Undergraduate Studies in Cognitive Science Fall 2012

News We had 3 undergraduate COGS majors graduating this spring. Together with last year’s 2, we’re now at 5.

Latest Numbers 53 COGS majors By year: –16 seniors –19 juniors –15 sophomores –3 freshmen By major: –COGS: 18 –COGS/CSCI: 21 –COGS/GSAS: 7 –Other duals: 7 (MATH,PHIL,PSYC, BMED, ISCI)

Possible Dual Majors COGS / CSCI COGS / MATH COGS / GSAS COGS / PSYC COGS / PHIL COGS / ITWS COGS / CSYS (very tight, but can be done!) COGS / PHYS? COGS / COMM? COGS / BIOL?? COGS / BMED??

Minors We now have a Cognitive Science minor: –Introduction to Cognitive Science –Plus 3 more courses Possible future minors we’re thinking of: –Cognitive Technology (AI, Cognitive Robotics) –Cognitive Engineering (Cognitive Modeling) Remember we do have Cog Sci related minors: –PSYC: minor in Cognition –PHIL: minor in Logic, Computation, and Mind (only 1 extra course in addition to COGS courses!)

Other Concentrations and Programs GSAS has Cognitive Science concentration –Contact: Elizabeth Large ITWS has Cognitive Science track (as well as Psychology track) –Contact: Bram van Heuveln MGMT: 5 year Masters in Management in Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship program (Cognitive Science track) –Contact: Jeff Durgee COGS: 5 year Co-Terminal (M.S. and B.S.) and 7 year Co-Terminal (PhD and S.B) degree programs –Contact: Brett Fajen

Curriculum Discussion

Current Curriculum for BS in Cognitive Science Basic Math /Science –Calc. I + II, Discrete Structures or Diff. Eq. –Comp Sci I, Data Structures, Intro to Algorithms –Intro to Biology 10 core courses: –Minds & Machines / Philosophy of Science –Introduction to Cognitive Science –Introduction to Logic –Experimental Methods and Statistics –Cognitive Psychology –Behavioral Neuroscience –Introduction to Artificial Intelligence –Cognitive Modeling / Programming for AI and Cog Sci –Sensation and Perception / Structure of Language –Phil of AI / Knowledge and Rationality / Metaphysics & Consciousness 2 Electives –Cog Sci related courses from PHIL, PSYC, CSCI, and a few others Undergraduate Thesis

A Necessary Change The CSCI department changed their sequence. –From: CSCI I, Data Structures, Discrete Structures, Algorithms –To: CSCI I, Data Structures, Foundations of CSCI, Algorithms (Foundations of CSCI combines Discrete Structures and Models of Computation) COGS curriculum needs to go through same sequence

An Obvious Change Right now we list Behavioral Neuroscience as a required course, but new faculty member Alicia Walf teaches several other neuroscience courses, including Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. We’ll probably make this into an option (i.e. take one of these).

Other Possible Changes We could list a few more options in the ‘Cognitive Modeling’ corner: –Cognitive Robotics –Psyc Modeling with Cognitive Architectures –Intelligent Virtual Agents –… could Intro to AI be made one of these? What about the Sensation and Perception / Structure of Language option? –Structure of Language hasn’t been taught in a while … but Cassimatis sometimes teaches a Knowledge Representation or Use of Language course instead.

A Small ‘Crisis’ Jim Fahey, who taught Minds and Machines, Philosophy of Science, Knowledge and Rationality, and Metaphysics and Consciousness, was forced to retire. This severely restricts the PHIL options of the COGS curriculum.... Not sure what to do …

Introduction to Cognitive Science This is a weird one … Seems like an obvious course: basic overview of all areas + springboard to advanced courses in each separate area. But: –Still largely philosophical –Somewhat redundant if advanced courses cover all that stuff … and more! Possible idea: make this one of the PHIL options

Potential Other Changes Increased emphasis in Secondary Areas (neuroscience, linguistics, anthropology) Replace some Core courses with Electives Tracks Research requirement

Increased Emphasis in Secondary Areas Quite a few students on survey would like to see increased emphasis on neuroscience (also goes with persistent interest from BMED students in COGS) –Good news: a cognitive/computational neuroscience person tops the list of what dept wants to hire A few indicated linguistics and natural language processing

Replace Some Core Courses with Electives Most students responding to survey would like this … some argued this should be done exactly because Cognitive science is such a large field. Several students identified Experimental Methods and Statistics as a course that they felt should not be required (or at least in current form) Idea: Make a ‘Formal Methods for Cognitive Science course that includes statistics, logic, …)

Tracks I proposed an ‘Artificial Cognition’ (CSCI / PHIL) and a ‘Human Cognition’ (PSYC/ Neuro) track Mixed responses –Some say just take care of this with more electives –Some say have more tracks than that –Some say that’s not a clear division (couple said they like to combine Neuro and CSCI)

Research Requirements Basically unprompted, a good number of respondents said to add some kind of research requirement (possibly through a coop/intern). –Desire for Applications of Cognitive Science? Note: we do nothing with Cognitive Science and: –Law –Education –Economics –Design –Culture/Society –…

Online Courses All under –Basic Programming –Artificial Intelligence and Robotics –Humanities and Social Science –Information, Technology, and Design –Neuroscience I can give 1-2 credits Independent Study for successful completion of these courses (Add Deadline: next Monday, 9/10)

Wednesday Issues in Cognitive Science Seminar It is possible for undergraduates to receive 1 credit through the Issues in Cognitive Science Lecture Series: –Write 1 page response paper about talk for 6 talks of your choice –Register for “Issues in Cognitive Science” at 400 level –Restricted to COGS majors or dual majors with PHIL or PSYC

Speakers This Semester September 19, Selmer Bringsjord, RPI –Online University Courses October 3, Afzal Upal, Univ. of Toledo –Computational models of spreading of cultural information October 17, Selim Aki, Queens University –Unconventional computing November 7, Robert Olberg, Union –Sensory motor control of insects November 28, Matthias Scheutz, Tufts University –All-Round Cognitive Science guy (probably something philosophical) All other talks by COGS graduate students For a complete schedule of speakers go to Speaker Series off of Cognitive Science department home pageSpeaker Series If you think of a potential speaker, let me know!

Undergraduate Research Cog Sci students are strongly encouraged to do hands-on research Undergraduate Research Program (URP) – –Fill out URP form:URP form You have to write a 500 word proposal! for course credit (deadline: 9/10) –Also fill out an Independent Study/URP Registration formIndependent Study/URP Registration form for $ (deadline: 9/14) Research can be used for Senior Thesis

Overview Research Labs Mei Si, Si Lab Ron Sun, Cognitive Architecture LabCognitive Architecture Lab Brett Fajen, PandA LabPandA Lab Wayne Gray, CogWorks LabCogWorks Lab Bram van Heuveln, Cognitive Robotics Lab and Visual Logic Group Selmer Bringsjord, RAIR LabRAIR Lab

Paperwork Declare or add Cognitive Science Major –Fill out Change of Major formChange of Major form –Advisor: Bram van Heuveln –Curriculum Coordinator: Betty Osganian (Carnegie 108) 1 credit for lectures –Fill out Independent Study formIndependent Study form 200/400 PHIL/PSYC “Issues in Cognitive Science” Senior Thesis/Capstone Project –Find thesis advisor –Fill out Thesis Registration formThesis Registration form URP –Fill out URP formURP form –For credit: Fill out Independent Study form as wellIndependent Study form Credits to be determined by project advisor Deadline: course add deadline: Monday, 9/12 –For $: Find faculty member with $! Deadline: 9/16