1. Undergraduate Studies in Cognitive Science September 8, 2010

2. News  Dr. Mark Changizi left department Dr. Mei Si joined department –Works in Interactive Narrative and Characters New Cognitive Robotics Lab –Sage 2202

3. 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 –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

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

5. Other Popular Dual Majors CSCI / PSYC CSCI / PHIL MATH / PSYC MATH / PHIL

6. Minors No minors have been defined (yet) for COGS. We’ll probably start with a general Cognitive Science minor: –Introduction to Cognitive Science –Plus 3 more courses Other possible minors: –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

7. Other Concentrations and Programs GSAS has Cognitive Science concentration –Contact: Elizabeth Large IT 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.) degree program –Contact: Brett Fajen

8. Minds & Machines Program For past 4-5 years, served as undergraduate Cognitive Science program in the absence of such Now that we have an official Cognitive Science undergraduate degree, we will re-envision Minds & Machines program and bring it back to its original (and more narrow) goals. –In particular, bring the ‘Machines’ part back in focus. Program in “Cognitive Technology”: –Artificial Intelligence –Cognitive Robotics –Synthetic Characters

9. Minds & Machines (Cont’d) Students “joining” the “program” will be expected/encouraged to: –take certain specific courses –participate in undergraduate research –work in RAIR and/or Cognitive Robotics lab –TA for relevant courses Self-study program –In groups, students set goal for semester (project, programming language/technique) and teach each other

10. Wednesday M&M Seminar After this semester, the 1 credit “M&M Seminar” will follow more the format of the graduate seminar: –Read paper beforehand (if available) –Generate Question before talk –Write 1 page response paper after talk –Register for “Issues in Cognitive Science” at 400 level –Restricted to COGS majors or dual majors with PHIL or PSYC

11. Mandated Lectures This Semester September 15, Larry Barsalou, Emory University September 22, James Cutting, Cornell October 6, Yorick Wilks, Sheffield and Oxford October 20, Stan Franklin, U. of Memphis November 3, Chris Sims, U. of Rochester (RPI Cog Sci PhD!) November 17, JR Scally and Jon Matthis, RPI graduate students December 1, Xian Li and Michael Brudzinski, RPI graduate students

12. Undergraduate Research Cog Sci students are strongly encouraged to do hands-on research Undergraduate Research Program (URP) –http://www.rpi.edu/dept/urp –Fill out URP form: You have to write a 500+ words proposal! for course credit (deadline: 9/13) –Also fill out an Independent Study/URP Registration form for $ (deadline: 9/17) Research can be used for Senior Thesis

13. Paperwork Declare or add Cognitive Science Major –Fill out Change of Major form –Advisor: Bram van Heuveln –Curriculum Coordinator: Betty Osganian (Carnegie 108) 1 credit for lectures –Fill out Independent Study form 200/400 PHIL/PSYC “Issues in Cognitive Science” Senior Thesis/Capstone Project –Find thesis advisor –Fill out Thesis Registration form 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, 9/13 –For $: Find faculty member with $! Deadline: 9/17