(Excerpt from: 2002/2003 McGill Undergraduate Calendar) The multi-disciplinary study of intelligent systems. Problems in vision, memory, categorization, choice, problem solving, cognitive development, syntax, language acquisition, and rationality. Rule-based and connectionist approaches.

Prerequisite:   Permission of the instructor. Students should ideally have some cognitive background in at least two cognitive science disciplines: Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, or Neuroscience. This course is required for students enrolled in the Cognitive Science Minor; they do not have to obtain the permission of the instructor.

Content: Cognitive science is a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of natural and artificial intelligent systems. It addresses a variety of classical problems in cognition and perception, but with the realization that these problems are too difficult to be solved within the confines of any single traditional discipline. We will cover problems in vision, memory, categorization, decision-making, problem solving, cognitive development, social cognition, syntax, language acquisition, and rationality. The course emphasizes both symbolic (rule-based) and sub-symbolic (connectionist) approaches to these problems. The basics of a formal computer programming language called LISP will be taught to aid in the investigation of some of these issues.

Objectives: To learn the fundamental ideas, findings, and methods of cognitive science and to develop an after-course interest in the field and the ability to read critically in it.

Readings: The textbook is Smith, E. E. & Osherson, D. N. (Eds.) (1995). Thinking: An invitation to cognitive science, 2nd edition, Volume 3. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. A few other supplemental readings will be made available.

Method: Three hours of lecture and discussion per week. Three computer programming assignments. Two reading log assignments in which students read material of their own choosing and record their critical reactions to it. The reading logs are due 15 October and 15 November.

Evaluation: 20% for the midterm exam, 40% for the final exam, 20% for the programming assignments, and 20% for participation in class discussion. Exams are in essay format.

Supplemental: A supplemental exam worth 60% is available for those who have a D, F, or J in the course. A deferred exam worth 40% is available for students who miss the final exam for an accepted reason. Application to take the supplemental or deferred exam must be made to the Office of the Associate Dean in Dawson Hall. There are no other provisions for additional work. The supplemental/deferred exams are in the same format as the final exam. Students who miss the midterm exam for a valid and accepted reason may apply to the instructor to have the final exam count for 60%. There are no makeup midterm exams. Valid and accepted reasons for missing exams normally include only documented illness or family tragedy. In any case, 20% of the course grade is contributed by the programming assignments and 20% of the course grade is contributed by participation in class discussion

Course Web Site: Contains essential information on course schedule, lecture questions, lecture notes, discussion questions, assignments, FAQs, content questions and answers, useful links, exercises, course e-mail, etc. Use a modern Web browser to go to  WebCT  and follow the instructions for logging in. Click on Student Resources if you need help. You automatically have an account on the course Web site if you are registered for the course. Your User Name is your student I.D. #. Your initial Password, which you should change, is your date of birth, in the form YYYYMMDD. Those who are not registered for the course can access the course Welcome Page, but do not have an account for accessing the rest of the course Web site. Note that there might be a slight delay between the time you register for the course and the installation of your account on the course Web site. Check the course Web site regularly for updates. You can get help with using a Web browser and the WebCT program, on which the course Web site is based, from McGill's Instructional Communications Centre (ICC) at 688 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 1600, 398-8899, e-mail to  webct@mcgill.ca webct@mcgill.ca

Updated: July 31, 2002

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