To major in Cognitive Science, students take total of at least 48 units. Along with six required courses, students select at least one course each from the approved list of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy. Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy, or selected from the additional electives list.
COURSEWORK
Students are encouraged to take COGS 201 as early as possible, as preparation for other courses in the major and as a framework to fulfill the second-stage writing requirement.
REQUIRED COURSES
Neuroscience
Students must select either
| COGS 104 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| COGS 320 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 4 units |
Linguistics
Students must select one course from the list below:
Philosophy
Students must select one course from the list below:
Additional Electives
Students must select an additional 12 units of coursework to complete the major.
Electives can be any course with a COGS designation, can be drawn from the approved lists of courses in Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Philosophy, or selected from the additional electives list. A total of 4 units can be applied to the major from COGS 290 and COGS 395. All students are also encouraged to take statistics and computer science coursework.
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Students will normally fulfill the second-stage writing requirement by passing both the Research Proposal and Scientific Research Paper assignments in COGS 201: Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science with a grade of C or better. Students who do not successfully complete both assignments with a grade of C or better will be required to submit a writing portfolio to the Department Chair no later than the midterm of the following semester. This portfolio will be prepared in consultation with the COGS 201 instructor.
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
In the senior year the student carries out a project or writes a thesis on a topic in Cognitive Science related to their prior coursework. The project or thesis is coordinated with the work of the Cognitive Science Senior Seminar. All majors take the Senior Seminar in the fall semester of the senior year. Those students intending to do an empirical project for their senior comprehensives or who intend to go on to graduate school in cognitive science or in a related field should discuss taking a statistics course and gaining research experience prior to their senior year with their adviser.
HONORS
Honors in Cognitive Science may be awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in their course work and distinction in their senior comprehensive project. To be eligible, students must have a 3.5 grade point average in the major and a 3.25 overall grade point average. In addition, the comprehensive project or thesis must be judged as a "pass with distinction."