Director: Gwen J. Broude (Psychology); Faculty
Members: Janet K. Andrews (Psychology), Herman Cappelen
(Philosophy), Carol Christensen (Psychology), Jennifer
Church (Philosophy), Nancy Ide (Computer Science), Kenneth
R. Livingston (Psychology), John H. Long, Jr. (Biology),
Christopher Welty (Computer Science); Participating
Faculty: Randolph Cornelius (Psychology), Jeffrey Cynx
(Psychology), Thomas Ellman (Computer Science), John Feroe
(Mathematics), Janet Gray (Psychology), Jannay Morrow
(Psychology), Thomas Porcello (Anthropology), Carolyn Palmer
(Psychology), Kathleen M. Susman (Biology), Douglas Winblad
(Philosophy), Debra Zeifman (Psychology).
The relationship between consciousness and brain
activity, the nature of language and symbolism, the
possibility of machine intelligence, and the explanation of
perception, memory, thought, emotion, and metaphor are such
rich and complex problems that their exploration demands a
multidisciplinary approach. Studies in the field of
cognitive science combine the conceptual analysis of
philosophy and linguistics with the technology of computer
science and the empirical research of psychology and
neuroscience in an attempt to understand these
phenomena.
The key elements of the major in cognitive science are
(1) sustained exposure to an integrated multidisciplinary
perspective through the Core Courses in cognitive science,
(2) development of thematic expertise or breadth in
Cognitive Science themes and methods, (3) completion during
the senior year of an independent research project on a
topic chosen by the student.
The first of these goals is met by completion of the
following courses. All majors are required to complete all
of these courses:
Cognitive Science 100 Introduction to Cognitive Science
(1)
Cognitive Science 211 Perception and Action (1)
Cognitive Science 213 Language (1)
Cognitive Science 215 Knowledge and Cognition (1)
Psychology 200 Statistics and Experimental Design (1)
Cognitive Science 219 Research Methods in Cognitive
Science (1)
Cognitive Science 311 Seminar in Cognitive Science
(1)
The second goal of the major is met by choosing four
courses from the possible electives listed below. The
following stipulations apply to electives: (1) The choice of
electives must be made in consultation with the adviser at
the time of declaration of the major. (2) Elective courses
should allow students either to (a) gain thematic
expertise or (b) attain breadth in Cognitive
Science themes and methods. (3) At least one of the four
electives must be a 300-level seminar. This can include a
second Cognitive Science seminar. (4) No more than one of
the electives can be a 100-level course. The exception is
the Computer Science 101-102 sequence. A student who takes
this sequence can have both courses count toward the
major.
Approved Courses:
Anthropology 150 Linguistic Anthropology (1)
Anthropology 250 Topics in Language and Culture (1)
Anthropology 253 Language and Society (1)
Anthropology 351 Linguistic Seminar (1)
Biology 152 The Cellular Basis of Life (1)
Biology 226 Animal Structure and Diversity (1)
Biology 228 Animal Physiology (1)
Biology 238 Principles of Genetics (1)
Biology 316 Neurobiology (1)
Biology 340 Animal Behavior (1)
Biology 350 Evolutionary Biology (1)
Computer Science 101 Computer Science I (1)
Computer Science 102 Computer Science II (1)
Computer Science 240 Language Theory and Computation
(1)
Computer Science 265 Artificial Intelligence (1)
Computer Science 340 Theory of Computation (1)
Computer Science 365 Topics in Artificial Intelligence
(1)
Computer Science 366 Natural Language Processing (1)
Philosophy 125 Logic (1)
Philosophy 220 Metaphysics and Epistemology (1)
Philosophy 222 Philosophy of Language (1)
Philosophy 224 Philosophy of Mind (1)
Philosophy 310 Seminar in Analytic Philosophy* (1)
Psychology 221 Learning and Behavior (1)
Psychology 229 Reserch Methods in Learning and Behavior
(1)
Psychology 231 Principles of Development
Psychology 239 Research Methods in Developmental
Psychology (1)
Psychology 241 Principles of Physiological Psychology
(1)
Psychology 243 Topics in Physiological Psychology (1)
Psychology 249 Research Methods in Physiological
Psychology (1)
Psychology 262 Abnormal Psychology (1)
Psychology 323 Seminar in Comparative Psychology (1)
Psychology 331 Seminar in Developmental Psychology
(1)
Psychology 341 Seminar in Physiological Psychology
(1)
Psychology 343 Seminar on States of Consciousness (1)
Biopsychology 201 Models and Systems in Biopsychology
(1)
Biopsychology 301 Seminar in Biopsychology (1)
*Students should consult with their advisers to decide
which section of Philosophy 310 is relevant to their
concentration.
The final goal of the major is met by completing a thesis
in the senior year. The topic of the thesis is chosen by the
student in consultation with one or more members of the
program faculty. All majors must sign up for the thesis in
the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to sign up
for Cognitive Science 300-301 for 1/2
credit in the a-semester and 1/2
credit in the b-semester, for a total of 1 unit of credit.
In cases where this is not possible it is acceptable to sign
up for Cognitive Science 302 for a full unit in either the
a- or the b-term. Consult your adviser before electing the
latter option.
After declaration of the major, all courses within the
major must be taken for letter grades. Students may elect a
graded or ungraded option for theses, but may not change the
election once made.
100a and b. Introduction to Cognitive Science
(1)
This course serves as an introduction to the
multidisciplinary field of cognitive science. The course
provides the historical context of the emergence of
cognitive science, tracing developments in modern philosophy
and linguistics, and the rise of cognitivism and
neuroscience in psychology and of artificial intelligence in
computer science. The basic substantive issues of cognitive
science discussed in-clude the mind-body problem, thought as
computation and the computer model of mind, the role of
representation in mental activity, and the explanation of
mental activity via categories such as language, memory,
perception, reasoning, and consciousness. The discussions of
these issues illustrate the distinctive methodology of
cognitive science, which integrates elements of the
methodological approaches of several disciplines. The
program faculty.
211a. Perception and Action (1)
(Same as Psychology 211) This course is about how systems
for perceiving the world come to be coordinated with systems
for acting in that world. Topics include how physical
energies become perceptual experiences, systems for
producing complex actions, and how it is that actions are
brought under the control of perceptions. Relevant evidence
is drawn from behavioral and neuroscientific studies of
other species and from human infants and children, as well
as from human adults. Computer models of these processes and
the problem of replicating them in robots are considered.
Classes include regular laboratory work.
Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 100.
213a. Language (1)
(Same as Psychology 213) This course considers the rich
and complex phenomenon of human language from a
multidisciplinary perspective. The emphasis is on the
cognitive representations and processes that enable
individual language users to acquire, perceive, comprehend,
produce, read, and write language. Consideration is given to
the relation of language to thought and consciousness; to
neural substrates of language and the effects of brain
damage on language ability; to computational models of
language; and to language development. Throughout, language
is examined at different levels of analysis, including
sound, structure, and meaning.
Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 100.
215b. Knowledge and Cognition (1)
(Same as Psychology 215) This course focuses on
higher-order cognitive processes and abilities. The
phenomena studied include memory, organization of knowledge,
concepts, imagery, problem-solving, and reasoning. Relevant
philosophical issues are examined along with research on the
brain, experimental evidence from cognitive psychology, and
some computer models. A major goal of the course is to show
how these elements are integrated in the developing
framework of cognitive science. The program faculty.
Prerequisite: Cognitive Science 100.
219b. Research Methods in Cognitive Science
(1)
(Same as Psychology 219b) In this course, students learn
to apply the principal methodologies of cognitive science to
a specific problem in the field, such as sentence processing
or visual form perception. The methods are drawn from human
neurophysiology, experimental cognitive psychology, computer
modelling, linguistic and logical analysis, and other
appropriate investigative tools, depending on the specific
issue chosen for study. A major goal of the course is to
give students hands-on experience with the use and
coordination of research techniques and strategies
characteristic of contemporary cognitive science. The
program faculty.
Prerequisites: Psychology 200, and either Cognitive
Science 211, 213, 215, or Psychology 241.
290a and b. Field Work (1/2 or 1)
298a and b. Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
300-301. Senior Thesis (1)
A thesis written in two semesters for 1 unit.
302a. and b. Senior Thesis (1)
A thesis written in one semester for 1 unit.
311b. Seminar in Cognitive Science (1)
The topic of the seminar varies regularly, but is always
focused on some aspect of thought, language, perception, or
action considered from the unique, synthetic perspective of
cognitive science. The seminar is team-taught by faculty
members in the program. May be repeated for credit if the
topic has changed.
Topic for 2000/01: Human machine interaction. The
course examines recent developments in our understanding of
how humans interact with their technologies and how our
technologies can be designed to promote their more effective
use. Attention is also given to recent developments in
techniques for integrating machines into human bodies as
both prosthetic replacements and as a means to extending
human capabilities. The department.
Prerequisite: An intermediate-level course in cognitive
science or permission of the instructors.
One 3-hour period.
399a and b. Senior Independent Work (1/2 or
1)
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