Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

COMMUNICATION STUDIESformat. Topics have included the search fororigins in Spanish American literature, SpanishAmerican film and literature, Chicana/MexicanaNarrative, Contemporary Spanish Poetry,and Cervantes’ Don Quijote. Prerequisite: a300-level course in Spanish or permission ofinstructor. May be repeated once when topicvaries. (Each spring)490 Independent Study491 Spanish Honors Thesis492 Independent StudyOff-Campus/NSOCCOGNITIVE SCIENCEHenry Gorman, directorCognitive science is the multidisciplinarystudy of mind in whichstudents consider the nature of knowledgeand thinking from a number ofdisciplinary perspectives. Cognitivescience uses the systematic applicationof psychology, mathematics, andcomputer science to understand thephilosophical issues of mind first raisedby Descartes and Locke in the 17thcentury. Cognitive science intersectsthe sciences, the social sciences, andthe humanities.A minor in cognitive science consistsof a minimum of six course credit unitsincluding Cognitive Science 120 or anapproved substitute (e.g., some sectionsof C/I and HWC 201), Philosophy110 or Mathematics 141 or CS 201,and four courses from approved classesin psychology, philosophy, computerscience, linguistics, and biology.120 Cognitive ScienceAddresses some of the ways in which suchvaried disciplines as psychology, computer science,linguistics, philosophy, and mathematicsask questions about the nature of mind. Specificcontent varies, but may include aspects ofphilosophy of mind, knowledge representation,language processing, artificial intelligence, andneurophysiology. (Each January)COMMUNICATIONSTUDIESMichael Fairley, chair; Brett Boessen,Kathleen Campbell, Kirk Everist,Daniel SetterbergDebra Flowers (Adjunct Instructorin Communication Studies)Andy Williams (Technical Coordinator)Bonnie Beardsley andW. D. Narramore, Jr. (Emeriti)The Communication Studies Departmentis a multidisciplinary program offeringformal instruction and practice in thedisciplines of speech and social interaction,theatre, and media studies.A major in communication studiesconsists of a minimum of eight coursecredit units. The student may select anarea of emphasis or a balanced set ofcourses in speech, theatre, and mediastudies. If an emphasis is declared,at least six courses must be taken inthe area of emphasis and at least twocourses outside the focus area. For abalanced major, students may take nomore than five courses in a single focusarea and must take at least one coursefrom each focus area. Entry into themajor is through Speech 112 or 222,Theatre 142 or 221, or Media 121,contingent upon the student’s particularinterest. At least three courses mustbe taken at the 300-level or above,regardless of the approach selected.Students seeking to do directed orindependent study courses mustcomplete the required prerequisitesin the area in which they wish to doadvanced work. Students should consultwith faculty in the departmentconcerning courses in other disciplinesthat would contribute importantly totheir work in communication studies.96 |COURSES OF INSTRUCTION