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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 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
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 and Probability and Inference and Statistical Models |
| 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 Scientific Python for Research Introduction to Programming |
| PSYCH 9A - 9B - 9C | Psychology Fundamentals |
| COG SCI 109 | Cognitive Sciences Research Seminar |
B. Select three (3) courses from the following:
Research Methods
| PSYCH 112A and 112LA |
Experimental Psychology and Experimental Psych Lab |
|
PSYCH 112BW |
Advanced Experimental Psychology and Adv Exper Psych Lab |
| PSYCH 112C and 112LC |
Research in Experimental Psychology |
| COGS 112P and 112LP |
Research in Perception and Psychophysics and Perception Lab |
| COGS 112R and 112LR |
Cognitive Robotics and Robotics Lab |
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 7 LD |
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 | Learning and Decision Making |
| 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 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.
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 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. 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
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