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UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Cognitive Sciences offers the following undergraduate degrees:

• B.S. in Psychology (effective Fall 2019)
• B.S. in Cognitive Sciences (effective Fall 2013)

 

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Comparison of course requirements between BS Cognitive Sciences and BS Psychology
2025-26 Catalogue Requirements

Requirement	BS Cognitive Sciences	BS Psychology
Psychology Fundamentals	3 courses: COGS 9A-9B-9C	3 courses: COGS 9A-9B-9C
Statistics	3 courses: COGS 10A-10B-10C	3 courses: COGS 10A-10B-10C
Calculus	2 courses: MATH 2A-2B Single-Variable Calculus I-II	None
Programming	COGS 14P  Scientific Python or ICS 31  Intro to Programming	COGS 14P  Scientific Python
Research Seminar	COGS 109  Cog Sci Research Seminar	None
Background in Science	6 courses	6 courses
Core Courses	3 courses selected from: COGS 105  Statistical Learning COGS 106  Computational Lab Skills COGS 107  Cognitive Modeling COGS 108  Neural Analytics and 3 upper-division core courses selected from: COGS 130A  Perception and Sensory Processes COGS 130N  Neuroscience of Perception COGS 140J  Judgement and Decision Making COGS 140L  Learning and Decision Making COGS 140M  Human Memory COGS 150  Psychology of Language COGS 160A  Cognitive Neuroscience COGS 160D  Brain Disorders and Behavior	4 upper-division core courses selected from: COGS 120A  Abnormal Psychology COGS 120D  Developmental Psychology COGS 120H  History of Psychology COGS 120P  Personality Theories COGS 130A  Perception and Sensory Processes COGS 130N  Neuroscience of Perception COGS 140J  Judgement and Decision Making COGS 140L  Learning and Decision Making COGS 140M  Human Memory COGS 150  Psychology of Language COGS 160A  Cognitive Neuroscience COGS 160D  Brain Disorders and Behavior
Research Methods/Lab Courses	3 courses. For 2025-26, select from:  COGS 14M  Matlab Programming COGS 112M/LM  Psych Research Methods COGS 112N/LN  Intro FMRI Research COGS 112P/LP  Perception and Psychophysics Research COGS 112R/LR  Cognitive Robotics COGS 119  Learning and Memory COGS 119  Research Design COGS 119  Computational Models of Behavior	2 courses. For 2025-26, select from:  COGS 14M  Matlab Programming COGS 112M/LM  Psych Research Methods COGS 112N/LN  Intro FMRI Research COGS 112P/LP  Perception and Psychophysics Research COGS 112R/LR  Cognitive Robotics COGS 119  Learning and Memory COGS 119  Research Design COGS 119  Computational Models of Behavior
Electives	7 courses	7 courses

 

Comparison of requirements between BS Psychology and BA Psychology
2025-26 Catalogue Requirements

Requirement	BS Psychology offered by Dept of Cognitive Sciences in the School of Social Sciences	BA Psychology offered by Dept of Psychology (formerly Psychological Science) in the School of Social Ecology
Psychology Fundamentals	3 courses: COGS 9A-9B-9C. (same as PSCI 11A-B-C)	3 courses: PSCI 11A-11B-11C. (same as COGS 9A-9B-9C)
Statistics	3 courses: COGS 10A-10B-10C	1 course in Statistical Analysis (SOCECOL 13)
Programming	COGS 14P  Scientific Python	None
Lower Division Science	6 courses (e.g., COGS 60N  Neurobiology of Cognition) covering: Physics Chemistry Biology Math Statistics Logic and Philosophy of Science	None
Core Courses	4 upper-division core courses selected from: COGS 120A  Abnormal Psychology COGS 120D  Developmental Psychology COGS 120H  History of Psychology COGS 120P  Personality Theories COGS 130A  Perception and Sensory Processes COGS 130N  Neuroscience of Perception COGS 140J  Judgement and Decision Making COGS 140L  Learning and Decision Making COGS 140M  Human Memory COGS 150  Psychology of Language COGS 160A  Cognitive Neuroscience COGS 160D  Brain Disorders and Behavior	4 upper-division core courses: PSCI 101D  Life Span Development PSCI 102C  Abnormal Psychology PSCI 103H  Health Psychology PSCI 104S  Social Psychology
Research Methods/Lab Courses	2 courses. For 2025-26, select from:  COGS 14M  Matlab Programming COGS 112M/LM  Psych Research Methods COGS 112N/LN  Intro FMRI Research COGS 112P/LP  Perception and Psychophysics Research COGS 112R/LR  Cognitive Robotics COGS 119  Learning and Memory COGS 119  Research Design COGS 119  Computational Models of Behavior	1 course in Research Design (SE 10)
Field Work	None	1 course in Field Study (e.g., SOCECOL 195)

 

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COURSE OFFERINGS

For the most current course offerings, check WEBSOC directly.
To learn more about the classes (including prerequisites and course descriptions), click here.

REMINDERS:

1. All academic advising is handled by the UG Student Affairs Office not the department. Check this page for appropriate forms and this page for advising options/contact information.
2. Due to the high volume of majors, many (if not all) courses will remain restricted to MAJORS only (L RST). We encourage minors and potential change of majors to take courses during Summer.
3. Effective FALL 2025, all course offerings on WEBSOC will be listed under the department name COGS only. All B.S. Cog Sci and B.S. Psych majors will have access to all courses unless noted below. 
4. Cog Sci and Psych majors planning to graduate by Spring 2026 are strongly encouraged to enroll in one (1) lab per quarter. If you choose to wait until Spring to fulfill this requirement, we do not guarantee availability of seats. 
5. If there is no B or X restriction listed, authorization codes are not being used. Do not request one from the instructor or the department. 

 
Below is the list of courses planned for the 2025-26AY. Course information is subject to change. Check back regularly for updates. 
Courses taught by other departments and crosslisted with with Cog Sci are noted in the "Instructor" section (e.g., Offered by [insert dept name]). 

 
ATTENTION B.S. COG SCI AND B.S. PSYCH MAJORS: Please read the email that was sent to all current Cog Sci and Psych (B.S.) majors on MON, 5/5.  
 
As of 5/22, the X authorization code restriction has been placed on all lab courses (112M/LM, 112N/LN, 119) for Fall. Auth codes are NOT being distributed by the instructors - do not ask them for codes. 
 

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FALL 2025 COURSES:

Courses that fulfill requirements (as noted below in the table) have been updated and are based off of the latest (2025-26) requirements as listed in the UCI General Catalogue:  

• B.S. COG SCI Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.
• B.S. PSYCH Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.

Earlier catalogue year requirements are archived and can be found here.

 

 

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WINTER 2026 COURSES:

Courses that fulfill requirements (as noted below in the table) have been updated and are based off of the latest (2025-26) requirements as listed in the UCI General Catalogue:  

B.S. COG SCI Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.
B.S. PSYCH Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.
Earlier catalogue year requirements are archived and can be found here.

 

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SPRING 2026 COURSES:

Courses that fulfill requirements (noted below in the table) are based off of the current (2025-26) requirements in the UCI General Catalogue.

• B.S. COG SCI Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.
• B.S. PSYCH Requirements (for 2025-26) can be found here.

Earlier catalogue year requirements are archived and can be found here.

 

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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE

Academic advising is handled by the School of Social Sciences' Undergraduate Student Affairs Office and not within the department. For questions concerning course planning, majors and minors within the School of Social Sciences, degree checks, and information concerning honors and graduation, contact Social Sciences Undergraduate Student Affairs. Academic advising is provided through in-person walk-ins, Zoom drop-ins, and scheduled appointments. To determine which form of advising works for you, please check: https://www.undergrad.socsci.uci.edu/ssusa/advising.php. The office can also be reached at: socsci@uci.edu or (949) 824-6803.

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HONORS PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES

The Honors Program is designed for B.S. Psychology and B.S. Cognitive Sciences majors who are interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology or seeking challenging research experiences as a capstone to their undergraduate experience. The program includes rigorous courses in Experimental Psychology, seminar classes, over one year of research experience, and culminates in an honors thesis.

For information about the honors program and to download the application, please visit: Honors Program in Psychology.

If you have questions about the Honors Program, please send an e-mail addressed to Professor Barbara Dosher (Honors Program Director) at: cogsci@uci.edu.

 

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HONOR SOCIETY (PSI CHI)

Students meeting the following criteria are eligible to become part of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.

• Junior or Senior status
• Completed at least two quarters at UCI
• Completed at least four upper division psychology courses (at UCI)
• Psychology GPA in the upper 10% of the major
• Overall GPA of at least 3.3

Invitations are sent to undergraduate majors in Psychology, Psychological Science, and Cognitive Sciences who meet the above criteria.

If you have questions about Psi Chi, please contact Dr. Jenny Rinehart (advisor and associate professor of teaching) in the Department of Psychology (formerly Psychological Science) in the School of Social Ecology at: rineharj@uci.edu.

 Psi Chi Website

 

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ROBERT J. GLUSHKO PRIZE

The Robert J. Glushko Prize recognizes undergraduate excellence in Cognitive Science. A letter of recognition and a $500 cash prize will be awarded each year to undergraduate Cognitive Sciences or Psychology (B.S.) majors who are engaged with the Cognitive Science community at UCI and have achieved excellence through:

• Outstanding achievement in coursework across the Psychology or Cognitive Sciences curriculum; and
• Sustained engagement with and contribution to faculty-directed research culminating in a paper and/or an oral research presentation.

Eligibility: B.S. Cognitive Sciences or B.S. Psychology students admitted into the Honors Program in Cognitive Sciences and Psychology.

Past recipients include:

• 2021-22: Vivian Nguyen (B.S. Psychology) - UROP funded research project titled, "Everyone Knows...: Why Do Generic Statements Indicate Widely Shared Knowledge?" Vivian was mentored by Professor Barbara Sarnecka and graduate student Jeff Coon.
• 2021-22: Ren-Hui Michelle Tham (B.S. Cognitive Sciences). UROP funded project titled, "Instrumental Divergence and Goal-Directed Choice." Michelle was mentored by Professor Mimi Liljeholm. 
• 2022-23: Gloria Cheng (B.S. Cognitive Sciences). Honors thesis titled, "Quick thinking: Shorter inter-trial intervals enhance specific episodic memory reinstatement in decision-making." Gloria was mentored by Professor Aaron Bornstein.

 

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COGNITIVE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

The purpose of the CSA is to empower all students interested in Cognitive Science and related majors by creating a tight-knit community through interactions with guest speakers, professional development, research opportunities, and just having fun together. Most importantly, the CSA wants to help the cognitive sciences community have more opportunities to learn and volunteer, as well as have peer academic support.

 Cognitive Science Association Website

 

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PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Psychology Student Association (PSA) is a social and professional organization at UC Irvine that is created to help and encourage students with an interest in the field of Psychology. The core purpose of our organization is to help these students advance their academic, professional, and social achievements by providing different resources that connect to their fields of interests, as well as widen their social circle.

 Psychology Student Association Website