Cognitive Science

  • 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.

  • 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:

    PSYC 331 Behavioral Neuroscience

    PSYC 341 Cognitive Neuroscience

    PSYC 343 Psycholinguistics

    Two additional foundation courses chosen from:

    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 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 461-492, BIOL 394, CMSC 340, and/or PHIL 390) may be applied to the major.