Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program
The Undergraduate Program in Cognitive Science at UConn is an interdisciplinary program, that allows students to study the mind and brain from various vantage points. Students can earn either BA a BS in Cognitive depending on the chosen course sequence. Graduates from our program go on to medical school, law school, business school, or to pursue a PhD in cognitive science or related field. Others go directly in jobs in information sciences or business.
General Education Requirements
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete the CLAS general education requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree.
These requirements are designed to expose you to diverse ideas and perspectives and give you the skills necessary to face the changes and challenges of our future. These courses also allow you to discover new interests and explore majors and minors before you declare them.
Click here for more information on the CLAS general education requirements.
Major Requirements
The requirements for the cognitive science major include 40 2000-level or above credits, no more than 21 of which may be taken in any one department. There are several 1000-level courses that are required preparation for the 2000-level and above requirements. These courses should be taken during the first four semesters and may fulfill general education requirements.
A maximum of six 2000-level or above transfer credits may count toward the major with approval of advisor. Students must earn a grade of C- (1.7) or higher in each course that is counted toward the major.
Major Plans of Study
Find below the Plans of Study for the Cognitive Science major. Plans are arranged by catalog year. Your catalog year is the year you declared your first major/minor in CLAS. You may elect to use a Plan of Study from a later catalog year. When you have completed your plan of study, please send it to the DUS for approval.
COGS Honors Students
Approved mechanisms to satisfy the 'Honor Engagement in the Major' requirement:
- Participate in at least one day of a professional academic conference in some area of cognitive science. The student should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for assistance in selecting a suitable conference. The student must provide brief written synopses of at least three presentations at the conference.
- Participate for one day with UConn K.I.D.S. in an event recruiting families for participation in cognitive science research at UConn. Participation includes explaining the types of research conducted to parents in the communities surrounding UConn.
Click here to view past UConn Honors Theses in CogSci.
Core Courses (16 Credits)
Core courses (16 credits required) are offered by the Cognitive Sciences Program, and the Departments of Anthropology, Computer Science, Linguistic, Philosophy, Psychological Sciences, and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
COGS 2201 Foundations of Cognitive Science
COGS 3584 Seminar in Cognitive Science
Four of the following courses:
ANTH 3250 Cognitive Anthropology*
CSE 4705 Artificial Intelligence
LING 2010Q The Science of Linguistics
PHIL 3250/W Philosophy of Mind
PSYC 2501 Cognitive Psychology
SLHS 4245/W Neuroscience of Cognition and Communication Disorders
In addition to the Core courses, students complete four categories of required coursework: Research, Formal Systems, Advanced, and Electives. No more than 21 credits can be taken from any one department, to ensure that an interdisciplinary education is received. Undergraduate students can also gain research experience in a research laboratory on campus by taking COGS 3589 as an elective.
Research Courses (6 Credits)
Statistics (one of the following for at least 3 credits):
PSYC 2100Q or 2100WQ Principles of Research in Psychology
STAT 2215Q Introduction to Statistics II
STAT 3025Q Statistical Methods (Calculus level)
Research Methods (one of the following for at least 3 credits):
ANTH 3003 Field Research in Social Settings (if elected for 3 credits)
ANTH 3004 Cultural Research (if elected for 3 credits)*
ANTH 3090 Directed Field Research in Anthropology (if elected for 3 credits)*
LING 3110 Experimental Linguistics
PSYC 3250W Lab in Animal Behavior and Learning
PSYC 3251 Lab in Physiological Psychology
PSYC 3253 Sensory Neuroscience Lab
PSYC 3450W Lab in Developmental Psychology*
PSYC 3552 Lab in Sensation and Perception
Formal Systems Courses (3 Credits)
COGS 2500Q Coding for Cognitive Science
CSE 2300W Digital Logic Design
CSE 2500 Introduction to Discrete Systems
CSE 3500 Algorithms and Complexity a
CSE 3502 Theory of Computation a
CSE 3802 Numerical Methods
LING 3000Q Introduction to Computational Linguistics a
LING 3310Q Phonology a
LING 3410Q Semantics a
LING 3511Q Syntax a
MATH 2210Q Applied Linear Algebra
MATH 2410Q Elementary Differential Equations
MATH 3160 Probability
MATH 3210 Abstract Linear Algebra
MATH 3230 Abstract Algebra
PHIL 2211Q Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3214 Symbolic Logic II *
Competency and Writing Requirements
Competency and Writing Requirements The exit requirements for computer technology and information literacy will be met by satisfaction of the Research Methods Requirement. The exit requirements for writing in the major are met by taking any W course on the Plan of Study. Students in the program will have an advisor and an associate advisor, each in different departments contributing to the cognitive science program. Students will consult with both of them to plan a course of study.
Advanced Courses (12 Credits)
Must include courses from at least three departments. Can include core courses not needed to satisfy the core course requirement.
ANTH 3200 Human Behavioral Ecology *
ANTH 3405 Religion and Mind *c
COGS 2345 Language and Racism
CSE 3500 Algorithms and Complexity a
CSE 3502 Theory of Computation a
LING 3000Q Introduction to Computational Linguistics a
LING 3310Q Phonology a
LING 3410Q Semantics a
LING 3511Q Syntax a
LING 3610W Language and Culture
PHIL 2208/W Epistemology c
PHIL 2210/W Metaphysics *
PHIL 2212/W Philosophy of Science *
PHIL 3241 Language: Meaning and Truth
PNB 3251 Biology of the Brain
PSYC 2200 Physiological Psychology
PSYC 2208 Sensory Systems Neuroscience
PSYC 2209 Learning & Memory: Brain to Behavior
PSYC 2400 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 2500 Learning
PSYC 3100/W History and Systems in Psychology
PSYC 3270 Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 3440 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 3470 Current Topics in Developmental Psychology b
PSYC 3500 Psychology of Language
PSYC 3501 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 3502 Psychology of Consciousness
SLHS 2203 Anatomy/Physiology of Speech & Hearing c
SLHS 2204 Speech and Language Acquisition
SLHS 4123 Bilingualism in Typical & Atypical Populations c
SLHS 4254/W Introduction to Language Disorders in Children
(SLHS 4376 Language Impairments and Literacy)
b Current Topics in Developmental Psychology, PSYC 3470 is a variable topics course and may only be counted toward the major with advisors’ approval.
Electives (3-6 Credits)
For Electives, students can choose one or two additional courses from Core, Formal Systems, or Advanced Courses, or other related courses from any department and must receive approval from the advisors.
**If students take one of the courses that fulfills both the Formal Systems and Advanced Course requirements, they must take two elective courses. (Please see the bottom of the Formal Systems Course breakdown)
a The following courses may be used to fulfill both the Formal Systems and Advanced Courses requirements: CSE 3500, Algorithms and Complexity; CSE 3502, Theory of Computation; LING 3000Q, Introduction to Computational Linguistics; LING 3310Q, Phonology; 3410Q, Semantics; 3511Q, Syntax. In this event, two electives are required.
* Courses marked with an asterisk are offered infrequently, meaning not on an annual basis
( ) Courses in parenthesis are not currently being offered but may be in the future
Cognitive Science Minor
Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence, bringing together course content from:
Psychology, Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Anthropology, Communication Disorders, Neuroscience, and Philosophy.
While available with any undergraduate major, the minor in Cognitive Science is especially appropriate for majors in the fields listed above.
Minor Requirements
To earn a minor in Cognitive Science, students must complete 15 credits at the 2000-level or above. Foundations of Cognitive Science, COGS 2201 is required, plus four additional courses coming from at least three areas (A through F). No more than two courses may be counted from any one department.
- Cognition: ANTH 3250, Cognitive Anthropology; CSE 4705, Artificial Intelligence; PHIL 3247/W, Philosophy of Psychology; PHIL 3250/W, Philosophy of Mind; PSYC 2500, Learning; PSYC 2501, Cognitive Psychology
- Language: LING 2010Q, The Science of Linguistics; LING 3610W, Language and Culture; PHIL 3241, Meaning and Truth; PSYC 3500, Psychology of Language.
- Perception: PHIL 3256/W, Philosophy of Perception; PSYC 3501, Sensation and Perception; PSYC 3502, Psychology of Consciousness.
- Development: PSYC 2400, Developmental Psychology; PSYC 3470/W, Current Topics in Developmental Psychology or SLHS 2204, Speech and Language Acquisition; SLHS 4254/W, Introduction to Language Disorders in Children; SLHS 4376, Language Impairments and Literacy.
- Neuroscience: PHIL 3249/W, Philosophy of Neuroscience; PNB 3251, Biology of the Brain; PSYC 2200, Physiological Psychology; SLHS 4245W, Neuroscience of Cognitive and Communication Disorders.
- Formal Systems: CSE 2500, Introduction to Discrete Systems; CSE 3502, Theory of Computation; LING 3000Q, Introduction to Computational Linguistics; LING 3310Q, Phonology; LING 3410Q, Semantics; LING 3511Q, Syntax; PHIL 2211Q Symbolic Logic; PHIL 3214, Symbolic Logic II.
The minor is offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Minor Plans of Study
Find below the Plans of Study for the Cognitive Science minor. Plans are arranged by catalog year. Your catalog year is the year you declared your first major/minor in CLAS. You may elect to use a Plan of Study from a later catalog year. When you have completed your plan of study, please send it to the DUS for approval.