Overview

The purpose of Psych 489 is to introduce students to the emerging, interdisciplinary field of cognitive science. The course is divided into five conceptual units. In Unit 1, we will first review a set of basic issues in cognitive psychology, and then examine how those issues are studied by cognitive scientists. Unit 2 surveys the recent history of cognitive neuroscience and reviews work in this field . Unit 3 covers linguistics and Unit 4 covers artificial intelligence. Unit 5 focuses on the perspective of philosophy in cognitive science.

Course Outline

Grades. Final grades are based on the total out of 240 possible points. Four exams count for 120 points, a research report for 80 points, and 20 class activities for 40 points. The cutoffs follow the standard 90-80-70-60 distribution (see below). However, the cutoffs for A and B may be lowered (but not raised), so that (1) the top 10% of the class receives an A, and (2) the next 20% receives a B.

Exams. Each unit will conclude with a 30-point, multiple-choice exam based on the readings and corresponding lectures. The lowest score from your five exams will be dropped. Accordingly, there are no makeup exams; if you cannot take an exam, you will receive a 0 on that test and it will count as your low score.

Research Report. You will select a specific topic from the textbook, and prepare a research report worth 80 points. Your report will be prepared in 3 steps. For the first step (20 points, due March 3), you will submit 10 references which support your topic. For step 2 (20 points, due March 31), you will summarize your references in a brief literature review. Step 3 (40 points, due on May 3) will integrate the previous parts in a report which focuses on a key question in your topic area, and proposes a novel approach for investigating the question. Handouts will be distributed detailing the instructions for each part of the report.

Class Assignments. Throughout the semester, you will participate in a variety of class activities and take-home assignments. These assignments are worth 2 points each, for a total of 40 points. If you miss an assignment due to an excused absence, you may request a makeup on the first date back. See Makeup Policy, below, in regards to missed assignments.

Lectures. Attendance at all lectures is required. You are also responsible for reading the book. Lectures will follow the organization of the book, covering approximately one chapter per week.

Administrative Details

Lecture Notes. Lectures will be presented in a variety of formats, including Powerpoint, computer whiteboard, and overheads. Lecture notes will not be available either electronically or in hard copy. Therefore, all students are encouraged to find one or more study partners, and to regularly exchange copies of notes.

Attendance. An attendance role will be taken each day, beginning the third week of instruction (January 30). Note that a maximum of FOUR UNEXCUSED absences are allowed. Students with five or more unexcused absences will automatically receive an “F”and be dropped from the course. The attendance role will be updated and posted on the course website at the end of each week. It is each student’s responsibility to check the role regularly, and to notify the instructor if there is an error.

If a student arrives late to class (i.e., after the attendance role has begun) they will be marked absent for that day, but they may submit any assigned work that is due in class. Similarly, any student that leaves class early—without the prior consent of the instructor—will also be marked absent for that day. A tardy can be excused by following the same policy as for absences (see below).

Excused absences. In general, students may occasionally miss class due to other important events. For an absence to be excused, two conditions must be satisfied: First, the absence must be for urgent personal or official business that cannot be rescheduled (e.g., military or professional training, SIUC-sponsored athletic events, medical emergency, school-closing due to snow, etc.). Personal matters that do not qualify as excused include: weddings, illnesses of roommates or other non-relatives, family vacations/trips, non-emergency medical exams, prescription-drug side-effects, blackouts and power outages, oversleeping, travel delays that occur during class dates, etc. Second, copies of official, dated documentation must be submitted. In order to request an excused absence, an absence report form must be completed. Copies of the absence report form are available on the course website, and include instructions for documenting an excused absence.

Makeup Policy. All scheduled exams and assignments are due in class on the assigned date. The course makeup policy applies as follows:

- Class assignments: an absence report form must be submitted before the absence, where possible (e.g., scheduled military training), or on the first date back after the absence.

- Research report: under no circumstances will late reports will be accepted, including cases that can be documented and that are beyond your control, such as computer failure or medical emergency. If you want to avoid receiving a 0 on your report, you are encouraged to turn it in early.

- Exams: because the lowest of five exams will be dropped, there are therefore no makeups for exams. Any exam that is missed will receive a 0.

Classroom Etiquette. Students are expected to behave politely and professionally at all times in class. Unacceptable behaviors include: use of a cell phone, pager, or personal music player, web-surfing, sleeping, reading a newspaper, or disrupting the lecture by making noise. When necessary, disruptive students may be asked to leave the class. If a student is asked to leave, they will be marked absent for that day.

Course Resources. A copy of the textbook is on reserve at Morris Library, and is available for 2-hour checkout.

Academic Honesty. All students are expected to read and follow the University guidelines regarding academic conduct. Any student in violation of these guidelines will, where circumstances merit (e.g., plagiarism, cheating during an exam), immediately receive a grade of F and be referred to the Dean for further review.

Grading Questions. Questions concerning grading (e.g., correction of a grading error) must be submitted in writing. Note that all questions must be submitted within one week of the exam or assignment return date (i.e., the date we return the item back to you).

Late Drop/Withdrawal. A late drop will only be approved when the student has documented the basis for the withdrawal before the end of the 8th week of class. Under no circumstances will a withdrawal be approved if documentation is submitted after the 8th week.

Satisfactory progress. In order to maintain satisfactory progress in the course, all students should earn a grade of C or better on each exam (i.e., above 70%). As a consequence, please note that any student who scores below 50% on an exam will be required to meet with the instructor before the next exam. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the meeting, and failure to schedule and appear for a meeting will result in dismissal from the course with an F. In addition, students who fail to maintain satisfactory performance may have a progress report sent to his or her respective Dean of Student Affairs.

Students performing in the Top 5% of this course: The Department of Psychology at SIUC values academic excellence and in recognition of the hard work and achievement of undergraduate students, invites those scoring in the top 5% of their class to a get-together in the department (during the following semester). This is an opportunity to meet with faculty members as well as students from other courses and to find out more about opportunities available in the department. Students who receive the letter of invitation appreciate the recognition this brings and are also able to use it while applying for jobs or admission to graduate school.

Letters of Recommendation. Students are reminded that their education at SIUC is one step in the process of preparing for a career in a professional field. In particular, many students will need 3 or more letters of recommendation from their instructors, in order to advance their careers, whether for graduate school or a job opportunity. Note that in order for faculty to adequately evaluate a student’s potential for future success, it is vital to make regular contact with the faculty (e.g., during office hours), and to request letters of recommendation from instructors of small classes (e.g., 30 students or less).