Cognitive Science, Bachelor of Science College of Letters & Science

The Major Programs

The Cognitive Science major is designed to provide a broad interdisciplinary approach to the study of mind that includes courses from different departments and attracts students with a variety of interests. It emphasizes a  multifaceted approach to the study of mind that integrates concepts and techniques from psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, neurology, philosophy and other relevant fields.

For students interested in the liberal arts the Cognitive Science major can be pursued as a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) program. Alternatively, it can be pursued as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program for students with a stronger interest in the mathematical, neurological and computational foundations of the discipline. The main objective of both programs is to give the student a broad grounding in the integrated sciences of the mind and to connect approaches from different fields. Students must complete a number of core courses for the degree, as well as a number of specialty courses on such wide-ranging topics as logic for artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, animal cognition and the psychology of music.

Career Pathways

A degree in Cognitive Science provides broad intellectual foundations useful for careers in a variety of areas, including teaching, business, social work/counseling and the information technology industry. Undergraduate education in cognitive science also prepares the student for graduate study in appropriate subfields of psychology, linguistics, philosophy and informatics. It is also suitable training for pre-medicine, pre-law, and pre-management students.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program students select to pursue either the Computational Emphasis (Emphasis 1) or the Neuroscience Emphasis (Emphasis 2).

Major Advisors

Staff advisors are located in Young Hall. To contact a major advisor, email cogsciadvising@ucdavis.edu, schedule an academic advising appointment, or join Drop-In Advising (no appointment needed). 

The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. Respective of the Emphasis, the minimum number of units required for the Cognitive Science Bachelor of Science are 107 & 107.

Computational Emphasis

Preparatory Subject Matter
Cognitive Science:
CGS 001/PHI 010Introduction to Cognitive Science4
Introduction to Mathematical Abstraction
ECS 020Discrete Mathematics For Computer Science4
Programming
Choose a series:12
Introduction to Programming
Introduction to Programming
AND
Introduction to Data Structures
AND
Software Development in UNIX & C++ (prerequisite is ECS 032C)
OR
Programming & Problem Solving
and Software Development & Object-Oriented Programming in C++
and Data Structures, Algorithms, & Programming
Linguistics
LIN 001Introduction to Linguistics4
or LIN 001Y Introduction to Linguistics
Calculus
Choose a series:12
Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
OR
Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
OR
Calculus
and Calculus
and Calculus
Linear Algebra & MATLAB
MAT 022A
022AL
Linear Algebra
and Linear Algebra Computer Laboratory
4
or MAT/BIS 027A Linear Algebra with Applications to Biology
Philosophy
PHI 012Introduction to Symbolic Logic4
PHI 013GMinds, Brains, & Computers with Discussion4
Psychology
PSC 001General Psychology4
or PSC 001V General Psychology
or PSC 001Y General Psychology
Research Methods
PSC 041Research Methods in Psychology4
Statistics
STA 013Elementary Statistics4
or STA 013Y Elementary Statistics
or STA 100 Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal60
Depth Subject Matter 2
Important: Each class may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement. The same course cannot be used for multiple groups.
Take each of the courses below:8
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Intermediate Symbolic Logic
Group A: Cognitive Science Topical Courses4
Group B: Computation
Choose three from Group B:12
Theory of Computation
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Computational Linguistics
Logic, Probability, & Artificial Intelligence
Group C: Neuroscience
Choose one from Group C:4
Neuroeconomics/Reinforcement Learning & Decision Making
Biological Basis of Language
Introduction to Biological Psychology 2
Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind 2
Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Choose one from Group D or E:4
Group D: Philosophy
Philosophy on Mind
The Evolution of Mind
Knowledge & the A Priori
Formal Epistemology
Group E: Linguistics
Linguistic Analysis I: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology
Linguistic Analysis II: Morphology, Syntax, Semantics
Languages of the World
Multilingualism
Group F: Psychology
Choose four from Group F:15-18
Introduction to Biological Psychology 2
Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data
Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data
Developmental Psychobiology
Physiological Psychology
Comparative Neuroanatomy
Human Learning & Memory
Perception
Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind 2
Psychology of Music
Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Development
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal47-50
Total Units107-110
1

For a list of approved CGS Topical Courses, please see the major worksheet.

2
Important: Each class may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement. The same course cannot be used for multiple groups.

Neuroscience Emphasis

Preparatory Subject Matter
Cognitive Science
CGS 001/PHI 010Introduction to Cognitive Science4
Biological Science
BIS 002BIntroduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution5
BIS 002CIntroduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life5
BIS 002AIntroduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth (recommended to take after BIS 002B and BIS 002C)5
Linguistics
LIN 001Introduction to Linguistics4
or LIN 001Y Introduction to Linguistics
Mathematics
Choose a series:12
Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
OR
Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
and Calculus for Data-Driven Applications
OR
Calculus
and Calculus
and Calculus
Philosophy
PHI 013GMinds, Brains, & Computers with Discussion4
Physics
Choose a series:12-15
General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics
OR
Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
Psychology
PSC 001General Psychology4
or PSC 001V General Psychology
or PSC 001Y General Psychology
Research Methods
PSC 041Research Methods in Psychology4
Statistics
STA 013Elementary Statistics4
or STA 013Y Elementary Statistics
or STA 100 Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal63-66
Depth Subject Matter 2
Important: Each class may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement. The same course cannot be used for multiple groups.
Take each of these courses below:9
Neurobiology
Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data
Group A: Cognitive Science Topical Courses4
Group B: Computation
Choose one from Group B:4-5
Computational Linguistics
Computational Neuroscience (offered very irregularly)
Group C: Neuroscience
Choose 12-13 units from Group C:12-13
Neuroeconomics/Reinforcement Learning & Decision Making
Biological Basis of Language
Developmental Neurobiology (3 units)
Neural Mechanisms of Behavior (3 units)
Systems Neuroscience
Mammalian Vision
Neurobiology of Speech Perception (3 units)
Introduction to Biological Psychology 2
Physiological Psychology 2
Hormones & Behavior (3 units)
Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind 2
Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Choose two from Groups D or E:8
Group D: Philosophy
Philosophy on Mind
The Evolution of Mind
Knowledge & the A Priori
Formal Epistemology
Group E: Linguistics
Linguistic Analysis I: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology
Linguistic Analysis II: Morphology, Syntax, Semantics
Languages of the World
Multilingualism
Group F: Psychology
Choose two from Group F:7
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Biological Psychology 2
Developmental Psychobiology
Physiological Psychology 2
Comparative Neuroanatomy
Human Learning & Memory
Perception
Language & Cognition
Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind 2
Psychology of Music
Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Development
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal44-46
Total Units107-112
1

For a list of approved CGS Topical Courses, please see the major worksheet.

2

Important: Each class may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement. The same course cannot be used for multiple groups.