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.
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:PSYC 331 Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 341 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 343 Psycholinguistics
CMSC 101 Minds and Machines
CMSC 150 Introduction to Computing
LING 203 Introductory Linguistics
PHIL 370 Philosophy of Mind
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 rangePSYC 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 461-492, BIOL 394, CMSC 340, and/or PHIL 390) may be applied to the major.