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CS/Pysch/ISyE 6795
(Graduate) Introduction to Cognitive Science 

Spring 2005

Ashok K. Goel

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Meeting Place: CoC 102
Meeting Times: 9:00 - 10:00 am, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Instructor: Ashok K. Goel 
  Email: goel@cc.gatech.edu 
  Phone: 404-894-8994 
  Office: CRB 394 - note that office hours will be in CCB 
          first-floor student lounge
  Office Hours: 10:00 - 11:00 am, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - note 
          that the best way to contact me at other times is by email. 

Teaching Assistant: To be announced

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Description: 
  CS/Psych/ISyE 6795 is a 3-credit graduate introductory course on 
  Cognitive Science. Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary
  study of mind and intelligence. It lies at the intersection of computer
  science (specially artificial intelligence), psychology, lingusitics, 
  biology (specially neurobiology), anthropology and philosophy.

Prerequisites: 
  None; however some background in computer science (e.g., basic notions of 
  data structures, algorithms and complexity) would be very helpful. 

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Objectives and Scope: 
  The objectives of the course are to introduce the basic concepts, models,
  methods, issues and debates in cognitive science. The course will cover the 
  main information-processing paradigms in cognitive science, and also the 
  main critiques of the paradigms. 

  By the end of the course, a student should know enough about cognitive 
  science that (i) the student can take advanced courses in cognitive 
  science and (ii) the knowledge will inform their subsequent work on any 
  topic in, or closely related to, cognitive science. 

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Format: 
  The course will consist of class lectures and discussions, a series of
  reading assignments, one term   project and two examinations. Class attendance 
  and active participation too will be important. 

Textbooks: 
  There are two textbooks for the class. 
    1. Thagard, P. (2005). Mind. MIT Press. 2nd Edition - Note: this book 
       will be published Jan 28, 2005 and MIT Press has agreed to ship us copies 
       by the end of the month. 
    2. Bechtel, W., & Graham, G. (Eds.). (1999). A Companion to 
       Cognitive Science. Malden: Blackwell. 

Webpage and Swiki: 
  The TA will maintain a webpage for the class, which will provide 
  information about the course including a day-by-day class schedule and 
  reading assignments. He will also maintain a class swiki, which will 
  provide a forum for posting class notes and discuss related issues. 

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Reading Assignments: 
  The reading assignments will be from the two textbooks as well as other
  papers. The instructor will make available copies of additional papers.

Classnotes:   
  Students will take turns as "designated note-takers," and post them to
  class swiki. The notes for a given class must be posted by the next class.

Term Project: 
  Each student will conduct survey the literature on a topic of his/her 
  choice and write a short report (10-12 pages) summarizing the results of
  the research. Students are strongly encouraged to meet appropriate 
  cognitive science faculty at Georgia Tech as part of their research. 

Examinations: 
  Both examinations will be take-home. The mid-term examination will come 
  roughly in the middle of the semester. The final exmination will be 
  comprehensive (i.e., it will cover the entire course).

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Grades: 
  The mid-term and the final exams will count for 25% and 45% of the grade 
  respectively. The term project will count for 25%. Class attendance, participation 
  in class and   online discussions, and taking and posting of class notes in designated
  classes will count for 5% of the grade. 

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Ashok Goel 
January 4, 2005

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