Old Undergraduate Symbolic Systems Core Curriculum -- available only to students who declared SSP through Autumn Quarter 2001-2002

• Logic
  • First-Order Logic (Phil 160A), and
  • Computability and Logic (Phil 160B)
    or
    Introduction to Automata and Complexity Theory
    (CS 154)
• Cognition
  • Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (Psych 40), and
  • Introduction to Perception (Psych 30)
    or
    Introduction to Human Neuropsychology (Psych 50)
    or
    Language and Thought (Psych 131)
    or
    Language Processing (Psych 132)
    or
    Cognitive Development (Psych 141)
• Computation and Artificial Intelligence
  • Programming Abstractions (CS 106B)
    or
    Programming Methodology and Abstractions (CS 106X), and
  • Discrete Structures (CS 103B)
    or
    Discrete Structures (Accelerated) (CS 103X)
    or
    Introduction to Computer Science (CS 109)
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (CS 121)
    or
    Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques (CS 221)
• Philosophical Foundations
  • Mind, Matter, and Meaning (Phil 80), and
  • Philosophy of Language (Phil 181)
    or
    Meaning and Experience (Phil 183)
    or
    Theory of Knowledge (Phil 184)
    or
    Philosophy of Mind (Phil 186)
    or
    Philosophy of Action (Phil 187)
    or
    Philosophical Applications of Cognitive Science (Phil 189)
• Natural Language
  • Introduction to Syntax (Ling 120), and
  • Introduction to Linguistic Meaning (Ling 130A)
    or
    Introduction to Lexical Semantics (Ling 130B)
    or
    Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics (Ling 230A)
    or
    Lexical Semantics (Ling 233A)
• Probability and Statistics
  • Introduction to Statistical Methods: Precalculus (Stat 60)
    or
    Theory of Probability (Stat 116)
    or
    Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists (Stat 90)
    or
    Probabilistic Analysis (Management Science and Engineering 120)
    or
    Introduction to Probability and Statistics (EE 178)
• Senior Seminar (Symbolic Systems 201), or a suitable advanced, interdisciplinary seminar (with approval of the Director). Integrates themes from core courses. Readings and discussions focused on problems and research of current interest.
• See Senior Seminar options for 2002-2003 and Senior Seminar options for 2001-2002

There are a total of 13 courses in the core; along with the five courses for a concentration, this makes 18 courses for the major (not counting prerequisites for those courses that have them). Hence, students who begin working on the major as sophomores should plan on taking approximately two courses per quarter towards the major, and those who begin as juniors will need to take approximately three courses per quarter towards the major. Courses that are prerequisites for many more advanced courses, such as CS 103, CS 106, CS 109, and Phil 80 should be taken relatively early, if possible.

Very few of the courses for the Symbolic Systems major are offered every quarter, and many are offered only once per year. The timing of particular courses may vary from year to year, so long-term plans may need to be revised. In recent years, the courses have tended to be offered in the quarters listed below, but there is no guarantee that this pattern will continue.

CS 154: Winter and Spring 
CS 221: Autumn

Ling 120: Autumn 
Ling 130: Winter 

Phil 80: Autumn and Spring, or just Winter 
Phil 159: Autumn 

Phil 160A: Winter 
Phil 160B: Spring 

Psych 30: Spring 
Psych 40: Winter 

Psych 131: Autumn 

Although students are not required to take core courses in any particular sequence, the following sample schedules may be helpful. A student who begins the major as a sophomore might have a schedule like this:

A student who begins the major as a junior might have a schedule like this: