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Symbolic Systems
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  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Symbolic Systems
  5. Minor

Minor

Minor
  • Symbolic Systems opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
18 Units
University Minimum Units
18 Units
Interests
Technology, Data and Information Sciences, Design & User Experience, Ethics, Languages
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Engineering & Computer Science, Mathematics & Data Sciences

Overview

The observation that both human beings and computers can manipulate symbols lies at the heart of Symbolic Systems, an interdisciplinary program focusing on the relationship between natural and artificial systems that represent, process, and act on information. Computer programs, natural languages, the human mind, and the Internet embody concepts whose study forms the core of the Symbolic Systems curriculum, such as computation, representation, communication, and intelligence. A body of knowledge and theory has developed around these notions from disciplines such as philosophy, computer science, linguistics, psychology, statistics, neurobiology, and communication. Since the invention of computers, researchers have been working across these disciplines to study questions such as: in what ways are computers and computer languages like human beings and their languages; how can the interaction between people and computers be made more accessible and more beneficial?

Requirements

Program Requirements

Symbolic Systems Minor Overview

Students may minor in Symbolic Systems by completing either Option 1 or Option 2. For additional information, see the Symbolic Systems minors website opens in a new tab.

Option 1

One course in each of the following core areas (please note that several of these courses have prerequisites):

Complete all of the following requirements:
Cognition
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
SYMSYS 1

Minds and Machines

4 Units
PSYCH 45

Introduction to Learning and Memory

3 Units
PSYCH 50

Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

4 Units
and
Logic and Computation
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
CS 103

Mathematical Foundations of Computing

3-5 Units
PHIL 150

Mathematical Logic

4 Units
PHIL 151

Metalogic

4 Units
and
Computer Programming
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
CS 106B

Programming Abstractions

3-5 Units
CS 106X

Programming Abstractions (Accelerated)

3-5 Units
CS 107

Computer Organization and Systems

3-5 Units
and
Philosophical Foundations
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
PHIL 80

Mind, Matter, and Meaning

5 Units
SYMSYS 1

Minds and Machines

4 Units
and
Linguistic Theory
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
LINGUIST 105

Phonetics

4 Units
LINGUIST 110

Introduction to Phonology

4 Units
LINGUIST 121A

The Syntax of English

4 Units
LINGUIST 121B

Crosslinguistic Syntax

4 Units
LINGUIST 130B

Introduction to Lexical Semantics

3-4 Units
and
Computation and Cognition
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
CS 131

Computer Vision: Foundations and Applications

3-4 Units
CS 221

Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques

3-4 Units
CS 228

Probabilistic Graphical Models: Principles and Techniques

3-4 Units
CS 229

Machine Learning

3-4 Units
CS 231A

Computer Vision: From 3D Perception to 3D Reconstruction and Beyond

3-4 Units
CS 234

Reinforcement Learning

3 Units
CS 379C

Computational Models of the Neocortex

3 Units
EE 104

Introduction to Machine Learning

3-5 Units
LINGUIST 180

From Languages to Information

3-4 Units
or
LINGUIST 280

From Languages to Information

3-4 Units
or
CS 124

From Languages to Information

3-4 Units
LINGUIST 182

Computational Theories of Syntax

3-4 Units
or
LINGUIST 282

Computational Theories of Syntax

3-4 Units
NENS 220

Computational Neuroscience

4 Units
PHIL 356C

Logic and Artificial Intelligence

2-4 Units
PSYCH 164

Brain decoding

3 Units
PSYCH 204

Computation and Cognition: The Probabilistic Approach

3 Units
PSYCH 209

Neural Network Models of Cognition

4 Units
PSYCH 240A

Curiosity in Artificial Intelligence

3 Units
or
EDUC 234

Curiosity in Artificial Intelligence

3 Units
PSYCH 242

A modern explainable AI approach to Theoretical Neuroscience

3 Units
or
APPPHYS 293

A modern explainable AI approach to Theoretical Neuroscience

3 Units
PSYCH 249

Large-Scale Neural Network Modeling for Neuroscience

3 Units
or
CS 375

Large-Scale Neural Network Modeling for Neuroscience

3 Units
PSYCH 263

Neuroscience of Visual Intelligence

3 Units
PSYCH 279

Measuring Learning in the Brain

3 Units
or
EDUC 464

Measuring Learning in the Brain

3 Units
or
NEPR 464

Measuring Learning in the Brain

3 Units
or
SYMSYS 195M

Measuring Learning in the Brain

3 Units

SYMSYS 1 Minds and Machines (formerly SYMSYS 100) may not be counted for both the Cognition and Logic & Computation areas.

Option 2

Complete both of the following requirements:

Complete all of the following requirements:
Introduction
Complete all of the following course(s):
SYMSYS 1

Minds and Machines

4 Units
and
Interdisciplinary Concentration

An interdisciplinary SSP concentration is listed on the SSP website opens in a new tab.

To qualify, the selection of courses used for the minor must be interdisciplinary; it must either include courses from at least three departments or have more than one course from each of two departments. The Individually Designed SSP Concentration option is not available for a minor. Contingent Electives, available when Symbolic Systems major Core courses are cross-applied to Concentration requirements, do not apply to a minor in Symbolic Systems.