Cognitive Science, B.S.

In addition to adhering to General Education and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Requirements , students in the Cognitive Science major, B.S., must complete 60-61 units (some of which simultaneously meet general education requirements). Compared to the B.A., the B.S. requires three additional lower division courses, one each in math, science and computing. B.S. students are also encouraged to pursue upper division courses in Biology or Computer Science and Engineering. 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.

Lower Division Major Requirements [32-33 Units]

COGS 001: Introduction to Cognitive Science [4 units]

Two 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 three courses:

PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data [4 units] ‡
MATH 011: Calculus I [4 units] or equivalent ‡
MATH 012: Calculus II [4 units] or equivalent ‡
‡Meets the Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement

Two lower division computing courses, such as:

CSE 020: Introduction to Computing I [2 units]
CSE 021: Introduction to Computing II [2 units]
CSE 005 will not meet this requirement.

One Science Introductory Course with Laboratory, Field, or Studio Component

(In addition to the 8 units required for the General Education Natural Sciences/Engineering Requirement)

BIO 001: Contemporary Biology [4 units] and
BIO 001L: Contemporary Biology Lab [1 unit]
CHEM 002: General Chemistry I [4 units]
CHEM 008: Principles of Organic Chemistry [3 units] and
CHEM 008L: Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab [1 unit]
PHYS 008: Introductory Physics I for Physical Sciences [4 units]
PHYS 009: Introductory Physics II for Physical Sciences [4 units]
PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences [4 units]
PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences [4 units]
Please consult a SSHA advisor or the SSHA Advising website ssha-advising.ucmerced.edu for a current list of designated natural sciences/engineering courses.

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 Biology, Computer Science and Engineering, or Philosophy may be substituted.

One semester of lab-based research is encouraged, but not required.

Examples include:

COGS 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units]
COGS 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study [1-5 units]
COGS 099: Lower Division Individual Study [1-5 units]
COGS 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research [1-5 units]
COGS 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study [1-5 units]
COGS 199: Upper Division Individual Study [1-5 units]

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.

Search form

Additional Links

Academics

Administration

University of California, Merced