Undergraduate Studies in Cognitive Science

1. Undergraduate Studies in Cognitive Science Fall 2012

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

3. 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)

4. 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??

5. 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!)

6. 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

7. Curriculum Discussion

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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).

11. 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.

12. 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 …

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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, …)

17. 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)

18. 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 • …

19. Online Courses • All under www.coursera.org • 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)

20. 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

21. SpeakersThis Semester • September 19, Selmer Bringsjord, RPI • Online University Courses • October 3, AfzalUpal, 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 page • If you think of a potential speaker, let me know!

22. 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 word proposal! • for course credit (deadline: 9/10) • Also fill out an Independent Study/URP Registration form • for $ (deadline: 9/14) • Research can be used for Senior Thesis

23. Overview Research Labs • Mei Si, Si Lab • Ron Sun, Cognitive Architecture Lab • Brett Fajen, PandALab • Wayne Gray, CogWorks Lab • Bram van Heuveln, Cognitive Robotics Lab and Visual Logic Group • Selmer Bringsjord, RAIR Lab

24. 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, 9/12 • For $: • Find faculty member with $! • Deadline: 9/16