See the major requirements and minor requirements for more information on courses in other areas that are relevant to cognitive studies.
- 2024–2025 Courses:
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CGSC 100: Living with Artificial Intelligence
This A&I course is about artificial intelligence (AI) and its place in our lives. We will spend time wondering about how AI systems work and about how we use them. This will involve asking big questions, identifying puzzles and misinformation, and spending a lot of time thinking about robots. Doing so will involve engaging with scientific research, news articles, comics, and other forms of popular media. The primary skills this class focuses on are critical news literacy, cooperative problem solving, writing, editing, and re-writing.
Prerequisites:Student is a member of the First Year First Term class level cohort. Students are only allowed to register for one A&I course at a time. If a student wishes to change the A&I course they are enrolled in they must DROP the enrolled course and then ADD the new course. Please see our Workday guides Drop or 'Late' Drop a Course and Register or Waitlist for a Course Directly from the Course Listing for more information.
6 credits; AI/WR1, Argument & Inquiry/WR1; offered Fall 2024 · Jay McKinney -
CGSC 130: Revolutions in Mind
An interdisciplinary study of the history and current practice of the cognitive sciences. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, biology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: scientific revolutions, the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, and the extended mind.
6 credits; SI, Social Inquiry; offered Winter 2025 · Jay McKinney -
CGSC 130: Revolutions in Mind
An interdisciplinary study of the history and current practice of the cognitive sciences. The course will draw on relevant work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, biology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: scientific revolutions, the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, and the extended mind.
6 credits; SI, Social Inquiry; offered Spring 2025 · Jay McKinney -
CGSC 130: What Minds Are What They Do
An interdisciplinary examination of issues concerning the mind and mental phenomena. The course will draw on work from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and neuroscience. Topics to be discussed include: the mind-body problem, embodied cognition, perception, representation, reasoning, and learning.
6 credits; SI, Social Inquiry, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; offered Fall 2024 · Jason Decker -
CGSC 232: Cognitive Processes
Cross-listed courses CGSC 232/PSYC 232. An introduction to the study of mental activity. Topics include attention, pattern recognition and perception, memory, concept formation, categorization, and cognitive development. Some attention to gender and individual differences in cognition, as well as cultural settings for cognitive activities. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Psychology/Cognitive Science 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement.
Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology or CGSC 100 – Argument and Inquiry or CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science with grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
6 credits; LS, Science with Lab, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; offered Fall 2024 · Kathleen Galotti -
CGSC 233: Laboratory in Cognitive Processes
Cross-listed courses CGSC 233/PSYC 233. Students will participate in the replication and planning of empirical studies, collecting and analyzing data relevant to major cognitive phenomena. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both CGSC/PSYC 232 and 233 to satisfy the LS requirement.
2 credits; LS, Science with Lab, QRE, Quantitative Reasoning; offered Fall 2024 · Kathleen Galotti -
CGSC 236: Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making
An examination of the way people think and reason, both when given formal laboratory tasks and when facing problems and decisions in everyday life. Students consider their own reasoning and decision making through course exercises. Topics include models of formal reasoning, decision making, heuristics and biases in thinking and problem-solving, moral reasoning, improving skills of higher order cognition. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): PSYC 110 – Principles of Psychology or CGSC 100 – Argument and Inquiry or CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science with grade of C- or better or received a score of 4 or better on the Psychology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Psychology IB exam.
6 credits; CX, Cultural/Linguistics, FSR, Formal or Statistical Reasoning, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 253: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
A study of the central theories, methodological and philosophical issues and major competing paradigms regarding the nature of human cognition. Topics to be treated include: the history of cognitive science as a science, and the context through which we think about mental representations, intentionality, consciousness, the use and importance of language, nativism and externalism in the cognitive sciences, embodied cognition and the constitutive roles of culture and evolution in shaping cognitive processes. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science with grade of C- or better.
6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 289: The Cognitive Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence
This course will investigate the cognitive dimensions of cutting edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. We will apply qualitative research methods to create an annotated library of cognitive terms in “AI” research. Doing so will help put “AI” research in context. By the end of the term we will have co-created resources that can be used by others to help understand the complexities of cognition and its relationship to technology and the world.
Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science AND CGSC/PSYC 232 – Cognitive Processes or CGSC 253 – Philosophy of Cognitive Science with a grade of C- or better.
3 credits; SI, Social Inquiry; offered Fall 2024 · Jay McKinney -
CGSC 294: Directed Research in Cognitive Science
Students work on a research project related to a faculty member's research interests, and directed by that faculty member. Student activities vary according to the field and stage of the project. The long-run goal of these projects normally includes dissemination to a scholarly community beyond Carleton. The faculty member will meet regularly with the student and actively direct the work of the student, who will submit an end-of-term product, typically a paper or presentation.
1 – 6 credit; No Exploration; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 330: Embodied Cognition
This seminar will consider recent work in philosophy, cognitive science and linguistics critical of views of human cognition as “disembodied” and Cartesian. Philosophical sources of the early critiques of symbolic AI and “cartesianism” will be considered (Merleau-Ponty, Dewey), as will the enactive (Cuffari, Di Paolo, and De Jaegher) and ecological (Chemero, Cowley, Steffensen) critiques of language, and current work on embodied cognition by Eleanor Rosch, Hubert Dreyfus, John Haugeland, Andy Clark and Evan Thompson. The seminar will include materials relevant to students in philosophy, linguistics, psychology and cognitive science. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – An Introduction to Cognitive Science or CGSC/PSYC 232 – Cognitive Processes with a grade of C- or better.
6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry; offered Spring 2025 · Jay McKinney -
CGSC 336: Moral Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making
In this seminar course we will examine how children, adolescents, and adults confront moral dilemmas, reason about ethical issues, and decide on a course of action when challenged by confounding questions. Topics include the development of moral reasoning, gender difference in moral reasoning, socio-cultural influences on moral reasoning, and how moral issues intersect with other realms of decision making. We will examine work by Lawrence Kohlberg, Carol Gilligan, Eliot Turiel, and Jonathan Haidt. As a seminar, the emphasis will be on discussion. Course requirements include regular attendance and participation, preparing and leading class discussions, short reaction/reflection papers, and a final paper. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science or CGSC 232 – Cognitive Processes or CGSC 236 – Thinking, Reasoning, and Decision Making or Any 200 Level PSYC course with a grade of C- or better.
6 credits; SI, Social Inquiry; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 340: Phenomenology and Cognitive Science
This course will provide an in-depth study of phenomenology, covering both its history and contemporary debates, and phenomenology-inspired research in cognitive science, psychology and neuroscience. Roughly half the course will be devoted to the history of phenomenology, setting the main views within their historical context and explaining how these views respond to the difficulties of their predecessors. The other half will discuss contemporary philosophical debates and scientific research involving phenomenological approaches. In addition to the CGSC 130 prerequisite, a 200-level Cognitive Science, Psychology or Philosophy course is recommended.
Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science with grade of C- or better.
6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 382: Cognitive Development in Children and Adolescents
This seminar will focus on the cognitive changes experienced by children in the preschool, elementary, and middle school years, in such realms as perception, attention, memory, thinking, decision-making, knowledge representation, and the acquisition of academic skills. Weekly observation at local day care centers or schools will be a required course component. The seminar will be discussion-based and participants will take turns making presentations and leading discussions. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 232 – Cognitive Processes or PSYC 232 – Cognitive Processes or PSYC 250 – Developmental Psychology with grade of C- or better.
6 credits; SI, Social Inquiry; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 394: Directed Research in Cognitive Science
This course will be centered around a collaborative research project in cognitive science. Students enrolled will meet with the instructor to complete background readings and discussions, then will create recruiting materials, consent forms, IRB applications, debriefing statements, stimuli, and task instructions. They will then gather data from research participants and participate in data entry, analysis, and writing up the results. This course may be repeated multiple terms. 1 – 6 credit; S/CR/NC; No Exploration; not offered 2024–2025 -
CGSC 396: Directed Research in Cognitive Studies
Senior majors in cognitive studies will work with the instructor to develop a thesis proposal for their comps project. Prerequisites:Student has completed any of the following course(s): CGSC 130 – Introduction to Cognitive Science and PSYC 200/201 – Measurement and Data Analysis and Lab and CGSC/PSYC 232 – Cognitive Processes and CGSC/PSYC 233 – Laboratory Cognitive Processes with a grade of C- or better and is a senior CGSC major.
3 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Jay McKinney, Jason Decker -
CGSC 399: Senior Thesis in Cognitive Science
The organizing and writing of a senior thesis in cognitive science, overseen by a CGSC faculty member and in cooperation with other seminar members. Students will present drafts of their theses to the class for feedback and will offer one another constructive criticism on the writing and organization of each paper. Students will be expected to produce a 25-40 page paper that will eventually serve as a capstone to their CGSC major during CGSC 400.
Prerequisites:Student has completed the following course(s): CGSC 396 – Directed Research with a grade of C- or better AND is a Senior CGSC major
6 credits; WR2 Writing Requirement 2; offered Winter 2025 · Justin London, Jay McKinney -
CGSC 400: Integrative Exercise
Prerequisites:Student is a Cognitive Science major and has Senior Priority.
3 credits; S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Spring 2025 · Jason Decker, Kathleen Galotti