Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of intelligent systems, both human and artificial.  Cognitive science aims to understand the processes and representations that are the basis for intelligent actions.   Research questions center on cognition, memory, problem solving, vision, and their computational embodiment.  The Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science is designed to provide students with an introduction to the questions of cognitive science and the variety of approaches used to answer those questions, including approaches drawn from psychology, computer science, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience. Students completing a minor in Cognitive Science will add an interdisciplinary perspective to the training received in their major, better preparing them for employment or further study in a variety of sciences and social sciences.

Cognitive Science Minor

The minor in cognitive science is awarded only to students completing an undergraduate major at UNC Charlotte. A minor in Cognitive Science consists of 18 semester hours:  three hours of required coursework, nine hours of restricted electives outside of the student’s primary major, and the remaining six hours of unrestricted electives.  To qualify for the Cognitive Science minor, students must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in courses applied to the minor. Because additions and deletions of courses may be made to correspond to current University offerings, students are encouraged to consult with the Program Director as they plan their schedules.

Required Course

PSYC 3216/ITCS 3216  Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)

Restricted Electives

(9 credit hours minimum from courses outside of the major.  Must take 3 of the following four options.) 
 Option 1--Any  ITCS Course Beyond ITCS 1212 (3) or ITIS 2300 Web-Based application Development

Option 2 --ENGL 4167 Mind & Language or ENGL 4263 Linguistics & Language Learning

Option 3--PHIL 3430 Mind, Cognition, & Behavior or PHIL 3235 Advanced Logic or PHIL 3410 Knowledge and Reality 

Opition 4--PSYC 3115 Sensation & Perception or PSYC 3116 Human Cognitive Processes 

Course Descriptions

ITIS 2300. Web-Based Application Development. (3) Prerequisite ITCS1214, or consent of the Department.  Basic concepts for developing interactive web-based applications; HTML, clint side scripting, server side scripting, user interface design considerations, information securiy and privacy considerations, system integration considerations.  Students will be required to develop working prototypes of web-based applications. 

ITIS 3130. Human-Computer Interaction. (3) Prerequisite: ITCS 2163 or 2170. Concepts of the design of the human-machine
environment, with special emphasis on human-computer interaction and how people acquire, store, and use data from the environment
and from computers.  Topics include: analysis, creation and improvement of equipment and environment to make them compatible
with human capabilities and expectation; analysis of existing equipment with respect to user usability and interfacing capabilities. (Fall, Alternate years) (Evenings)

ITIS 3131. Human and Computer Information Processing. (3)  Prerequisite:  ITCS 2163 or 2170.  Overview of methods people use to acquire, store, and use the data they receive from the environment and their implementation of computers.  Topics include:  perception, pattern recognition, attention, memory, knowledge representation, language, and problem solving.(On demand)

ITCS 3152. Symbolic Programming. (3)  Prerequisite:  ITCS 2214.  Basic concepts of symbolic programming including selected topics in artificial intelligence, heuristic searching, symbolic algebra, language parsing, and theorem proving.(Fall) (Evenings)

ITCS 3153. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. (3)  Prerequisite:  ITCS 3152 or consent of the Department.  Basic concepts  of artificial intelligence.  Topics include:  defining the problem as a state space search, production systems, heuristic search, basic problem-solving methods, game playing, knowledge representation using predicate logic, semantic nets, frames, and scripts, non-monotonic reasoning, statistical and probabilistic reasoning. (Spring) (Evenings)

ENGL 4161. Modern English Grammar. (3)  A study of the structure of contemporary English, with an emphasis on descriptive approaches. (Yearly)

ENGL 4263. Linguistics and Language Learning. (3)  Readings in, discussions of, and application of linguistically oriented theories of language acquisition, directed toward gaining an understanding of language-learning processes and stages. (Alternate years)

PHIL 3235. Advanced Logic. (3)  Advanced systems of logic, with emphasis upon symbolic logic and formal systematic  characteristics such as axiomatics and proof techniques. (On demand)

PHIL 3245. Philosophy of Mind. (3)  Conceptual issues in the mind/body problem and the problem of other minds.  Analysis of concepts of intention, motivation, consciousness, imagination and emotion. (On demand)

PHIL 3410.  Knowledge and Reality.  (3) An examination of interrelated issues concerning belief, justification, knowledge, and existence and the implications of these for broader philosophical issues.  "Narrower" issues may include:  What is the source of our beliefs?  How do these sources affect our determinations of what fundamentally exists and what those things are like?  How do our assumptions about what exists affect the objects and methods of knowing?  When do beliefs become knowledge?  Are there some things about the world that we cannot know about?  Broader issues may include:  What kind of thing is a mind or a self?  How does such a thing fit into a natural world?  What can non-human animals or computers tell us about intelligence?  In what sense can collective entities engage in intentional behavior?  

PSYC 3115. Sensation and Perception. (3)  Prerequisite:  PSYC 1101. An introduction to the sensory and perpetual processes that provide the means to experience and make sense of the physical world in which we live. Topics include discussions of how sensory data are acquired, processed, and interpreted. (Yearly)

PSYC 3116. Human Cognitive Processes. (3)  (C) Prerequisite:  PSYC 1101.  Processes involved in such complex human behaviors as language (acquisition and usage), memory and problem solving with emphasis upon experimental findings and current theories. (Fall, Spring)

PSYC 3122. Cognitive and Language Development. (3)  Prerequisites:  PSYC 1101 and 2120.  Theory and research on the development of thought and language in children including such topics as theories of cognitive development, the development of perception, representation of knowledge, memory, language and problem solving. (Alternate years)

PSYC 3216/CSCI 3216. Introduction to Cognitive Science. (3) Prerequisite:  Permission of the department.  Interdisciplinary introduction to the science of the mind.  Broad coverage of such topics as philosophy of mind, human memory processes, reasoning and problem solving, artificial intelligence, language processing (human and machine), neural structures and processes, and vision. (Same as ITCS 3216) (Spring, Alternate years)

PSYC 3313. Neuropsychology. (3)  Prerequisite:  PSYC 3113 or equivalent. Brain function and behavior, especially in individuals believed to be brain damaged (e.g., by stroke, Alzheimer’s, or head injury), general principles of brain function and of human neuropsychology, including higher functions (e.g., memory and language),  Neuropsychological assessment. (Yearly)