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Cognitive Science
Neuroinformatics
Bioinformatics
Special Tracks in Computer Science

 
   
 
Students may elect to obtain their Computer Science degree with a special concentration. Currently the department offers special tracks in Cognitive Science, Neuroinformatics, and Bioinformatics.

Cognitive Science Track in Computer Science

Summary: A major (B.S.) in Computer Science with a concentration in Cognitive Science.

Cognitive Science: An interdisciplinary course of study that merges insights from such key areas as computer science, psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience to understand issues involving cognition and behavior. A variety of other disciplines also contributing to the field include mathematics, anthropology, linguistics, vision science, and specializations in other cognitive domains.

A number of critical issues relate to this quest to understand and reproduce cognitive behaviors. These include exploring the brain as a computational mechanism, asking how computational mechanisms might do what the brain does, and considering the impact of answers to these questions on the ongoing attempt to understand the relationship between mind and brain. Cognitive Science addresses questions such as these, both by casting them within the appropriate philosophical framework and by considering the nature of specific behaviors in animal and machine. This curriculum provides important support for a Computer Science major interested in Artificial Intelligence or other facets of Cognitive Science.
 
 

Curriculum

Computer Science (44 credits)
Students will complete the normal requirements for a major in Computer Science. The application area requirements (16 credits) will be satisfied by the required courses in Psychology (see the list below). The senior project must be oriented toward Cognitive Science.

Cognitive Science
(credits included in the Computer Science curriculum: see below)
COSC 460 Current Topics: Introduction to Cognitive Science - Students pursuing the Cognitive Science track take a special, customized version of COSC 460 (Current Topics: Introduction to Cognitive Science). Normally, this Introduction to Cognitive Science course should be taken in the sophomore or junior year. Because students are permitted to take COSC 460 more than once, juniors and seniors should evaluate the other COSC 460 possibilities for potential relevance to the track (e.g., a Current Topics course such as Neural Networks or Computer Vision would be directly relevant to the Cognitive Science track). Note that such hours would be above the required hours, but would provide substantial benefit to the student.

Mathematics (4 credits)
MATH 240 Calculus I (4)

Psychology (16 credits)
PSYC 101 General Psychology (4)
PSYC 308 Physiological Psychology (4)
PSYC 408 Theories of Learning (4)
PSYC 409 Cognitive Psychology (4)

Philosophy (4 credits)
PHIL xxx Philosophy of Mind (4)

Biology (8 credits)
BIOL110 Human Biology (4)
  or
BIOL 203 Foundations of Biology I (4)
BIOL 300W Mental Illness: A Biological Perspective (4)

Core (22 credits)

General education (18-30 credits)
Natural and computational sciences (4 - a physics course is recommended)
       Note: 4 credits are already satisfied by the Biology requirement
Social science (satisfied the Psychology requirement)
Language (4-16)
Fine arts (4)
Humanities (4 - PHIL 241 Introduction to Philosophy is recommended)
Physical activity (2)

Other (0-12)
 

Summary of credits required for major
Computer Science (44)
Mathematics (4)
Psychology (16)
Philosophy (4)
Biology (8)
Core (22)
General education (18-30)
Other (0-12)

Total required credits: 128
 

Some other recommended courses
COSC 410 Computer Science Research (researching a Cognitive Science topic)
MATH 210 Elementary Statistics
MATH 260 Calculus II
MATH 349 Linear Algebra
MSNA 565 Neuroscience

 
 
 
 
 
 

NeuroInformatics Track in Computer Science
Summary: A major (B.S.) in Computer Science with a concentration in Neuroinformatics.

Neuroinformatics: An interdisciplinary course of study that focuses on understanding the cognitive and computational properties of the brain and using what is known about the brain to develop new computational mechanisms.

The role of neuroinformatics with regard to the Human Brain Project is described at
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/neuroinformatics/index.cfm

 A list of research groups in the U.S. and abroad may be found at http://www.neuroinf.org/

A Computer Science degree with a concentration in Neuroinformatics provides the chance for students to gain familiarity with a variety of areas that contribute to an understanding of cognition. These include programming, theory of computation, neural networks, simulation, artificial intelligence, psychology, physiology, neuroscience, chemistry, biology, and physics.
 

Curriculum

Computer Science (44 credits)
Students will complete the normal requirements for a major in Computer Science. COSC 306 (Principles of Bioinformatics) will be taken in lieu of COSC 315 (Databases and Information Systems), although the latter is advised as a general elective. The application area requirements (16 credits) will be satisfied by the other neuroinformatics track requirements. The senior project must deal with a neuroinformatics topic.

Mathematics (8 credits)
MATH 240 Calculus I (4)
MATH 260 Calculus II (4)

Psychology (12 credits)
PSYC101 General psychology (4)
PSYC 308 Physiological Psychology (4)
PSYC409 Cognitive psychology (4)

Biology (8 credits)
BIOL110 Human Biology (4)
 or
BIOL 203 Foundations of Biology I (4)
BIOL300W Mental Illness: a Biological Perspective (4)
 or
MSNA565 Neuroscience (4)

Chemistry (8 credits)
CHEM 203 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 204 General Chemistry II (4)

Physics (8-10 credits)
PHYS203 Physics 1 (5)
PHYS204 Physics 2 (5)
  or
PHYS101 General Physics I (4)
PHYS102 General Physics II (4)

Core (22 credits)

General education (14-26 credits)
Natural and computational sciences (satisfied by the other requirements)
Social science (satisfied by the Psychology requirement)
Language (4-16)
Fine Arts (4)
Humanities (4)
Physical activity (2)

Other (0-4)
 

Summary of credits required for major
Computer Science (44)
Mathematics (8)
Psychology (12)
Biology (8)
Chemistry (8)
Physics (8-10)
Core (22)
General education (14-26)
Other (0-4)

Total required credits:  128-138
 

Some other recommended courses
COSC 410 Computer Science Research (researching a Neuroinformatics topic)
COSC 380 Scientific methods of computer-based instrumentation
MATH 210 Elementary statistics
MATH 320 Numerical analysis
MATH 330 Differential equations
MATH 340 Linear algebra
PSYC 305 Statistics for the social sciences (if student is research oriented)
PHIL xxx Philosophy of Mind (*new course)

Pre-med students should also take:
CHEM 301Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 302Organic Chemistry II

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BioInformatics Track in Computer Science
Summary: A major (B.S.) in Computer Science with a concentration in Bioinformatics.

Bioinformatics: An interdisciplinary combination of biological and computational approaches to science to gain new insights into complex living systems. Methods developed in this discipline address outstanding questions in medicine, behavior, health, pharmacy, genetics, the environment, and other biologically related areas. Modern exploration at the frontiers of life-science research relies heavily upon computer simulation and analysis of biological systems. Current progress in genetic, medical, environmental, cellular, pharmacological and other related research arenas depends upon identifying, managing, storing, manipulating, and visualizing relevant data. As highly visible efforts such as the human genome project have demonstrated, the importance of such approaches is certain to increase. This track is an interdisciplinary effort between the Computer Science and Biology programs. As such, it introduces students to these new modes of understanding both fields.

Additional information pertaining to the field of bioinformatics can be found at the National Center for Biotechnology and the National Institutes of Health websites.
 
 

Curriculum

Computer Science (44 credits)
Students will complete the normal requirements for a major in Computer Science. COSC 306 (Principles of Bioinformatics) will be taken in lieu of COSC 315 (Databases and Information Systems), although the latter is advised as a general elective. The application area requirements (16 credits) will be satisfied by the other bioinformatics track requirements. The senior project must deal with a bioinformatics topic.

Mathematics (12 credits)
Math 240 Calculus I (4)
Math 260 Calculus II (4)
Math 210 Elementary Statistics (4)
 or
Math 370 Mathematical Statistics (4)

Biology (16 credits)
BIOL 203 Foundations of Biology I (requires C+ minimum)  (4)
BIOL 333 Genetics (4)
BIOL 405W Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
One 300 or 400 level BIOL course above the std requirements (4)
(preferably an "experimental" course)

Core (22 credits)

General education (22-34 credits)
Natural and computational sciences (4)
      Note: 4 credits are already satisfied by the Biology requirement
Social science (4)
Language (4-16)
Fine Arts (4)
Humanities (4)
Physical activity (2)

Other (0-12)
 

Summary of credits required for major
Computer Science (44)
Mathematics (12)
Biology (16)
Core (22)
General education (22-34)
Other (0-12)

Total required credits:  128
 

Some other recommended courses
COSC 410 Computer Science Research (researching a Bioinformatics topic)
COSC 380 Scientific methods of computer-based instrumentation
MATH 320 Numerical analysis
MATH 330 Differential equations
MATH 340 Linear algebra
PSYC 305 Statistics for the social sciences (if student is research oriented)
CHEM 203 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 204 General Chemistry II (4)

 
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Updated: 20 December, 2004