MINOR IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE

Cognitive Science is a pioneering inter-disciplinary field which studies the nature of intelligent systems, both biological and artificial. Drawing from the fields of computer science, linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience and psychology, with strong links to anthropology, education, physics and engineering, this field of inquiry focuses on topics extending from accounts of human language and childhood mental development, to theories about how neurons in the brain process information; from attempts to model human thought in computer programs and to engineer robotic 'creatures' that live and learn, to studies of human vision and other forms of perception.

Director of Cognitive Science Studies

The Minor requires 24 hours of course work (which may vary depending upon program of study and preparation of student), including a 3 credit course required by all students:

IDS 265: Introduction to Cognitive Science: Computers, Minds, Brains & Robots.

All other courses required for the Minor will be determined by the 'emphasis' chosen by the student in consultation with a cognitive science advisor.

CHOOSING AN EMPHASIS

In order to take this Minor, you will need to work closely with an Advisor for Cognitive Science Studies to design a program which complements your major and special interests. The object of this Minor is to give you cross-disciplinary input into your studies. Therefore, the area of emphasis that you choose to concentrate on must be outside of your Major. For example, Information Technology majors may not choose the "computer science" emphasis; Psychology majors may not choose the "psychology" emphasis. The areas of emphasis now available are the following:

Computer Science Emphasis

• IDS 265
• ITK 168
• ITK 179
• 2 courses (6 hours) from Groups A and/or B
• 1 course (3 hours) from Group B
• 2 elective courses (6 hours) from Groups C, D, E, or F.

Linguistics Emphasis

• IDS 265
• PHI 112 or 210
• ENG 341
• 2 courses (6 hours) from Groups A and/or B
• 1 course (3 hours) from Group C
• 2 elective courses (6 hours) from Groups B, D, E, or F.

Philosophy Emphasis

• IDS 265
• PHI 112 or 210
• PHI 253 or 315
• 2 courses (6 hours) from Groups A and/or B
• 1 course (3 hours) from Group D
• 2 elective courses (6 hours) from Groups B, C, E, or F.

Psychology Emphasis

• IDS 265
• PSY 138 (recommended) or ECO 138
• PSY 231 or PSY 253 or PSY 263 [Note: Some catalogs list only "PSY 231" as an option for this requirement.  However, a substitution will be made for either of the other courses if a request is made to the Director of the Minor.]
• 2 courses (6 hours) from Groups A and/or B
• 1 course (3 hours) from Group E
• 2 elective courses (6 hours) from Groups B, C, D, or F.

COURSE GROUPS

Group A (Quantitative Skills)

• MAT 120 Finite Mathematics
• MAT 145 Calculus I
• MAT 146 Calculus II
• MAT 175 Linear Algebra
• MAT 250 Introduction to Probability & Statistics
• MAT 260 Discrete Mathematics
• PHI 112 Language, Logic & Mathematics
• PHI 210 / MAT 210) Symbolic Logic I
• PSY 138 Reasoning in Psychology Using Statistics (recommended) or ECO 138 Economic Reasoning Using Statistics
• PSY 340 Statistics for the Social Sciences

Group B (Computer Science)

• ITK 168 Structured Problem-Solving Using the Computer
• ITK 179 Introduction to Data Structures
• ITK 261 Systems Development I
• ITK 279 Algorithms and Data Structures
• ITK 340 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• ITK 367 Designing the User Interface
• ITK 388 Introduction to Parallel Processing

Group C (Linguistics)

• ANT/ENG/LAN 143 Unity & Diversity in Language
• ANT 277 Language & Culture
• ANT/ENG 342 Sociolinguistics
• ENG 241 Growth & Structure of the English Language
• ENG 243 Traditional & Non-Traditional Grammar
• ENG 245 Semantics
• ENG 310 History & Development of the English Language
• ENG 341 Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics
• ENG 344 Teaching English as a Second Language: Theoretical Foundations
• LAN 209.12 French Phonetics
• LAN 215.15 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics
• LAN 262.15 Explaining Spanish Grammar
• LAN 310.13 Advanced STudy of the German Language
• LAN 340.12 Introduction to Applied French Linguistics
• LAN 360.15 Studies in Spanish Linguistics
• COM 370 Psychology of Language
• COM 372 Theory and Research in Intercultural Communication

Group D (Philosophy)

• PHI 250 Philosophy of Science
• PHI 251 Visions of the Self
• PHI 253 Philosophy & the Behavioral Sciences
• PHI 255 Modern Philosophy
• PHI 256 Major Themes in Western Philosophy Since Kant
• *PHI 305 Topics in 20th Century Philosophy
• *PHI 310 Topics in Philosophy of Science
• PHI 315 Topics in Philosophy, Science and the Mind
• *PHI 363 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology
  Note: Starred courses (*) may be used only when the topic is approved by the student's Cog Sci advisor

Group E (Psychology)

• PSY 231 Research Methods in Psychology
• PSY 253 Cognition & Learning
• PSY 263 Physiological Psychology
• PSY 331.04 Laboratory in Research Methods for Psychology: Perceptual
• PSY 331.07 Laboratory in Research Methods for Psychology: Cognitive Processes
• PSY 360 Learning
• PSY 361 Perception
• PSY 367 Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology
• PSY 368 Human Memory
• PSY 369 Psycholinguistics

Group F (Related Courses)

• BSC 286 Animal Behavior
• BSC 297 Biological Evolution
• BSC 343 Introduction to Neurobiology
• ANT 286 Paleoanthropology
• ANT 288 Human Variation and Adaptation
• ANT 290 Primate Studies

COGNITIVE SCIENCE STUDIES ADVISORS