Tentative Course Offerings

COGS 87 (A00): How Minds & Cultures Make Religion & Superstition | Professor Gedeon Deak

Why do humans, individually and in groups, attribute natural events to supernatural agents? How does the human brain accept religious beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence? We will examine how cognitive, developmental, and cultural factors work together to cause humans to believe in the supernatural.

Class meet Tu 9:00am-9:50pm in CSB 272

COGS 119: Programming for Experimental Research | Professor Martin Zettersten

In this course, you will learn state-of-the-art “tools of the trade” for doing experimental work in the cognitive and behavioral sciences. The course will provide (1) theoretical background in principles and best practices for designing effective experiments and (2) a hands-on introduction to modern tools for conducting experiments. The course will take a practical approach to getting started doing experimental research by tackling questions such as:

• How can I build a behavioral experiment? 

• How can I manage projects more efficiently?

• What tools can I use to wrangle and understand my data?

• How can I contribute to open and cumulative science?

This course is ideal for students who are interested in getting involved in experimental research and building their data science toolkit. The course is designed to be accessible to students with minimal previous programming experience. If you have never programmed before and are curious how programming could benefit your experimental projects, this course is for you. At the same time, If you are an experienced programmer and would like to understand how to apply your skills to experimental research, this course is for you, too! By the end of the course, students will have built an experimental project that they can add to their data science portfolio.

Class meet TuTh 12:30am-1:50pm in PETER 104

Prerequisites: Cogs 14B or Math 11 or Psyc 70. Submit requests for prerequisite overrides via the UC San Diego Enrollment Authorization System (EASy).

COGS 160 (A00): Cognitive and Neuroscience for Architecture | Professor David Kirsh

This is a seminar and project-oriented class in which students and several faculty explore what is known at cognitive, neuroscientific and behavioral levels about the interaction of person and building (human building interaction, HBI). It is part of the emerging field of research concerned with applications of Cognitive Science and Neuroscience to Architectural and Urban Design. Topics include: what is HBI; how space and movement are cognized and used; what is architectural atmosphere; what is the metaverse and its forthcoming roles in architecture; how can we quantify effects of buildings on persons and study HBI scientifically; what is architectural legibility; what is place: how do we understand it and remember; how does architecture affect our emotions; how does it affect our work; how does it shape personal well-being and social dynamics. Students and faculty will critically present the contents of research papers, and work in practicums whose goal will be to investigate specific roles that science may play in reshaping architectural and urban design. Faculty include several members from Cognitive Science and the Salk Institute, guest lecturers from University of London, and architects from the US and abroad.

Class meet Monday 11:00am-1:50pm in CSB 003

Prerequisites: GPA of 3.25 and enrollment is by permission of the instructor only. Request enrollment via EASy.

COGS 160 (B00): Metabolic health Analytics | Professor Mary Boyle

This course offers an in-depth exploration of metabolic health through the lens of data science,
leveraging data from wearable technologies. Students will gain practical experience in collecting,
processing, analyzing, and interpreting health data, focusing on key metabolic indicators such as glucose
levels, physical activity, sleep quality, and stress.

Through a combination of lectures, hands-on projects, and a crossover experiment, students will learn to
use R for data analysis, develop predictive models, and derive personalized health insights. This upper-
division undergraduate course is ideal for those interested in health data analytics, epidemiology, and personalized medicine.

Class meet Monday 8:00am-10:50pm in CSB 003

Enrollment is by permission of the instructor only, request enrollment via EASy.

COGS 87 (A00): How Minds and Groups Make Religion and Superstition | Professor Gedeon Deak

Why do humans, individually and in groups, attribute natural events to supernatural agents? How does the human brain accept religious beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence? We will examine how cognitive, developmental, and cultural factors work together to cause humans to believe in the supernatural.

DSGN 119: Design at Large - Resilience In a Changing World | Kristen Vaccaro

The near future is clarifying itself. Over the coming decades, life will change as we know it on planet Earth. From climate instability to culture change, plagues of misinformation to global pandemics, human society faces more threats than at any other time in our history. At the same time, humanity is newly equipped to adapt, with emerging tools like artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and social innovation that have the power to reverse the narrative of impending global disruption. The time is now for us to integrate these pwoerful new methods - to intentionally design a more Just and Resilient future together.

The Resilience In a Changing World series will invite speakers to speculte on how we get from here to there, from our current inflection point to habitable futures where both our people and planet thrive amidst increasing uncertainty and change.

2 units, P/NP grade.  Meets Wednesdays 4:00pm-5:00pm at DIB 208.

Prerequisites: COMM 124A or COGS 10 or DSGN 1

DSGN 161: Generative AI for Digital Health | Edward Wang

This course explores recent advancements and potential applications of generative AI within healthcare and wellness. The course delves into design considerations and the impact of AI on topics like diagnostics, patient care, and health monitoring. Structured with invited expert talks and selected readings, students will engage in a quarter-long design project, conceptualizing how generative AI can innovate and disrupt the digital health landscape. The course emphasizes understanding the "how" and "why" of AI applications in the context of digital health, interviewing industry speakers, and exploring practical design and implementation strategies.

COGS 87 (A00): How Minds & Cultures Make Religion & Superstition | Professor Gedeon Deak

Why do humans, individually and in groups, attribute natural events to supernatural agents? How does the human brain accept religious beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence? We will examine how cognitive, developmental, and cultural factors work together to cause humans to believe in the supernatural.