory, dynamical systems, robotics and embodied cognition. Specific topics to be explored from these perspectives include the nature of mental representation. consciousness, reasoning, language and vision. 6 cr., HU; HI, Spring—R. Elveton
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. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: Psychology 233. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Cognitive Science 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement. 6 cr., SS, WR; LS, WR2, Winter—K. Galotti
CGSC 233. Laboratory Research Methods in Cognitive Science 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. Prerequisite: Psychology 110 or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: Psychology 232. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Psychology/Cognitive Science 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement. 2 cr., ND; LS, Winter—K. Galotti
CGSC 236. Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making: Experimental Approaches In this course, we will learn about the cognitive science of high-level mental processes, viz., thinking, reasoning, and decision making, with a special focus on reasoning within the context of moral decision making. In addition to learning about what is already known concerning the operation of high-level mental processes, students will have the opportunity to take part in the design and implementation of one or more experimental studies that may add to our knowledge of such processes. Prerequisite: Any Cognitive Science 100-level course or permission of the instructor. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2013-2014.
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 (Heidegger, Dewey), as will the linguistic theories of George Lakoff and Ray Jackendoff and recent and current work on embodied cognition by Eleanor Rosch, Hubert Dreyfus, John Haugeland, Andy Clark and Herbert Brooks. 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 cr., HI, Winter—R. Elveton
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 cr., SS; SI, Not offered in 2013-2014.
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 cr., SS; SI, Not offered in 2013-2014.
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. Psychology 250, Educational Studies 234 or consent of the instructor. Prerequisite: Psychology 250, Educational Studies 234 or consent of the instructor. 6 cr., SS; SI, Fall—K. 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 and analysis. Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 233 or Psychology 233. 2 cr., S/CR/NC, NE, Spring—K. 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: Permission of the instructor. 3 cr., ND; NE, Fall—K. Galotti