Introduction to Cognitive Science

COGS 001
Course Syllabus

Course: Introduction to Cognitive Science spring 2015

Time: CLASS: Tue and Thurs 1:30-2:45pm DISCUSSION: various times
Location: COB 102
Start/End Dates: Jan 20, 2015-May 8, 2015
Credit Hours: 4
Instructor: Ben Pageler
Email: bpageler@ucmerced.edu
Office: SSM 252a
Office Hours: M 1-2:30 and T 12-1 or by appointment

Required Readings:
Various readings will be available on the course web page
Books:
Phantoms in the Brain. V.S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee. 1998
Quill William Morrow: New York

Course Description: Introduction to cognitive science via philosophy, neuroscience, and

psychology. We will explore issues such as: What is the mind? How is it related to the
brain and world? How do illusions and stage magic work? Do such phenomena suggest
a certain structure to ‘the mind? This course will expose students to the amazing results,
both scientific and philosophical, that help to answer these questions about mind.

Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to

cognitive science. The idea is to get students thinking about cognition as well as how the
science of cognition proceeds under the heading ‘cognitive science’. This course
provides exposure to a variety of disciplines, with particular focus on how they cooperate
to study human thought and intelligent behavior.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will learn the basics of the following topics, and complete the following:
i) Students will acquire familiarity with the divergent theoretical frameworks of cognitive
science specifically including philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and psychology as well
as how the fields of inquiry integrate to form ‘cognitive science’.
ii) Students will acquire a basic familiarity with the different findings and the in
philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and psychology.
iii) Students will acquire a basic knowledge of methods of data collection and analysis
used in philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and psychology.

Class Rules: No cell phone or (unrelated) computer use in class. No significant

conversational interchanges. Asking a neighbor what was said is ok; asking for lengthy
clarification, or interchange, from a neighbor is not.