Major & Minor | Cognitive Science Program

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.

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.

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 required) are offered by the Cognitive Sciences Program, and the Departments of Anthropology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychological Sciences, and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

COGS 2201 Foundations of Cognitive Science (S)

COGS 3584 Seminar in Cognitive Science (1 credit) (F&S)

Four of the following courses:

ANTH 3250/ANTH 5332 Cognitive Anthropology

COGS 2500Q Coding for Cognitive Sciences (F)

CSE 4705 Artificial Intelligence

LING 2010Q The Science of Linguistics (F&S)

PHIL 3250/W Philosophy of Mind

PSYC 2501 Cognitive Psychology (F&S)

SLHS 4245/W Neuroscience of Cognition and Communication Disorders (F&S)

Statistics (one of the following for at least 3 credits):

PSYC 2100Q/WQ Principles of Research in Psychology (F&S)

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) or ANTH 5321 Ethnographic Methods

ANTH 3004 Cultural Research (if elected for 3 credits) ^a

ANTH 3090 Directed Field Research in Anthropology (if elected for 3 credits) ^a

LING 3110/6110 Experimental Linguistics (F)

PSYC 3251/W Lab in Physiological Psychology (F&S)

PSYC 3253 Sensory Neuroscience Lab (F&S)

PSYC 3450W Lab in Developmental Psychology (S)

PSYC 3552 Lab in Sensation and Perception (F)

CSE 2500 Introduction to Discrete Systems

CSE 2050Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design

LING 3000Q/5000 Introduction to Computational Linguistics ^†(S)

LING 3310Q Phonology ^†(F)

LING 3410Q Semantics ^†(S)

LING 3511Q Syntax ^†(F) or LING 5500 Advance Introduction to Syntax

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 ^a

PSYC 3503/5570 Intro to Programming Complex Systems (S)

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.

Must include courses from at least three departments. Can include core courses not needed to satisfy the core course requirement.

ANTH 3200/ANTH 5306 Human Behavioral Ecology ^a

ANTH 3405 Religion and Mind ^a or ANTH 5331 Cognitive Science of Religion

COGS 2345 Language and Racism ^a

COMM 4650 Human-Computer Interactions

CSE 3500 Algorithms and Complexity

CSE 3502Theory of Computation

CSE 3802 Numerical Methods

LING 3000QIntroduction to Computational Linguistics ^†(F)

LING 3310Q/5310Phonology ^†(F)

LING 3410Q/5410Semantics ^†(F)

LING 3511Q/5510Syntax ^†(F) or LING 5500 Advanced Introduction to Syntax

LING 3610W Language and Culture (F&S)

PHIL 2208/WEpistemology

PHIL 2210/W Metaphysics ^a

PHIL 2212/W Philosophy of Science ^a

PHIL 3241 Language: Meaning and Truth

PHIL 3247/W Philosophy of Psychology

PNB 3251 Biology of the Brain

PSYC 2200 Physiological Psychology (F&S)

PSYC 2208 Sensory Systems Neuroscience (F&S)

PSYC 2209 Learning & Memory: Brain to Behavior (F&S)

PSYC 2400 Developmental Psychology (F&S)

PSYC 2500 Learning (F&S)

PSYC 3100/W History and Systems in Psychology (F&S)

PSYC 3270 Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience * (S*) or COGS 5150/PSYC 5424 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Across the Lifespan

PSYC 3440 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience or COGS 5130/PSYC 5150 Neurodevelopment & Plasticity

PSYC 3470 Current Topics in Developmental Psychology *

PSYC 3500 Psychology of Language (F&S) or COGS 5120 Structure, Acquisition, & Processing of Language

PSYC 3501 Sensation and Perception (S)

PSYC 3503/5570 Introduction to Programming Complex Systems ^† (S)

PSYCH 3504 Music, Perception, and Cognition (S)

SLHS 2203 Anatomy/Physiology of Speech & Hearing (F&S)

SLHS 2204 Speech and Language Acquisition (F&S)

SLHS 4123 Bilingualism in Typical & Atypical Populations (F*)

SLHS 4254/W Introduction to Language Disorders in Children (F&S) or COGS 4140/PSYC 5445 Neurobiology of Language: Typical & Atypical Cognition & Language Development

SLHS 4376 Language Impairments and Literacy ^a

Commonly needed prerequisites: PSYC 1100 and 1101/3, for all PSYC courses in the major; STAT 1000Q or 1100Q, for all options in §2-Statistics; and at least one of PHIL 1101-1107, for most PHIL courses in the major.
COGS 2201 is a spring-only course, and is best taken in Year 2; COGS 3584 is offered both semesters, and is best taken in Year 3 or 4.
Electives are similar to "Relateds," but this major does not require the usual 12 credits of 'Related Courses'.
Double major with Psychological Sciences is strongly discouraged, due to excessive overlap.
† = course may be used to fulfill both the Formal Systems and Advanced Course requirements: LING 3000Q Introduction to computational Linguistics, LING 3310Q Phonology, LING 3410Q Semantics, LING 3511Q Syntax. In this event, two electives are required.
^{* =}Current topics are variable topics courses and may only be counted toward the major with advisors’ approval.
F = Normally offered during Fall semester (Note: Availability may vary by instructor, so double-check each semester)
S = Normally offered during Spring semester (Note: Availability may vary by instructor, so double-check each semester)
^a = Tends to be offered infrequently, meaning not on an annual basis
S* = Last offered during Spring semester; however, this may change depending on enrollment—at least 8 students are required to open the course.
F* = Last offered during Fall semester; however, this may change depending on enrollment—at least 8 students are required to open the course.

COGS lists several CSE courses as options to fulfill requirements of the major and minor. Any course listed on the COGS plan of study and their prerequisite requirements are open to COGS students, but the majority require a permission number for any non-CSE student to enroll. Completion of the CSE permission number request form is required if a permission number is needed. The CSE department receives >1,000 permission number requests a semester so in order to help them prioritize COGS students, The CSE permission number request form now allows you to indicate that you are making the request as a COGS major or minor.

Some general tips:

Spring semester is generally better to enroll in 1000 and 2000 level CSE courses (e.g. 1010, 1102, and 2050) because in the Fall, the majority of the seats will not open until later in the summer due to orientation holds. Be patient – some seats will eventually open up!

CSE 3000 and 4000 courses such as 4705 Artificial Intelligence are smaller courses and tend to have seats open.

Some CSE courses are offered in the summer – if a permission number is needed for a summer course, please email the instructor directly.

If you need a CSE course to graduate and are waiting on a permission number, please email us at cogsci@uconn.edu or the COGS Director of Undergraduate Studies directly at adrian.garcia-sierra@uconn.edu

Rules for requesting a CSE permission number:

If you need a permission number, you must first complete the CSE permission number request form. Please do not email the department or contact instructors unless you have already submitted the form.

You must be a declared COGS student in order to receive a permission number – CSE will verify your academic record before issuing the permission number.

You must have completed the prerequisites to receive a permission number.

Permission numbers are not transferrable to other CSE courses or sections. If a CSE permission number has already been issued to you and you want to switch sections, a new permission number will be needed for the new section, leading to longer delays. Please keep this in mind!

Requests will not be accepted after the semester begins, unless you are trying to swap sections of a course in which you are already enrolled.

Permission numbers are not given to over-enrolled lab sections.

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.

Cognitive Science Program

Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program

Cognitive Science Major

General Education Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Plans of Study

COGS Honors Students

Core Courses (16 Credits)

Research Courses (6 Credits)

Formal Systems Courses (3 Credits)

Competency and Writing Requirements

Advanced Courses (12 Credits)

Electives (3-6 Credits)

Special Notes and Key

Computer Science Engineering (CSE) Course Enrollment Tips

Cognitive Science Minor

Psychological Sciences, Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Language, Anthropology, Communication Disorders, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Minor Requirements

Minor Plans of Study