1. Undergraduate Studies in Cognitive Science
Fall 2016

2. News We had 8 (a record!) graduating COGS majors last spring:
2 straight COGS
4 COGS/CSCI duals
1 COGS/GSAS dual
1 COGS/PSYC dual
We have 9 incoming COGS freshmen
Also a record!

3. Latest Numbers 53 COGS majors (a record! 32 male, 21 female) By year:
8 seniors
11 juniors
18 sophomores
9 freshmen
By major:
COGS: 25
COGS/CSCI: 23
COGS/GSAS: 1
Other duals: 4 (PSYC,CSYS,DIS)

4. Curriculum

5. Curriculum for BS in Cognitive Science (2016+)
Basic Math /Science
Calc. I + II
Comp Sci I, Data Structures, FOCS, Intro to Algorithms
Intro to Biology
10 11 core courses:
Minds & Machines / Philosophy of Science
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Introduction to Logic
Experimental Methods and Statistics
Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
Introduction to Linguistics
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Modeling / Programming for AI and Cog Sci
Sensation and Perception
Knowledge and Rationality / Metaphysics & Consciousness
2 Electives
Cog Sci related courses from PHIL, PSYC, CSCI, and a few others
Undergraduate Thesis

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

7. Minors Cognitive Science minor: Possible future minors:
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Plus 3 more courses (Minds and Machines counts)
Possible future minors:
Cognitive Technology (AI, Cognitive Robotics)
Cognitive Engineering? (Cognitive Modeling)
Some other minors:
PSYC: Psychological Sciences
PHIL: Logic, Computation, and Mind
Linguistics minor (not official yet … but soon!)

8. Other Concentrations and Programs
GSAS has Cognitive Science concentration
Contact: Dr. Ralph Noble
ITWS has Cognitive Science track (as well as Psychology track)
Contact: Dr. Bram van Heuveln
MGMT: 5 year Masters in Management in Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship program (Cognitive Science track)
Contact: Dr. Jeff Durgee
COGS: 5 year Co-Terminal (M.S. and B.S.)
Contact: Dr. Wayne Gray
COMM has a Certificate program in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Contact: Dr. Patricia Search

9. Online Courses Udacity (pretty technical, self-paced)
Introduction to AI, Artificial Intelligence for Robotics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, etc.
Coursera (wide variety)
Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, Computational Neuroscience, Natural Language Processing, Robotics, Machine Learning, etc.
EdX (~70 courses, various fields)
I can give 1-2 credits Independent Study for successful completion of these courses (Add Deadline: Monday, 9/12)

10. Study Abroad
RPI has a Study Abroad exchange agreement with the University of Sussex (U.K.) as well as the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), both of which have excellent cognitive science programs.
Study Abroad Informational Sessions:
Thursday, September 8 at 2:15
Tuesday, September 13 at 10:15
Wednesday, September 14 at 12:15
All sessions in Academy Hall, room 3267
Application deadline for Spring 2017: October 1

11. Advising

12. Advising There are several people that can help you:
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Helps with general direction of your studies
Keeps you on track; Suggests courses based on your interests
Mandatory Student-Advisor Meeting (SAM)
Staff Advisor: Betty Osganian, Sage 4301
Helps with ‘day-to-day’ issues
Helps get you into courses; get forms signed; can tell you what courses you still need to graduate
Undergraduate Program Director: Bram van Heuveln
All of the above

13. Talks

14. Discussion: What Jobs will and might be replaced by AI?
Biotech Auditorium
September 14
11am
Langdon Winner, Professor
Science, Technology, and Society
Endowed Thomas Phelan Chair of
Humanities and Social Sciences
James Hendler, Professor
Computer Science and Cognitive Science
Tetherless World Professor of Computer,
Web and Cognitive Sciences

15. Minds and Machines Thursday Night Lectures
All lectures 7-8:20pm in Sage 3303
Open to the Public! Full schedule of lectures
October 20: Linguistic Minds and Machines
Dr. Marjorie McShane explores the linguistic capabilities of machines … and how they differ from those of humans
November 3: Future Minds and Machines
Dr. Ned Woodhouse discusses the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on society and ourselves
November 10: Moral Minds and Machines
Dr. Selmer Bringsjord will tell us how to ensure that robots behave morally
December 1: Musical Minds and Machines
Dean of HASS Dr. Mary Simoni explores the connections between music and cognition

16. Cognitive Science Talks
Wednesdays 12:00-1:30, Sage Pizza!
Most given by RPI Faculty and graduate students
Invited External Speakers for the Semester:
October 5, Jeffrey Vancouver, Psychology, Ohio University
Computational Models of Human / Environment Interaction
October 12, Heather Sheridan, Psychology, SUNY Albany
Eye-Tracking
For a complete schedule of speakers go to Speaker Series on the Cognitive Science department home page

17. Research

18. Undergraduate Research
Cog Sci students are strongly encouraged to do hands-on research
Undergraduate Research Program (URP)
Fill out URP form:
You have to write a 500 word proposal!
for credit (deadline: same as course Add deadline)
Also fill out an Independent Study/URP Registration form
for $ (deadline: 3rd Friday of semester)
Research can be used for Senior Thesis

19. Research Labs / Groups CogWorks Lab (slides)
Led by Dr. Wayne Gray
Language Endowed Intelligent Agents (LEIA) Lab (slides)
Led by Dr. Marjorie McShane and Dr. Sergei Nirenburg
Social Interaction (SI) Lab (slides)
Led by Dr. Mei Si
Perception And Action (PAndA) Lab (slides)
Led by Dr. Brett Fajen
Rensselaer Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning (RAIR) Lab (slides)
Led by Dr. Selmer Bringsjord
Cognitive Architecture (CogArch) Lab
Led by Dr. Ron Sun
Department page to Cognitive Research Labs
Department page to Cognitive Science Research Areas

20. Paperwork Declare or add Cognitive Science Major URP
Fill out Change of Major form
Advisor: Bram van Heuveln
Curriculum Coordinator: Betty Osganian (Sage 4301)
URP
Fill out URP form
For credit:
Fill out Independent Study form as well
Credits to be determined by project advisor
Deadline: course add deadline: Monday, 9/12
For $:
Find faculty member with $!
Deadline: Friday, 9/16