Cognitive Science ProgramState University of New York at Oswego

Curricular Changes, 2017Facutly Assembly Edition

This document presents the 2017 proposal, sanctioned by the Cognitive Science Program Advisory Board and theComputer Science Department, for making a small number of modest but significant changes to the Cognitive Sciencecurriculum.

Contents1 Justification 2

2 Revision of the Cognitive Science B.S. Degree 3

3 Revision of the Cognitive Science B.A. Degree 4

4 Revision of the Cognitive Science Minor 5

Author: Craig Graci, on behalf of Cognitive Science at Oswego

1 JustificationThe justification for changing the Cognitive Science curriculum at this time might best be expressed in terms of a threepart decomposition: a justification for changing the the B.S. Degree, a justification for changing the the B.A. Degree,and a justification for changing the Minor.

Justification for Changes to the B.S. Degree

Due to relatively recent changes in the Psychology curriculum on campus, students majoring in Cognitive Sciencewith the B.S. Degree option can no longer complete their major as written. Specifically, the Psychology Department isno longer regularly offering the 4 credit hour versions of Perception (Psy401), Biopsychology (Psy403) and Cognition(Psy405), which are an integral part of the current B.S. Degree program in Cognitive Science. As is appropriate,program deviations are being approved by the Director of Cognitive Science for B.S Degree students who have, due tothe Psychology Department rightly reconceiving its curriculum in the best interests of its students, had the curricularrug pulled out from underneath them. The proposed change to the B.S. Degree program in Cognitive Science willremedy the problem in a manner that adds flexibility to the program without sacrificing integrity.

Justification for Changes to the B.A. Degree

The B.A. Degree in Cognitive Science currently lacks referential integrity, due to the fact that Psy405 is no longerbeing offered. The proposed change to the B.A. Degree program in Cognitive Science will remedy this problemwithout changing the program in an otherwise significant manner.

Justification for Changes to the Minor

It has become clear in recent years that the Cognitive Science Minor would benefit from a change in the interpretationof just how the electives for the minor are drawn from the B.A. Degree. By means of this reinterpretation, the proposedchange to the Cognitive Science Minor will (1) simplify the minor, and (2) add an appropriate dimension of flexibilityto the minor.

Notes

1. The changes to the major, both B.A. Degree and B.S. Degree, are the obvious response to changes in thePsychology Department’s curricular offerings on which the degrees are dependent.

2. The changes to the curriculum also acknowledge the change in labeling of the ”Semiotics and the Study ofMeaning” course from Cas444 to Cog444, as was approved by faculty governance last semester.

2 Revision of the Cognitive Science B.S. DegreeSupport: The proposed change to the B.S. Degree in Cognitive Science is supported by (1) the Cognitive ScienceProgram Advisory Board, and (2) the Computer Science Department.

Summary of Changes

1. Credit hours: 69-71 → 682. Psy301/401 and Psy303/403 and Psy305/405, one at the 400 level (10 hours) → Psy303 and Psy305 and 3

credits from the Psy Depth courses (9 hours)3. Cas444 → Cog444, simply because of the recent change of label for this course.

Side by Side Differences

3 Revision of the Cognitive Science B.A. DegreeSupport: The proposed change to the B.A. Degree in Cognitive Science is supported by (1) the Cognitive ScienceProgram Advisory Board, and (2) the Computer Science Department.

Summary of Changes

1. Credit hours: 50-51 → 502. Psy305 or Psy405 → Psy3053. Cas444 → Cog444, simply because of a recent change in the course label.

Side by Side Differences

4 Revision of the Cognitive Science MinorSupport: The proposed change to the Minor in Cognitive Science is supported by (1) the Cognitive Science ProgramAdvisory Board, and (2) the Computer Science Department.

Summary of Changes

1. The new minor differs from the old minor by virtue of enhanced simplicity and flexibility deriving from therelaxation of a limiting constraint on the courses drawn from the B.A. Degree offerings. (The OR appearingin the B.A. Degree specification will, for the purposes of conceptually defining the Minor, be interpreted as aninclusive OR rather than an exclusive OR.)

2. Cog/Psy 435 “Cognitive Systems” was added as an optional elective because it is an upper division Cog-labelledcourse that was introduced into the curriculum since the last change in the Minor.

3. Cas444 → Cog444, simply because of the recent change of label for this course.

Side by Side Differences