Cognitive Science 0229 - Cognitive Ethology

What is it like to be a bat using echolocation to hunt insects? Can we ever know? What is a mother bird thinking when feigning injury and drawing a predator's attention away from her young? Does she know what she is doing? Cognitive ethology is the attempt to join the biological study of how animals survive in their natural habitat and the psychological study of the animal mind. In this course we will examine the history and controversy of this field and take a critical look at some of the research that has come out of this synthesis. Students will be expected to read, discuss and critique primary and popular literature. Evaluations will be based on class participation, regular short written responses to the readings, and two major writing assignments.

Mind, Brain, and Information Writing and Research In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research.