Cognitive Science Program

| Description | B.A. | B.S. | Minor | Course Descriptions |

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of mind and brain, of cognition and perception, of thought, reasoning and emotion, of intelligence in humans, animals, and machines. While the characteristic focus in Cognitive Science is on computational and representational accounts of mental activity, the discipline embraces perspectives from anthropology, linguistics, mathematics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. Cognitive Science aims to understand organic and synthetic intelligences in their many forms.

The Cognitive Science program offers two degrees. Both the B.A. degree and the B.S. degree provide solid, balanced understanding of problems, issues and methodologies which are fundamental to the field. Both include a substantial learning agreement, beyond the respective core courses, which is designed to allow students the freedom pursue in-depth exploration of some particularly compelling aspect of the field. The B.S degree features additional course work in Psychology and Computer Science, with particular emphasis on research methods and artificial intelligence.

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Cognitive Science Major - Arts and Sciences, B.A Degree, 45-47 sh

A. Core Requirements, 33-35 sh

A C- or better must be earned in all Core courses.

B. Learning Agreement, 12 sh

A student, along with a faculty member, will devise a learning agreement containing a minimum of 12 semester hours, at least six of which are at the 300- or 400- level. The proposed agreement should focus on a particular dimension of cognitive science and support the student's career interests. It is to be submitted to the Cognitive Science Program Faculty Committee and the Cognitive Science Director for approval, typically by the end of the student's sophomore year. The courses comprising the learning agreement may be from any of departments participating in the Cognitive Science Program

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Cognitive Science Major - Arts and Sciences, B.S. Degree, 66 sh

A. Core Requirements, 54 sh

A C- or better must be earned in all Core courses.

B. Learning Agreement, 12 sh

A student, along with a faculty member, will devise a learning agreement containing a minimum of 12 semester hours, at least six of which are at the 300- or 400- level. The proposed agreement should focus on a particular dimension of cognitive science and support the student's career interests. It is to be submitted to the Cognitive Science Program Faculty Committee and the Cognitive Science Director for approval, typically by the end of the student's sophomore year. The courses comprising the learning agreement may be from any of departments participating in the Cognitive Science Program

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Cognitive Science Minor - Arts and Sciences, 21 sh

A. Core Requirement, 3 sh

B. Electives, 18 sh

Eighteen credits selected from the list below (the core requirements of the Cognitive Science B.S.). The courses must be outside of the student's major(s).

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College Catalog Course Descriptions

ANT 344 Language & Culture

Linguistic diversity and change; cultural emphases in language and relation to world view. Prerequisite: nine social and behavioral science hours including Ant 100 or Soc 100 or linguistics major. Fall 3 sh

COG 166 Introduction to Cognitive Science

Introduction to the fundamental questions, findings, and methods of cognitive science. The computational approach to cognition and the notion of abstract mental representation are introduced within the interdisciplinary framework of the field. Basic knowledge of cognition, computation, and evolution is surveyed. Topics include symbol systems and their role in standard representations, brain models, neural networks, vision, and language. 3 sh

CSC 212 Principles of Computing

Top-down approach to problem solving and algorithm development is emphasized. A high-level programming language with the appropriate constructs for structured design and structured types is presented. Debugging techniques and use of debugging tools are covered. Students are expected to do extensive programming. Fall, Spring, Summer 3 sh

CSC 221 (ISC 221) Foundations of Computer Science

This course will provide students with a broad perspective of computer science and will acquaint them with various formal systems on which modern computer science is based. Students will study the structure and interpretation of four classes of abstract computing machines. Fall, Spring 3 sh

CSC 241 Abstract Data Types and Programming Methodology

Modular design of programs and abstract data types are emphasized. Different implementations of abstract data types are analyzed, compared, and contrasted. 0(n 1n n) sorting algorithms are studied. Prerequisites: Csc 212. Fall, Spring 3 sh

CSC 366 Computational Models of Cognitive Processes

Introduction to the computational study of human and machine intelligence. Discussion of computational models, algorithms, and research in neural processing, vision, memory, learning, reasoning, and information processing. Prerequisite: Csc241 and either Csc 221 or PHL 309. Irregular 3 sh

CSC 350 (ISC 350) Computational Linguistics

Computational approach to the study of language. Problems in understanding and producing natural (or natural-like) language by computer and humans. Theories of parsing, meaning, knowledge representation, and communication, along with their mechanical embodiments. Prerequisites: Csc 221 and 241. Fall 3 sh

CSC 416 Artificial Intelligence Programming Languages

An introduction to programming techniques in Lisp and Prolog. Topics include Lisp and Prolog syntax and semantics, basic problem solving knowledge representation, and logical inference algorithms, and an introduction to their applications in artificial intelligence. Prerequisites: Csc 221 and 241. Fall 3 sh

CSC 466 Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Programming

Heuristic versus algorithmic methods using examples such as game playing programs. A discussion of a list processing language. A survey of the accomplishments in the areas of game playing, theorem proving, pattern recognition, question answering, adaptive systems, music composition and machine translations of language. Prerequisite: Csc 416, or permission. Spring 3 sh

LIN 110 Introduction to Linguistics

An introduction to the scientific study of language as a universal human phenomenon. This course will combine an introduction to basic concepts in phonology, morphology and syntax with the sociocultural bases of human communication. Fall 3 sh

PHL 309 Logic, Language, and Thought

(Tentative number and description) A brief survey of Quantificational Logic through relations, identity and definite descriptions followed by discussion of several examples of applications of Logic in Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics and Computing Science. Prerequisites: PHL 111 or permission of instructor.

PSY 280 Analysis of Psychological Data

Basic techniques of descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications to research in psychology. Prerequisite: Psy 100 or COG 166 or permission of instructor. Fall, Spring 4 sh

PSY 290 Research Methods in Psychology

Critical consideration of basic research techniques in representative areas of psychology. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: Psy 280 (may be taken concurrently only with instructor's permission). Fall, Spring 4 sh

PSY 301-305

These courses match the description of Psy 401-405 except that there is no laboratory requirement. Prerequisites: Psy 290 or permission of instructor. Fall, Spring 3 sh

PSY 401 Perception

Examines contemporary theories and research which account for our abilities to sense and interpret light, sound, and other forms of stimulation. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: Psy 290. Fall, Spring 4 sh

PSY 403 Biopsychology

An examination of the physical and biological mechanisms that underlie or are associated with specific behaviors and experiences including aggression, perception, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, psychopathology, development, and the action of psychoactive drugs. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: Psy 290. Fall, Spring 4 sh

PSY 405 Cognition

This area of psychology is guided by the information processing approach in its examination of how people think. Topics include attention and memory, problem solving, decision making, and logical reasoning. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: Psy 290. Fall, Spring 4 sh

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