Cognitive Science Major

  • Cognitive Science

    Matthew Lowder, Coordinator (Psychology)

    Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the structures and functions of the human mind. Cognitive science investigates such topics as our sensory/perceptual apparatus, including vision, audition, olfaction; internal mental processes such as language, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving; motor control and the organization of skilled behavior such as speech and musical performance; memory; consciousness; attention; and many other aspects of the human mind. Cognitive science requires a multi-disciplinary approach and includes such fields as psychology, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and computer science.

    The cognitive science major is offered as a Bachelor of Arts degree only.

  • Major

    The Cognitive Science Major

    Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.70).

    12 units, including:

    • PSYC-100 Introduction to Psychological Science

    • PSYC-200 Methods and Analyses

    • PSYC-333 Cognitive Science or  PSYC-337 Human Cognition

    • Two lab-based foundational courses chosen from:

    • Two additional foundation courses chosen from:

    • One advanced senior-level course chosen from:

      • BIOL-391 Senior Seminar

      • CMSC-327 Machine Learning

      • PSYC course in the 433-449 range (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

    • Four units of electives, chosen from:

      • ANTH-101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

      • BIOL-343 Neurobiology

      • BIOL-394 Undergraduate Research

      • CMSC-221 Data Structures

      • CMSC-240 Software Systems Development

      • CMSC-340 Independent Research

      • CMSC-395 Selected Topics (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

      • PHIL-251 Symbolic Logic

      • PHIL-390 Independent Research

      • PSYC-300 Methods and Analyses Core Project (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

      • PSYC course in the 331-359 range

      • PSYC-361 Independent Research (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

      • PSYC course in the 433-449 range (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

      • PSYC course in the 461-492 range (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)

    Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.

    Note: No more than two units of research-related coursework (PSYC-300, PSYC-361, PSYC-461-PSYC-492, BIOL-394, CMSC-340, and/or PHIL-390) may be applied to the major.