Faculty of Arts & Science 2011-2012 Calendar

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Cognitive Science

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of intelligence in humans and machines. It encompasses work done in computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. Drawing on the concepts, theories, and methodologies of these disciplines, cognitive scientists seek an understanding of such mental phenomena as perception, language, learning, and reasoning in information-processing terms, and they aim to integrate this understanding with a neurophysiological account of how the human brain implements these information-processing phenomena. With its origins in the mid-20th century birth of computers and subsequent computationalist revolution in linguistics and psychology, as well as a now decades-long history of discovery, cognitive science is one of the most exciting areas of contemporary research into the nature of mind.

Since cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field, cognitive science programs appeal to many different students. Those pursuing studies in computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology who wish to explore connections between these areas and broader questions about human and machine intelligence will all find a natural home in Cognitive Science. The revised program aims to appeal to such students by offering an academically rigorous curriculum comprising a blend of intelligence-related courses in Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology, as well as special intelligence-dedicated Cognitive Science courses (COG250Y1 Introduction to Cognitive Science and COG401H/402H Cognitive Science Seminar). But precisely because the students drawn to cognitive science have such diverse academic interests and backgrounds, the revised program offers students a choice of course stream after the second year. The arts major has a “Perception and Attention” stream, a “Language and Cognition” stream, and a “Thinking and Reasoning” stream; the science major has a “Computational Cognition” stream and a “Cognition and the Brain” stream. Thus, the new Cognitive Science program will equip all participating students, regardless of background, with the knowledge and skills necessary for an understanding of cognitive science while also allowing them freedom to tailor their course selection to meet their own intellectual and career interests.

Cognitive Science Programs

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(8 FCEs)

Where noted below, please consult the Faculty of Arts & Science Course Calendar on prerequisites.

First Year:
CSC108H1; LIN100Y1; COG250Y1

Second Year:
STA220H1/STA250H1/PSY201H1; PSY270H1

Second Year and Higher:
PHL342H1; PSY493H1; and 3 FCEs from one of Stream 1, 2, or 3:

Stream 1: Perception and Attention

PHL232H1; PSY280H1; and 2 FCEs of any of the following: PSY380H1; PSY475H1; PHL340H1; PHL405H1; LIN228H1; LIN323H1

COG499H1

For those with the appropriate prerequisites: CSC207H1; CSC320H1; CSC420H1

Stream 2: Language and Cognition

1.5 FCEs of any of the following: LIN232H1; LIN241H1; LIN315H; LIN331H1; LIN341H1; LIN374H

1.5 FCEs of any of the following: LIN471HPHL245H1; PHL340H1; PHL345H1; PHL351H1; PHL451H1

COG499H1

For those with the appropriate prerequisites: CSC401H1; CSC485H1

Stream 3: Thinking and Reasoning

PHL245H1; PSY260H1; and 2 FCEs of any of the following:PSY370H1; PSY371H1; PSY372H1PHL246H1; PHL340H1; PHL347H1

LIN374H1; LIN471H1

COG499H1

For those with the appropriate prerequisites: CSC207H1; CSC321H1; CSC384H1; CSC486H1

Fourth Year: COG401H1

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(8 FCE)

Note that some Computer Science courses included below under Streams 1 and 2 have unlisted co- or prerequisites. Please consult the Faculty of Arts and Science Course Calendar. Those interested in the Science Major are advised to consider also registering for a Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Specialist (for Stream 1) or a Human Biology Neuroscience Specialist or Major (for Stream 2).

First Year:
CSC108H1; CSC148H1; MAT137Y1; COG250Y1 (may be taken as a corequisite in Year 2)

Second Year:
STA220H1/STA250H1/PSY201H1

Second Year and Higher:
PHL342H1; PSY493H1; and 3 FCEs from one of Stream 1 or 2:

Stream 1: Computational Cognition

Computational cognition is the interdisciplinary study of the information-processing underpinnings of cognitive mental processes. It seeks an understanding of cognition in mathematical terms and to apply this understanding to debates in artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, and beyond.

No more than 1.5 FCEs of the 3 FCEs required from this list of options may come from any single 3-letter course designator, except for CSC courses. For CSC courses, up to 2 FCEs may be chosen.At least 1 FCE of the 3 FCEs must be at THE 300+-level.CSC207H1; CSC321H1; CSC324H1; CSC384H1; CSC401H1; CSC420H1; CSC485H1; CSC486H1LIN100Y1; LIN228H1; LIN232H1; LIN241H1; 315H; LIN323H1; LIN331H1; LIN341H1; 374H; 471HPHL240H1; PHL245H1/CSC330H1; PHL246H1; PHL345H1; PHL347H1; PHL348H1; PHL349H1; PHL355H1PSY210H1; PSY220H1; PSY230H1; PSY260H1; PSY270H1; PSY280H1; PSY290H1; PSY305H1; PSY309H1; PSY316H1; PSY330H1; PSY331H1; PSY362H1; PSY370H1; PSY371H1; PSY372H1; PSY378H1; PSY379H1; PSY380H1; PSY414H1; PSY425H1; PSY475H1

COG499H1

Stream 2: Cognition and the Brain

Today’s cognitive scientists are more interested than ever before in the way the brain implements the information-processing underpinnings of cognitive mental processes. The study of cognition and the brain is the study, grounded in cognitive neuroscience, of those aspects of brain activity directly relevant to the performance of cognitive functions.

BIO150Y (or BIO120H1 and BIO220H1); and 2 FCEs of the following courses, with at least 1 FCE coming from PSY courses. At least .5 FCE of the 2 FCEs must be at the 300+-level.

CSC207H1; CSC321H1

PHL355H1; PHL357H1

PSY270H1; PSY280H1; PSY290H1; 303H; PSY316H1; PSY362H1; PSY380H1; PSY390H1; PSY396H1; PSY397H1; PSY473H1; PSY492H1; PSY494H1

COG499H1

Fourth Year:
COG402H1

Cognitive Science Courses

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

An introduction to the problems, theories and research [strategies central to the interdisciplinary field focussing on the nature and organization of the human mind and other cognitive systems. Interrelations among the philosophical, psychological, linguistic and computer science aspects of the field are emphasized.

Individual studies.