Subject: COGS

Term: Fall 2011

COGS 101: Introduction to Cognitive Science (100/1237)

TR 01:15-02:30 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Oakley, T

This course introduces students to the field of cognitive science. Cognitive scientists are interested in the nature of the human mind--basically, we ask how humans think. This is a huge question, and has been addressed in one way or another by pretty much every academic field. Cognitive science tries to unite work from many different fields, including computer science, neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, music, art, and literary theory. In this course, you'll get a basic introduction to some of the topics that are central to human cognition, such as intelligence, categorization, language, and creativity. We'll ask what can be gained by taking an integrated, cognitive scientific approach to these topics.

COGS 201: Human Cognition in Evolution and Development (100/1877)

MW 12:30-01:45 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Cooperrider, K

COGS 201 covers mind unfolding in time, including the fundamental methods, findings, and theories of human mental phylo- and onto-genesis. It provides the student with background knowledge about the unfolding of cognitive structures and functions over time, in both the deep temporal perspective of evolution (measured across many lifetimes) and the shorter one of development (measured within single lifetimes). The approach of the course is cross-disciplinary, including approaches that come from anthropology, archaeology, philosophy, computing science, comparative psychology, primatology, and comparative linguistics, among others.

COGS 206: Introduction to Cognitive Linguistics (100/1238)

TR 08:30-09:45 AM Aug 29-Dec 09

Oakley, T

COGS 206 and COGS 406 taught together in the same room at the same time.

COGS 272: Morality and Mind (100/6924)

TR 02:45-04:00 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Deal, W

Recent research in cognitive science challenges ethical perspectives founded on the assumption that rationality is key to moral knowledge or that morality is the product of divine revelation. Bedrock moral concepts like free will, rights, and moral agency also have been questioned. In light of such critiques, how can we best understand moral philosophy and religious ethics? Is ethics primarily informed by nature or by culture? Or is ethics informed by both? This course examines 1) ways in which cognitive science--and related fields such as evolutionary biology--impact traditional moral perspectives, and 2) how the study of moral philosophy and comparative ethics forces reconsideration of broad cognitive science theories about the nature of ethics. The course examines the concept of free will as a case study in applying these interpretive viewpoints. Interdisciplinary readings include literature from moral philosophy, religious ethics, cognitive science, and evolutionary biology. Offered as COGS 272 and RLGN 272.

COGS 322: Human Learning and the Brain (100/2618)

TR 02:45-04:00 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Zull, J

This course focuses on the question, "How does the human brain learn?" Through assigned readings, extensive class discussions, and a major paper, each student will explore personal perspectives on learning. Specific topics include, but are not limited to: the brain's cycle of learning; neocortex structure and function; emotion and limbic brain; synapse dynamics and changes in learning; images in cognition; symbolic brain (language, mathematics, music); memory formation; and creative thought and brain mechanisms. The major paper will be added to each student's SAGES writing portfolio. In addition, near the end of the semester, each student will make an oral presentation on a chosen topic. Offered as BIOL 302 and COGS 322.

COGS 329: Performance and the Embodied Mind (1/2520)

TR 10:00-11:15 AM Aug 29-Dec 09

Popova, Y

In the past twenty years cognitive scientists working in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and related fields have made great progress in understanding perception, empathy, the human mind's sense of space and movement, emotions, meaning-making, and many other cognitive areas that are crucial to producing, enacting, and responding to performances on stage. This course will look at ways of incorporating many of the insights of cognitive science into the existing work of theatre and performance scholarship. The course will thus link a more traditional approach to the body in theatre and dance studies, where it has commonly been considered one of the main means of communication, to a most up-to-date research on embodied cognition. Observation of live and pre-recorded dance and theatre performances will regularly be used to supplement the theoretical discussion. Recommended preparation: COGS 101, COGS 202.

COGS 390: Introduction to General Semiotics (100/10111)

MW 05:00-06:15 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Berindeanu, F

Semiotics, the study of meaning and signs conveying meaning, is a central part of cognitive semiotics, or 'high level' cognitive semantics. This discipline is typically taught in departments of linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, or cultural studies. The domain of semiotics is in fact widely intersecting with other disciplines (general linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience, anthropology, music, literature, architecture, and the arts). Sign theory, text theory, studies of narrative structure, enunciation, natural logic, rhetoric and poetics, speech act forms, are important components in this field.

COGS 397: SAGES Capstone in Cognitive Science (100/1888)

Oakley, T

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 397: SAGES Capstone in Cognitive Science (200/2033)

Brandt, P

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 397: SAGES Capstone in Cognitive Science (400/2035)

Jack, A

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 397: SAGES Capstone in Cognitive Science (500/2036)

Popova, Y

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 399: Independent Studies in Cognitive Science (300/2038)

Jack, A

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 399: Independent Studies in Cognitive Science (400/2039)

Popova, Y

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 399: Independent Studies in Cognitive Science (100/7267)

Oakley, T

This course is for students with special interests and commitments that are not fully addressed in regular courses, and who wish to work independently.

COGS 406: Theory of Cognitive Linguistics I (200/2201)

TR 08:30-09:45 AM Aug 29-Dec 09

Oakley, T

COGS 206 and COGS 406 taught together in the same room at the same time.

COGS 408: Workshop on Cognitive Linguistics I (100/2200)

M 05:30-08:00 PM Aug 29-Dec 09

Cooperrider, K

This is the first in a two-course sequence (408 & 409) designed to provide experience in research methods in cognitive linguistics at the MA level. A workshop in which students read examples of cognitive linguistics research, develop their own topics (theoretical or empirical), and work on them to produce a final paper.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (100/2202)

Oakley, T

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (200/2204)

Jack, A

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (300/2205)

Popova, Y

Meeting time and location to be scheduled as needed.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (500/10764)

Turner, M

This course is a face-to-face seminar between students and instructor, aiming at letting and helping the students independently develop original research on well-defined topics in the field of cognitive linguistics. Themes can vary within the wide area of cognition and culture.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (600/10791)

Cooperrider, K

This course is a face-to-face seminar between students and instructor, aiming at letting and helping the students independently develop original research on well-defined topics in the field of cognitive linguistics. Themes can vary within the wide area of cognition and culture.

COGS 499: Independent Studies (400/10836)

Berindeanu, F

This course is a face-to-face seminar between students and instructor, aiming at letting and helping the students independently develop original research on well-defined topics in the field of cognitive linguistics. Themes can vary within the wide area of cognition and culture.

COGS 651: Thesis M.A. (1/2627)

Oakley, T

Cognitive Linguistics MA students are free to choose any on-campus primary faculty member in COGS as the instructor of record.

COGS 651: Thesis M.A. (3/2629)

Jack, A

Cognitive Linguistics MA students are free to choose any on-campus primary faculty member in COGS as the instructor of record.

COGS 651: Thesis M.A. (4/2630)

Popova, Y

Cognitive Linguistics MA students are free to choose any on-campus primary faculty member in COGS as the instructor of record.