This specialization examines the ways in which our current understanding of human thinking is both illuminated and challenged by the evolving techniques and ideas of artificial intelligence and computer science. Our collective understanding of “minds” – both biological and computational – has been revolutionized over the past half-century by themes originating in fields like cognitive psychology, machine learning, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and game theory, among others. This specialization focuses on both the larger “historical” arc of these changes as well as current research directions and controversies.
Mind and Machine Specialization
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Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
(129 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
1 month at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
(129 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
1 month at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Earn a career credential
Share your expertise with employers
What you'll learn
Develop connections between our understanding of human minds and artificial minds in the field of cognitive science.
Discover and synthesize research in various disciplines related to cognitive science (e.g. computer science, psychology, neuroscience).
Connect cognitive science principles and ideas to your own understanding.
Overview
Skills you'll gain
- Human Development
- Systems Thinking
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Human Learning
- Problem Solving
- Mathematical Modeling
- Human Machine Interfaces
- Behavioral Economics
- Image Analysis
- Algorithms
- Analytical Skills
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
- Computer Graphics
- Computational Thinking
- Artificial Neural Networks
- Artificial Intelligence
- Probability
- Computer Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Game Theory
What’s included
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Taught in English
27 practice exercises
Advance your subject-matter expertise
- Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
- Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
- Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
- Earn a career certificate from University of Colorado Boulder
Specialization - 4 course series
What you'll learn
Describe the details of the Turing test, including its purpose, limitations, and potential impact.
Describe the details of Searle’s Chinese Room thought experiment, including its purpose, limitations, and potential impact.
Discuss previous and current attempts to create artificial systems that can pass the Turing Test in various domains.
Compute and outline the limitations of exponential and factorial growth functions.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Artificial Intelligence
Category: Theoretical Computer Science
Category: Problem Management
Category: Computational Thinking
Category: Human Machine Interfaces
Category: Psychology
Category: Human Learning
What you'll learn
Ascribe human and computational problems to various definitions of difficulty and problem solving techniques.
Use problem solving strategies to break down problems.
Describe the effects of various sources of bias in judgement and decision making.
Analyze and apply heuristic models and probability modeling to a variety of decision making scenarios.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Analytical Skills
Category: Deductive Reasoning
Category: Behavioral Economics
Category: Probability
Category: Algorithms
Category: Mathematical Modeling
Category: Problem Solving
Category: Computational Thinking
Category: Theoretical Computer Science
What you'll learn
Apply various models of human and machine vision and discuss their limitations.
Demonstrate the geon model of object recognition and its limitations.
Argue the benefits and drawbacks of the symbolist and visualist perspectives of mental imagery.
Recognize the single layer and multi-layer perceptron neural network models of artificial intelligence.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Computer Vision
Category: Artificial Neural Networks
Category: Image Analysis
Category: Machine Learning Methods
Category: Computer Graphics
Category: Deep Learning
Category: Psychology
Category: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
What you'll learn
Model the effects of multiple decision maker systems in various scenarios.
Analyze the Prisoner’s Dilemma and other Game Theory scenarios as a model of decision making and behavioral adaptation.
Discuss the relationships in genetic evolution models and developmental models of judgement and decision making.
Implement the design of autonomous agents as artificial life.
Skills you'll gain
Category: Game Theory
Category: Mathematical Modeling
Category: Simulations
Category: Sociology
Category: Human Development
Category: Psychology
Category: Behavioral Economics
Category: Systems Thinking
Category: Artificial Intelligence
Category: Anthropology
Category: Human Factors
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
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Frequently asked questions
The Specialization takes approximately 15 weeks to complete.
No background knowledge is necessary.
It is recommended you complete the courses in order.
More questions
Financial aid available,