Cognitive Science
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Department Information
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.
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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:
Introduction to Psychological Science
Methods and Analyses
Cognitive Science or Human Cognition
Two lab-based foundational courses chosen from:
Behavioral Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Psycholinguistics
Minds and Machines
Introduction to Computing
Introductory Linguistics
Philosophy of Mind
One advanced senior-level course chosen from:
Senior Seminar
Machine Learning
PSYC course in the 433-449 range (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)
Four units of electives, chosen from:
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Neurobiology
Undergraduate Research
Data Structures
Software Systems Development
Independent Research
Selected Topics (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)
Symbolic Logic
Independent Research
Methods and Analyses Core Project (with approval of Cognitive Science coordinator)
PSYC course in the 331-359 rangeIndependent 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 (
, , -492, , , and/or ) may be applied to the major.