Courses

Core Courses

ICOS 2201: Introduction to Cognitive Science (3 credits). Cognitive science is the study of the mind, i.e., of how knowledge is acquired and used. Cognitive scientists use theories and methods drawn from many disciplines including cognitive psychology, neuroscience, philosophy of mind, linguistics, computer science, artificial intelligence, physics, mathematics, biology, and anthropology. They ask questions such as: How do people acquire language? What are the neural bases of perceiving, learning and remembering? What is the nature of knowledge? Can machines think? How do experts differ from novices? Are there innate ideas? How did human intelligence evolve? This course introduces students to the conceptual frameworks and methods used in the various disciplines that constitute cognitive science. The course is team-taught by professors from the three university campuses. The format is lecture/discussion. This course is required for cognitive science minors, but open to all students. No prerequisites. Fall.

ICOS 2950: Research Modules in Cognitive Science (3 credits). This course introduces students to some of the research strategies in the different disciplines of cognitive science, by using faculty research programs at Georgetown as examples. Main Campus and Medical Center faculty offer research modules, from which students select three. In each module, students learn about and become engaged in some of the current research of the faculty member. A paper is normally required to complete each module. This course is required for cognitive science minors, but open to all students. Prerequisite: ICOS-2201. Spring.

Additional ICOS Courses

ICOS 4949, ICOS 4941: Research Tutorial in Cognitive Science. This is an independent research course, offered for a variable number of credits. Interested students should identify a Cognitive Science faculty member who agrees to supervise the student’s research, and written permission must be obtained from that faculty member in order to enroll. Cognitive Science minors who are considering undertaking a senior thesis may undertake preparatory work for the thesis during their junior year via this course.

ICOS 3325: Brain Diseases,Rsrch,Treatment (3 credits). This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to study brain function through dysfunction. It covers basic concepts in neuroscience, ranging from cellular and molecular underpinnings to structural and functional differences observed in various brain-based diseases and disorders. These concepts build to an understanding of pathology as well as points of intervention. Special emphasis is placed on (1) bridging basic neural mechanisms (neurotransmitters, circuits, systems) and higher brain processes (emotion, cognition, memory) and (2) understanding the methods of research and assessment crucial to studying brain dysfunction and disorder. The course will involve lectures, student presentations, and discussion of primary literature. Specific disorders and topics vary semester to semester, but course modules focus on core neuroscience principles and concepts, behavioral and psychiatric disorders (drug abuse, schizophrenia, obesity), and neural injury and neurodegenerative disorders (traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s). Prerequisites: introductory biology, a neuroscience course, or permission of the instructor.

ICOS 4970, ICOS 4971: Senior Thesis in Cognitive Science. Students who are undertaking a senior thesis in cognitive science must enroll for this course for a minimum of four credits distributed across the two semesters of their senior year. The number of credits and their distribution across semesters must be approved by the thesis mentor. The mentor’s written permission is required to enroll for this course.

Courses Designated as Fulfilling the Distribution Requirement

To meet the Distribution Requirement, courses must substantively participate in cognitive science inquiry. Owing to term-to-term changes in course offerings, we do not provide a comprehensive list of approved courses. To see the course offerings for a given academic semester please check out the course catalog or schedule of classes here. Below offers general guidance about appropriate courses from each of our participating departments. Note that the Director is the final arbiter of which courses satisfy the requirement and he or she must approve courses as such.

Biology

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • BIOL 1203/1204: Introductory Biology (for non-biology majors, the 2-course sequence may count as one course toward the distribution requirement)
  • BIOL 1025: The Biology of How We Think

Computer Science

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • COSC 1010: Intro to Comp Science: Python
  • COSC 1020: Computer Science I
  • COSC 1030: Computer Science II

Linguistics

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • LING 1000: Intro to Language
  • LING 5151: Language Acquisition
  • LING 413: Psycholinguistics

Mathematics

  • Any courses at the 2000 level or above
  • MATH 2460: Intro to Mathematical Biology

Philosophy

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • PHYL 1500: Intro to Philosophy
  • PHYL 1501: Critical Knowing
  • PHYL 1903: Intro to Philosophy of Thought

Physics

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • PHYS 1101: The Science of Sound and Sight

Psychology

  • Any courses at the 1000 level or above
  • PSYC 2300: Cognition: Info in the Brain
  • PSYC 2310: Psychology of Language
  • PSYC 3200: Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSYC 3300: The Psychology of Memory


Other Cognitive Science Courses

Some graduate courses that might be of interest to our students are offered through the neuroscience department:

  • NSCI 6003: Functional MRI: Theory and Practice
  • NSCI 6004: Brain and Language
  • NSCI 6005: Functional Neuroimaging and Cognition