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INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAJOR
The B.S. in Cognitive Sciences exposes students to the theoretical foundations and experimental and computational methods of cognitive science and neuroscience research. Coursework is highly interdisciplinary incorporating (a) Cognitive Psychology, (b) Cognitive Neuroscience, (c) Mathematics, (d) Statistics, (e) Computer Science, and (f) Natural Sciences.
NOTE: Students may complete 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 (2026-27) degree requirements can be found in the UCI Catalogue. For prior catalogue years, please refer to this link: http://catalogue.uci.edu/previouseditions/
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Departmental Requirements for the Major
A. Required Major Courses:
| COGS 9A-9B | Psychology Fundamentals |
| COGS 10A-10B-10C | Exploratory Data Analysis and Probability and Inference and Statistical Models |
| COGS 14P or I&C SCI 31 |
Scientific Python for Research Introduction to Programming |
| MATH 2A & 2B | Single-Variable Calculus I & II |
| COG SCI 109W | Cognitive Sciences Research Seminar |
B. Cognitive Sciences Core
Select three from the following:
| COGS 105 | Introduction to Statistical Learning |
| COGS 106 | Computational Lab Skills |
| COGS 107 | Cognitive Modeling |
| COGS 108 | Neural Analytics |
Select three upper-division core courses from the following:
| COGS 130A | Perception and Sensory Processes |
| COGS 130N | Neuroscience of Perception |
| COGS 140J | Judgment and Decision Making |
| COGS 140L | Learning and Decision Making |
| COGS 140M | Human Memory |
| COGS 150 | Psychology of Language |
| COGS 160A | Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience |
| COGS 160D | Brain Disorders and Behavior |
C. Research Methods
Select three from the following:
| COGS 112A and 112LA |
Experimental Psychology and Experimental Psych Lab |
|
COGS 112BW |
Advanced Experimental Psychology and Adv Exper Psych Lab |
| COGS 112C and 112LC |
Research in Experimental Psychology |
| COGS 112D | Research Design |
| COGS 112E and 112LE |
Learning and Memory and Learning and Memory Lab |
| COGS 112M and 112LM |
Research Methods in Psychology and Res Methods Psych Lab |
| COGS 112N and 112LN |
Introduction to fMRI Research and fMRI Research Lab |
| COGS 112O | Computational Modeling of Behavior |
| COGS 112P and 112LP |
Research in Perception and Psychophysics and Perception Lab |
| COGS 112R and 112LR |
Cognitive Robotics and Robotics Lab |
| COGS 119 | Special Topics in Research Methodologies |
D. Background in Science
Select six from the following:
| 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 and Memory |
| COGS 14M | MATLAB Programming |
| COGS 14P | Scientific Python for Research (1) |
| COGS 60N | Neurobiology of Cognition |
| COGS 89 | Special Topics in Lower-Division Cog Sci |
| I&C SCI 31 | Introduction to Programming (1) |
| I&C SCI 32 | Programming with Software Libraries |
| I&C SCI 33 | Intermediate Programming |
| LSCI 3 | Introduction to Linguistics |
| LSCI 10 | Introduction to Phonology |
| LSCI 20 | Introduction to Syntax |
| LSCI 51 | Acquisition of Language |
| 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 |
| PHYSICS 7C-7D-7E with labs PHYSICS 7LC and PHYSICS 7LD | Classical Physics |
| PHYSICS 15 | Physics of Music |
| STATS 7 | Basic Statistics |
| STATS 110 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I3 |
| STATS 111 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II3 |
| STATS 112 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III3 |
NOTE: Careful selection should be made in order to satisfy general education requirements and prerequisites for upper-division courses.
E. Upper-Division Core Electives
Select seven courses from the following list. Up to three courses may also be taken
from section B and C:
| COGS 120A | Abnormal Psychology |
| COGS 120D | Developmental Psychology |
| COGS 120H | History of Psychology |
| COGS 120P | Personality Theories |
| COGS 131A | Vision |
| COGS 131B | Hearing |
| COGS 161 | Language and the Brain |
| COGS 161H | Hearing and the Brain |
| COGS 162N | Human Neuropsychology |
| COGS 189 | Special Topics in Upper-Division Cognitive Sciences |
| 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 |
| STATS 110 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I3 |
| STATS 111 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II3 |
| STATS 112 | Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III3 |
(1) If not used to satisfy Introductory Programming Requirement.
(2) If accepted into the Honors Program, COGS H101A- COGS H101B- COGS H101C may be used for three of the seven elective courses under section E.
(3) Can be used to fulfill Requirement D or E but not both.
HONORS PROGRAM IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY
The Honors Program in Cognitive Sciences and Psychology 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.
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 Cognitive Sciences and Psychology 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
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 COGS 10A-B-C COGS 14P, COGS 14M, or ICS 31 COGS 9A-B |
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. During the academic
year, they offer academic advising through
in-person walk-ins, Zoom drop-ins, and scheduled appointments. To determine which
form of advising is best suited for your needs, please visit their website at: https://www.undergrad.socsci.uci.edu/ssusa/advising.php.
- For quick, general questions, feel free to email the Peer Academic Advisors (PAAs) at: socsciPAA@uci.edu.
- For questions that require an academic advisor, email: socsci@uci.edu.
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