Cognitive Science BS

Overview

The Cognitive Science major focuses on the study of intelligent systems, both real and artificial. While including a strong foundation in the traditional areas of psychology, the major is interdisciplinary in nature and emphasizes subject matter within cognitive psychology, computer science, mathematics, and related disciplines.The requirements described below include sufficient … For more content click the Read More button below.

The requirements described below include sufficient preparation if students plan to pursue graduate work in cognitive science or related fields; however, they may want to include additional advanced courses in psychology and fields related to cognitive science (e.g., computer science, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, and statistics) as well as other types of research and fieldwork experiences.

The Cognitive Science major is a designated capstone major. Students are required to produce a paper based on each term of their experience in a research laboratory or approved fieldwork site. Through completion of the capstone experience students are expected to identify a research topic and hypothesis to be tested or a fieldwork project and goals, show that they can organize and integrate information related to the topic or project in a clear manner in their own words, demonstrate ability to find and utilize supporting literature relevant to their project or topic, and successfully relate the paper to their experience in the laboratory or fieldwork setting.

Learning Outcomes

Ability to identify a research topic and hypothesis to test, or a fieldwork project and goals

Demonstrated organization and integration, in a clear manner and in the student’s own words, of information related to a topic or project

Demonstrated ability to find and utilize supporting literature relevant to a project or topic

Successful relation of the paper to the student’s laboratory or fieldwork experience

Ability to discuss results in front of a peer group: verbally communicate ideas motivating the experiment, make the experiment clear to those not familiar with the methods, and answer questions

Requirements

Premajor

Preparation for the Major

Required: Life Sciences 7A or 15 or Physiological Science 3; Chemistry and Biochemistry 14A or 17 or 20A or Linguistics 1 or 20 or Physics 1A or 5A or 10 or 11; Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C, or 31A or 31AL and 31B; Philosophy 7 or 8 or 9 or 23 or 31; Program in Computing 10A and two courses from 10B, 10C, 15, 16A, 20A, 40A, Psychology 20A, 20B, 30, Statistics 20, 21; and Psychology 10, 85, 100A, 100B.

Preparation for the Major Policies

Each of the required courses must be taken for a letter grade (C or better in each course and a 2.5 overall grade-point average in the preparation courses) by the end of the summer quarter of the third year to be eligible to petition to declare the Cognitive Science major.

Students cannot take Psychology 100B until they have passed course 100A with a grade of C or better. Psychology 100A and 100B should be taken early in the career; these courses are open only to students who have declared the Cognitive Science premajor before the term in which they plan to enroll. Students with no background in introductory statistics should take Statistics 10 before enrolling in course 100A.

Students who repeat more than two preparation courses or any preparation course more than once are denied admission to the major.

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Cognitive Science major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one biology course, one general chemistry or general physics course, two calculus/analytical geometry courses, one general physics course, one philosophy course, one introduction to psychology course, one introduction to cognitive science course, one psychological statistics course, one psychology research methods course, one computer programming course in C++, and one other computer programming course.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

The Major

After satisfying the preparation for the major requirements, students need to petition to enter the major at the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Required: (1) Psychology 115 (or M117A, M117B, and M117C), 120A or 120B, and one course from 124A through 124K; (2) one course from 111, 116A, 116B, 121, 186A through 186D, Computer Science 161; (3) four upper-division elective courses (16 units) from Psychology 110, 111, 112A through 116B, 118 through 119Y, 120A, 120B, 121, 124A through 124K (if taken for the major, may not be applied as an elective), 130, 133B, 133C, 133E, 135, 137A, M137B, 137G, 142H, 161, M166, 186A through 186D, 191CH (if content is approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office and course has not been applied toward the Psychology 195B or 196B requirement), Anthropology 124Q, M124R, 136A, M150, Communication 115, 118, 119, 122, 126, M127, 129, 130, 131, 155, Computer Science 111 through CM186, Linguistics 103 through 185B, Mathematics 110A through 171, Music Industry M103, Neuroscience 102, M145, C177, 180, 181, 182, Philosophy 124 through 137, 138, 154, C154B, 170, 172, 174, 180, 181, Psychiatry M182, Statistics 100A, 100B, 100C, 101B, 101C, 115, C161, C180; and (4) in the junior or senior year, two capstone terms of Psychology 195B or 196B (may be fulfilled by taking any two courses from 195B or 196B or 196B/194C, provided content is approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office).

Students who complete Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and two upper-division cognitive science electives. All three courses must be completed to receive cognitive science elective credit.

The Major Policies

Honors Program

Majors intending to continue study at the graduate level are encouraged to apply for the departmental honors program. Students work for one year (fall through spring quarters) with a Psychology Department faculty sponsor on a research project that is the basis of a formal honors thesis. During that year they also participate in a weekly seminar (Psychology 191AH, 191BH, 191CH) in which thesis projects are presented and discussed and other topics of interest are explored with invited faculty members and other guests. Other requirements may apply. Contact the Undergraduate Advising Office during spring quarter for more information and application forms. Satisfactory completion of the program and the other requirements for the major leads to awarding of the degree with honors or highest honors.

Computing Specialization

Majors may select a specialization in Computing by (1) satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the specified major, (2) completing four courses from Program in Computing 10A, 10B, 10C, 15, 16A, 20A, 40A, Psychology 20A, 20B, and (3) completing at least two courses from Psychology 85, 121, 142H, 186A through 186D (one 199 course may be substituted for one of these courses provided project has been approved by vice chair). A grade of C or better is required in each course. Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their major and a specialization in Computing. Students planning to enter this specialization should contact the Undergraduate Advising Office.