PHIL/PSYC 2120 - Introduction to Cognitive Science

Spring 2013

Syllabus

Instructor: Professor Bram van Heuveln

Office: Carnegie 302 D
Phone: 3316
Email: heuveb@rpi.edu

Office Hours: W 9-11

This course is an introduction to the new and quickly growing field of Cognitive Science. Cognitive Science studies various aspects of the mind, such as perception, memory, learning, and reasoning. Cognitive Science is a highly interdisciplinary field of study at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology.

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• Compare and contrast different philosophical views on the nature of mind
• Apply basic Artificial Intelligence techniques to solve some simple problems
• Interpret findings from cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience
• Discuss social, evolutionary, and other ecological aspects of cognition
  

Course Materials

• There is no required textbook
• Class presentations, handouts, articles, and links to relevant web pages will be provided through RPI LMS.
• On LMS you will also find a copy of the syllabus, a detailed schedule of classes and topics, details on quizzes and assignments, a discussion forum, and your running grades for the course.

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Assessment

• Your grade will be determined by 5 in-class quizzes (worth 5 * 10 = 50% of your final grade), 3 short papers or assignments (worth 3 * 10 = 30%), a final project (15%), class participation (5%), and class attendance (1% off per missed class).
• Your absence can only be excused through the Dean of Students Office (DOSO).
• The instructor reserves the right to decide borderline cases based on exceptional class participation, unrepresentative test performance, or other such factors.
• Cut-offs for final grades are as follows: A: 93, A-: 90, B+: 87, B: 83, B-: 80, C+: 77, C: 73, C-: 70, D+: 67, D (Pass): 60.
• Students will receive a mid-semester assessment through RPI LMS in the form of a rough grade.

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Academic Honesty

Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments that students turn in are their own. Acts which violate this trust undermine the educational process. The Rensselaer Handbook defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and you should make yourself familiar with these. In this class, all assignments that are turned in for a grade must represent the student's own work. In cases where help was received, or teamwork was allowed, a notation on the assignment should indicate your collaboration. Submissions of any assignment that is in violation of this policy will result in getting a 0 for the assignment. The second violation will result in the automatic failure of the course. If you have any question concerning this policy before submitting an assignment, please ask for clarification.

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Classroom Behavior

It is important to the effectiveness of this course that there be an atmosphere where students feel free and encouraged to express their ideas and opinions in order to discuss issues in a productive and fruitful manner. Thus, students will pay attention to their instructor and classmates, students will not use their laptops or other forms of potential distraction, comments must be productive and relevant to the topic at hand, and students should not speak up so much that their classmates are discouraged to participate in the discussion (we will adhere to a strict raise-your-hand-and-wait-to-be-called-upon policy). Finally, at all times students should mutually respect the dignity of all persons. Words or deeds directed against a person or group, where it is obvious that the sole intent is to insult or otherwise do them harm in a thoroughly unconstructive manner, will not be tolerated.

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