Course Descriptions

This course will examine the many ways in which the word consciousness has been used in professional and popular literature, and the hidden as well as explicit assumptions held by consciousness scholars about the nature of consciousness. It will explore the field from diverse approaches: cognitive science, neuroscience, cross-cultural studies, existential-phenomenological methodologies, and other related disciplines. It is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of consciousness studies. In doing so, it will examine the most widely celebrated theories and problems concerning the nature of consciousness, and will encourage students to examine their personal beliefs about consciousness based on their individual experiences. The course was created for the Consciousness Studies Focus. It should be taken during the student’s second term, or as soon as she or he can schedule it.