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.

Life Sciences of Physiological Science

Philosophy

Students may select Mathematics 31 or 31AL.

Mathematics 31 series

Mathematics 3 series

Mathematics

Additional Computing

Program in Computing

Psychology

Chemistry or Linguistics or Physics

Preparation for the Major

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. 

Honors Program

Computing

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.

Psychology Elective

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 Specialization

In the junior or senior year, complete 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). 

Capstone

Psychology 112A through 116B

Psychology 124A through 124K

Psychology 118 through 119Y

Linguistics 103 through 185B

Mathematics 110A through 171

Philosophy 124 through 138

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.

Courses

Select from Computer Science 111 through CM186.

Computer Science 111 through CM186

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

Upper-Division Electives

Additional Required Course

Psychology 115

Psychology 120A or 120B

Required Psychology Courses

The Major

Requirements

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 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.

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.

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.

Majors intending to continue study at the graduate level are encouraged to apply for the departmental honors program. Contact the <a href="https://www.psych.ucla.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-student-services/psychology-undergraduate-advising-office" target="_blank">Undergraduate Advising Office</a> 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.

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 <a href="https://admission.ucla.edu/apply/transfer">UCLA transfer admission guide</a> for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Students need to file a petition in the <a href="https://www.psych.ucla.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-student-services/psychology-undergraduate-advising-office">Undergraduate Advising Office</a> to declare the Cognitive Science pre-major. They are then identified as Cognitive Science pre-majors until they (1) satisfy the preparation for the major requirements and (2) file a petition to declare the Cognitive Science major. Questions about the major should be directed to the Undergraduate Advising Office.

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.

Combining rigorous, inclusive pedagogy with opportunities for co-curricular activities—including research, internships, and community engagement—the College provides students with diverse learning experiences that helps them thrive, become critical thinkers, and transform society.

College of Letters and Science

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

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

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

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

The department presents psychology as a scientific discipline that employs systematic methods of inquiry to study and explain human and animal behavior.

General Catalog

Cognitive Science BS