Program Overview

Course Overview

The course COGS 101, Kinds of Minds, is an interdisciplinary course that draws on the cognitive sciences to compare human, animal, and artificial intelligences.

Course Details

• Course Code: COGS 101
• Duration: 17 weeks
• Start Date: 23 February 2026
• End Date: 21 June 2026
• Trimester: Trimester 1
• CRN: 36037
• Campus: Kelburn
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,083.45
  • International students: NZ$5,058.00
• Lecture Times:
  • Monday: 9:00am
  • Tuesday: 9:00am
  • Thursday: 11:00am
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Define basic terms and concepts used in the study of human, animal, and artificial minds.
2. Describe how philosophy, psychology, biology, computer science, and linguistics contribute to the study of mind.
3. Explain how genetic, environmental, and cultural factors interact to determine the nature of biological minds.
4. Compare and contrast how human, animal, and artificial minds solve cognitive problems such as perception and language.
5. Research and explain a specific aspect of cognition by integrating multiple perspectives and/or comparing different kinds of mind.

How This Course is Taught

This course requires in-person attendance for tests and labs, and to participate in class discussion. There is no online alternative for these assessments or activities. iLectures are delivered in-person and will be recorded and posted for use in revision and for students who were unable to attend class.

Assessment

• Test 1: Fundamentals in the Study of Minds (20%)
• Test 2: Perception (20%)
• Test 3: Language (20%)
• Video Assignment: Produce a 10-minute video on an aspect of mind that integrates content from the course (20%)
• Learning Logs: Regular online learning logs that involve review and reflection on course content and preparation for upcoming tests and assignments (20%)

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

1. Achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50%.
2. Submit at least 10 learning logs. Note: Late logs will receive a mark of 0 but will still count toward mandatory requirements.

Group Work

There is no required group work in this course. Students will engage in discussion in lectures and labs.

What You'll Need to Get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.