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 … 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.

Capstone Major

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

Entry to the Major

Pre-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.

Entry to the Major Policies

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

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.

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

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Complete 12 or 13 courses as follows:

Chemistry or Linguistics or Physics

Select one course from:

Life Sciences of Physiological Science

Mathematics

Select one series from:

Mathematics 3 series

Mathematics 31 series

Philosophy

Program in Computing

Complete three courses as follows:

Additional Computing

Select two courses from:

Psychology

The Major

Required Psychology Courses

Complete three courses as follows:

Psychology 115

Complete the following course:

Substitution for Psychology 115

Psychology 115 may be substituted with Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C. 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.

Psychology 120A or 120B

Psychology 124A through 124K

Additional Required Course

Select one course from:

Upper-Division Electives

Select four upper-division elective courses (16 units) from the following list of courses or ranges:

Courses

Psychology 191CH may by applied only if content is approved by the undergraduate advising office and it has not been applied toward the Psychology 195B or 196B requirement. If Psychology 191CH is applied as an elective, it may not also be applied toward the fieldwork/research requirement.

Psychology 112A through 116B

Psychology 118 through 119Y

Psychology 124A through 124K

Computer Science 111 through CM186

Linguistics 103 through 185B

Mathematics 110A through 171

Philosophy 124 through 138

Capstone

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.

Computing Specialization

Majors may select a specialization in Computing by satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the specified major and completing the following course requirements. 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.

Computing

Select four courses from:

Psychology Elective

Select two courses from the following list. One 199 course may be substituted for one of these courses provided project has been approved by vice chair.

Policies

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).

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 pre-major 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.

The Major Policies

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.

Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average in all upper-division courses selected to satisfy major requirements. With the exception of Psychology 195B and 196B, each course must be taken for a letter grade.