Cognitive Science, B.A.

In addition to adhering to General Education 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 they 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 [22-24 Units]

Introduction to Cognitive Science Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following course:

COGS 001: Introduction to Cognitive Science [4 units]

Mathematics Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following course:

MATH 011: Calculus I [4 units] or equivalent ‡
‡ Meets Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement

Quantitative Methods Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following course. ECON 010 or PSY 010 may also be considered by petition.

PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data [5 units] ‡
‡ Meets Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement

Introductory Course Requirement [8 units]

Complete 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.

Computing Requirement [2-4 units]

Complete one introductory computing course chosen from the following:

CSE 005: Introduction to Computer Applications [4 units]
CSE 020: Introduction to Computing I [2 units]
CSE 021: Introduction to Computing II [2 units]
CSE 030: Data Structures [4 units]
CSE 031: Computer Organization and Assembly Language [4 units]

Upper Division Major Requirements [28 Units]

Upper Division Major Core Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following two courses:

COGS 101: Mind, Brain, and Computation [4 units]
COGS 105: Research Methods for Cognitive Scientists [4 units]

Additional Upper Division Cognitive Science Requirement [16 units]

Complete at least four additional upper division courses in Cognitive Science. One upper division course in Philosophy may be substituted.

Additional Upper Division Elective Requirement [4 units]

Complete one additional upper division course in Cognitive Science, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Arts, Management, Economics, Biology, or Computer Science and Engineering.

Lab-Based Research Recommended

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 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.

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