Courses

Course Descriptions

The list below includes descriptions of all undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the Cognitive Science PhD program, though some courses may be taught more often than others. Descriptions for special topics seminars are updated each semester.

Visit the graduate page for course requirements for specific programs. For up-to-date information on course offerings, schedules, room locations and registration, please visit the Student Information System (SIS).

Cognitive Science Courses

COGS 0193 Special Topics. No description at this time.

COGS 0210 Computer Programming in Psychology. (Cross-listed w/PSY 210) The computer is the tool of the modern psychologist and cognitive scientist. This course will train you on how to use this tool effectively. You will learn how to program, with a focus on experiments. Over the first few weeks of the course, while learning concepts critical to programming in any language, we will build a small and simple psychological experiment. During this time, we will cover different aspects of how to engage with the physical world (e.g., simple sensors, images, microphones, videos, etc.). We will then generate simulated data for the sample experiment, and then evaluate the results using different statistical techniques. By the end, you should be proficient in the use of MATLAB for conducting experiments and manipulating data for analysis.

COGS 0248 The Predictive Mind. (Cross-listed w/PSY 248) This graduate-level seminar course aims to investigate the provocative but compelling theory that the mind/brain is essentially a hypothesis-testing machine that attempt to minimize the error of its predictions about the input it receives from the world. We will critically examine evidence for and against this theory from the perspective of both cognitive and neural functioning. We will cover multiple domains of cognition, ranging from animal learning theory, basic perceptual processes (visual and auditory), attention, executive function, higher-order visual cognition, language processing and cognitive development. The course is geared towards graduate students who have some background knowledge in cognitive psychology and cognitive science. Although a strong math background is not required, students will be expected to engage with the principles of Bayesian Theory at a qualitative conceptual level.

Consent needed for non-Psychology/Cognitive Science students to register.

COGS 0293 Special Topics. No description at this time.

Out-of-Department Electives

Child Study and Human Development

CSHD 151 Intellectual Development
CSHD 155/LING 155 Development of Language
CSHD 177 Bilingual Studies U.S.
CSHD 195/LING 195 Developmental Disorders in Language and Reading
CSHD 249 Applied Regression Analysis

Computer Science

CS 131 Artificial Intelligence
CS 133 Human-Robot Interaction
CS 135 Introduction to Machine Learning
CS 136 Statistical Pattern Recognition
CS 138 Reinforcement Learning
CS 141 Probabilistic Robotics
CS 150 Natural Language Processing
CS 150-10 Trust in Human-Robot Interaction
CS 152 BDL Bayesian Deep Learning
CS 152-06 Explainable Artificial Intelligence
CS 170/MATH 191 Computation Theory
CS 236 Computational Learning Theory
MATH 151/BIO 151 Mathematical Neuroscience
MATH 153 Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos

Education

ED 111/119 Development of Knowledge and Reasoning in the Science Curriculum
ED 112 Mathematics Learning Environments
ED 114/LING 114/GER 114/ML 114 Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition
ED 130 Human Development and Learning
ED 142 Education of the Exceptional Child
ED 214 Resource-based Models of Learning in STEM Disciplines
ED 225 Theory and Research in Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Education
ED 243 Assessment of Cognitive Abilities
ED 253 Biological Bases of Behavior and Learning in Educational Settings
ED 254 Developmental Psychopathology in Educational Settings

Philosophy

PHIL 111/PSY 150/LING 133 Semantics
PHIL 112/PSY 151/LING 112 Syntactic Theory
PHIL 116/STS 116 Philosophy of Science
PHIL 117 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 118/STS 118 Philosophy of Biology
PHIL 133/LING 133 Philosophy of Language
Various topics courses related to cognitive science (including logic and philosophy of science)

Psychology

PSY 124/224 Cognition of Games People Play
PSY 126 Origins of Cognition
PSY 129 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY 131 Cognitive Neuropsychology
PSY 132/PHIL 113 Cognition of Society and Culture
PSY 142 Seminar in Affective Neuroscience
PSY 144 Memory and Retention
PSY 145 Mental Representation
PSY 146 Comparative Cognition and Behavior
PSY 147 Multitasking
PSY 148 Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning and Memory
PSY 149/LING 149 Psychology of Language
PSY 151/PHIL 112/LING 112 Syntactic Theory
PSY 150/PHIL 111/LING 113 Semantics
PSY 152 The Psychology of Bilingualism
PSY 153/LING 153/PHIL 110 Biological Foundations of Language
PSY 155/LING 154 Phonological Theory
PSY196 Special Topics (see PSY website for updates)
PSY 196-02 Seminar in Language Cognition
PSY 196 Memory, Mental Sim & the Brain
PSY 196 Music Language & the Brain
PSY 196 Advanced Sem in Cognition
PSY 196-01 Stress and Memory
PSY 196-01 Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
PSY 196-02 Multisensory Perception
PSY 196-03 Reasoning and Decision Making
PSY 196-04 Advanced Seminar in Emotion
PSY 212 Human Communication
PSY 229 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY 233 Core Course in Social Psychology
PSY 234 Core Course in Developmental Psychology
PSY 240 Probabilistic Models of Perception and Cognition
PSY 242 Seminar in Affective Neuroscience
PSY 243 Structure and Process in Cognitive Theory
PSY 244 Cognition/Learning
PSY 245 Mental Representation
PSY 247 Nature of Scientific Discoveries
PSY 250 Seminar on Decision Making and Judgment
PSY 253 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Processing
PSY 254 Psychosis

It is expected that over time additional courses (from the above and other departments) will be approved by the cognitive science Steering committee and added to the list.