Cognitive Science, B.A.

In addition to adhering to the UC Merced and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts requirements, the Cognitive Science major, B.A., requires 50-52 units (some of which simultaneously meet general education requirements). Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade, and may not be taken on a pass/no pass basis unless the course is only offered on a pass/no pass basis. All major course requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Required courses include:

Lower Division Major Requirements [22-24 Units]

COGS 001: Introduction to Cognitive Science [4 units]

Two additional introductory courses chosen from the following:

COGS 005: Introduction to Language and Linguistics [4 units]
ECON 001: Introduction to Economics [4 units] ^*
PHIL 001: Introduction to Philosophy [4 units] ^†
PSY 001: Introduction to Psychology [4 units] ^*
* Meets Social Science course outside of major General Education requirement.

† Meets Humanities, Arts or Foreign Language course outside of major General Education requirement.

Complete the following two courses:

PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data [4 units] ‡
ECON 010
or
MATH 032
may also be considered by petition.
MATH 011: Calculus I [4 units] or equivalent ‡
‡ Meets Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement

An introductory lower division computing course, such as:

CSE 005: Introduction to Computer Applications [4 units]
CSE 020: Introduction to Computing I [2 units]

Upper Division Major Requirements [28 Units]

COGS 101: Mind, Brain, and Computation [4 units]
COGS 105: Research Methods for Cognitive Scientists [4 units]
At least four additional upper division courses in Cognitive Science* [16 units]
One additional upper division course in Cognitive Science, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Arts, Management, Economics, Biology or Computer Science and Engineering [4 units]
*One upper division course in Philosophy may be substituted.

Transfer Students

Transfer students planning to major in Cognitive Science, B.S. should complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) at their community college. Transfer students may not be admitted to the Cognitive Science major without specific major preparation. Please contact the Office of Admissions for current information.

Cognitive Science Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students majoring in Cognitive Science will be able to:

Explain and apply knowledge of landmark findings and theories in cognitive science, and use that knowledge as context for understanding the current state of affairs. Evidence will be collected in the form of embedded test questions in COGS 001 .
Students should have the following abilities:
1. Ability to interpret / evaluate / synthesize information in research papers
2. Ability to design a cognitive science research project
3. Ability to write clearly and scientifically
Interpret and appreciate formal and computational approaches in cognitive science.
Take theoretical positions in cognitive science and argue for them or against them. Evidence will be collected in the form of an essay from one of the writing-intensive cognitive science courses.
Be able to use a cognitive science education outside of the undergraduate classroom, particularly in terms of employment and career development. Evidence will be collected in the form of student surveys.

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