INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAJOR

The B.S. in Cognitive Sciences is structured to provide students with a challenging introduction to the broad field of Cognitive Sciences that is strongly grounded in theory and an empirical approach emphasizing experimental/computational methods. To ensure an intellectually coherent experience, students in the major are able to choose courses from areas including: (a) Cognitive Neuroscience; (b) Experimental Psychology–Sensation, Perception, Attention, and Memory; (c) Language Science; and (d) Computational Cognitive Science. In addition, students are required to acquire a background in (a) calculus, (b) statistics, (c) introductory computer programming, and (d) some combination of the natural sciences, logic and philosophy of science, linguistics, or more advanced computer science or mathematics.

The Cognitive Science (B.S.) major prepares students for a research career in cognitive science, focusing on any of the current dominant approaches of the field. The study of cognition can be approached though cognitive neuroscience, behavioral experiments, language science, computational and mathematical modeling, or any combination of those. The major combines strong technical skills with deep knowledge of at least one of these approaches.

NOTE: Students may complete the B.A. in Psychology, the B.S. in Psychology, or B.S. in Cognitive Sciences. You may not double major within the majors offered by the department.

 


 

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

The current degree requirements can be found in the UCI Catalogue.

For prior catalogue years, please refer to this link: http://catalogue.uci.edu/previouseditions/

NOTE: The BS Cog Sci degree requirements have changed effective Fall 2021, as noted in the UCI Catalogue and as listed below. Please refer to prior catalogue editions for previous degree requirements.

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

School requirements must be met and must include courses as specified below:

 
A. Complete the following:

MATH 2A & 2B Single-Variable Calculus I & II
PSYCH 10A-10B-10C Exploratory Data Analysis (formerly Probability and Statistics in Psychology I) and
Probability and Inference (formerly Probability and Statistics in Psychology II) and
Statistical Models (formerly Probability and Statistics in Psychology III)
COGS 106 Computational Lab Skills
COGS 107 Cognitive Modeling
COGS 108 Neural Analytics
PSYCH 14M or COGS 14P or I&C SCI 31 MATLAB Programming or
Scientific Python for Research or
Introduction to Programming
PSYCH 9A - 9B - 9 Psychology Fundamentals
COG SCI 109 Cognitive Sciences Research Seminar

 
B. Select three (3) courses from the following list:
 
Research Methods

PSYCH 112A - 112LA Experimental Psychology - Experimental Psychology Laboratory
PSYCH 112BW - 112LB Advanced Experimental Psychology - Advanced Experimental Psychology Laboratory
PSYCH 112C - 112LC Research in Experimental Psychology - Research in Experimental Psychology Laboratory
COGS 112P - 112LP Research in Perception and Psychophysics - Research in Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory
COGS 112R - 112LR Cognitive Robotics - Cognitive Robotics Laboratory

 
C. Select six courses from the following list:

BIO SCI 35 The Brain and Behavior
BIO SCI 36 Drugs and the Brain
BIO SCI 37 Brain Dysfunction and Repair
BIO SCI 38 Mind, Memory, Amnesia, and the Brain
COGS 14P Scientific Python for Research (1)
LSCI 3 Introduction to Linguistics
LSCI 10 Introduction to Phonology
LSCI 20 Introduction to Syntax
LSCI 51 Acquisition of Language
I&C SCI 31 Introduction to Programming (1)
I&C SCI 32 Programming with Software Libraries
I&C SCI 33 Intermediate Programming
LPS 30 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
LPS 31 Introduction to Inductive Logic
MATH 2D Multivariable Calculus I
MATH 2E Multivariable Calculus II
MATH 3A Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 3D Elementary Differential Equations
PHYSICS 3A-3B-3C Basic Physics I - II - III

or

PHYSICS 7C-7D-7E with labs
PHYSICS 7LC and PHYSICS 7LD
Classical Physics
PHYSICS 15 Physics of Music
PSYCH 14M MATLAB Programming (1)
STATS 7 Basic Statistics
STATS 110 Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I
STATS 111 Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II
STATS 112 Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III

NOTE: Careful selection should be made in order to satisfy general education requirements and prerequisites for upper-division courses.

 
D. Select three courses from the following:
 
Upper Division Core Courses

PSYCH 130A Perception and Sensory Processes
PSYCH 140C Cognitive Science
PSYCH 140J Judgment and Decision Making
PSYCH 140L Principles of Learning Theory
PSYCH 140M Human Memory
PSYCH 150 Psychology of Language
PSYCH 160A Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYCH 160D Brain Disorders and Behavior

 
E. Select seven courses from the following list. Up to three courses may also be taken from Requirement B and Requirement D: (2), (3)
 
Upper-Division Core Electives:

COMPSCI 171 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
COMPSCI 178 Machine Learning and Data-Mining
COMPSCI 183 Introduction to Computational Biology
LSCI 102 Formal Languages and Automata
LSCI 111 Intermediate Phonology
LSCI 121 Intermediate Syntax
PSYCH 120A Abnormal Psychology
PSYCH 120D Developmental Psychology
PSYCH 120H History of Psychology
PSYCH 120P Personality Theories
PSYCH 131A Vision
PSYCH 131B Hearing
PSYCH 156A Acquisition of Language II
PSYCH 161 Language and the Brain
PSYCH 161H Hearing and the Brain
PSYCH 162N Human Neuropsychology

(1) If not used to satisfy Introductory Programming Requirement.

(2) Research methods (Requirement B) and core (Requirement D) courses may be used to fulfill the core elective requirement (Requirement E) but cannot count for both requirements.

(3) If accepted into the Honors Program, COGS H101A- COGS H101B- COGS H101C may be used for three of the seven elective courses under Requirement E.

 


 

HONORS PROGRAM IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES

The Honors Program in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences is an advanced educational and research program for outstanding undergraduate students in these majors.

The program emphasizes advanced competence in scientific research, and allows participants the opportunity to pursue advanced work in independent research, in addition to earning honors upon graduation. While the program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate study or seeking challenging research experiences as a capstone to their undergraduate experience, all Psychology and Cognitive Sciences majors who meet the minimum eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.

For more information about the Honors Program, please visit here.

 


 

CHANGE OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Effective 2021-22, in order to change your major to the B.S. in Cognitive Sciences, you must meet the following requirements:

Requirements Description
Cumulative UC GPA 3.2 GPA
3.2 GPA for the quarter prior to changing major
Course grades Must complete the following courses with no grade less than a C:
MATH 2A, 2B
PSYCH 10A-B-C
COGS 14P, PSYCH 14M (formerly 114M), or ICS 31
PSYCH 9A-B-C

 
For a listing of change of major requirements for all majors at UCI, please visit here.

 


 

QUESTIONS

For academic advising (e.g., coursework required, change of major requirements), contact the School of Social Sciences' Undergraduate Student Affairs Office at: socsci@uci.edu or (949) 824-6803.

 


 

Program Learning Outcomes - B.S. in CogSci

 

Acquire a Broad, Multidisciplinary Knowledge of Cognitive Sciences

  • Majors can describe important questions, results, and theories in each of the following areas: consciousness, language, learning, memory, perception, and decision making.
  • Majors have a foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, and/or mathematics to provide a scientific basis for the multidisciplinary study of cognitive sciences.
  • In each of four areas of more intensive study, majors can use theories in those areas to predict, evaluate, or interpret behavior in circumstances such as those they might encounter in their work or daily life.

 
Acquire understanding of the relationship between Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience

  • Majors understand and can describe how aspects of mental function relate to activity in the brain.

 
Interpret and Evaluate Research Results

  • Majors can evaluate critically and apply to their life and work scientifically-based information available in the media as well as research journals in psychological science.
  • Majors can explain how research method and design choices constrain the possible inferences from data.
  • Majors understand the issues surrounding reproducibility and transparency in science

 
Obtain an in-depth understanding of research methods in Cognitive Sciences

  • Majors have an understanding of the different research methods used in cognitive sciences including behavioral experiments, psychophysics, neuroscience methods, and mathematical modeling.
  • Majors have a mastery of at least one scientific programming language and computational research methods

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