Instructor: Erica Briscoe
Email: ebriscoe@rci.rutgers.edu
Office: Busch 123
Office hours: By appointment

Course Description: The field of cognitive science is very broad and though its descriptions vary, in general, it can be considered "the science of the mind, of intelligence, of thought, a science concerned with knowledge and its uses". Regardless of the exact definition, cognitive science consists of an interdisciplinary study of the human mind with several disciplines intertwining to provide for comprehensive investigation. Fields included are: psychology, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and computer science. This course will examine the historical and contemporary principles, issues, and research findings of these core cognitive science disciplines. No prior knowledge or experience with any of the sub-fields is necessary.

Textbook: Jay Friedenberg & Gordon Silverman (2006). Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Study of Mind, Sage Publications. Additional handouts will be provided by instructor.

Assignments and Grading:

1. Tests: 1 final exam -- 50 points. The exam will be a multiple-choice test. **The exam can only be missed with a documented official excuse (e.g. a doctor’s note). In case of emergency, contact me BEFORE the exam. Make-up exams will be essay/short answer questions.

2. 1 paper (@ 5 pages) -- 40 points Paper should be on a topic related to a current issue that we discuss in class. The specific topic may be the topic of journal article, a book (or chapter), or from a collection of sources. The topic must be approved by the instructor. This assignment will be discussed further in class.

3. 5-10 minute presentation of paper—10 points. Student will present to the class his/her paper.

4. Extra-Credit will be available by participating in a psychological research study. This will be discussed in class and credit will be assigned on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance:

Students are required to attend classes. Up to 2 classes can be missed without an official excuse. If you miss more than 2 classes without any medical reasons or more than 4 classes for any reason, a special permission from the instructor is needed to complete the class.

Plagiarism:

All student work must be his/her own. Outside sources must be appropriately referenced in all written work. Any student who plagiarizes or is caught cheating will, at the very least, receive a failing grade for the course. More severe consequences (e.g., expulsion) are also possible.

Schedule (tentative)