Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Cognitive Science - Psychological Foundations Concentration (BS)

Students who successfully complete the Cognitive Science BS with a concentration in Psychological Foundations will:

Apply and integrate knowledge of major psychological concepts and theories as they relate to the field of cognitive science
Implement critical thinking skills to evaluate and interpret scientific research and theories in the psychological and cognitive sciences
Apply key research methods to scientifically investigate theories and hypotheses used in the psychological and cognitive sciences
Effectively communicate concepts, theories, and/or research in cognitive and language sciences, both in written and oral form

Four Year Plan

Please refer to the Four-Year Plan for departmental recommended path toward graduation.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

College Requirements:

College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements:

The College Breadth Requirements are taken in addition to the University Breadth Requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. College Breadth courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

A total of 18 credits from Groups A, B, and C is required with a minimum of six credits in each group. The six credits from each group could be from the same area.

Second Language:

Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 202) in a language other than English with minimum grades of D-.
- Languages offered include American Sign Language (ASLC), Ancient Greek (GREK), Arabic (ARAB), Brazilian Portuguese (PORT), Chinese (CHIN), French (FREN), German (GRMN), Hebrew (HEBR), Italian (ITAL), Japanese (JAPN), Korean (KORE), Latin (LATN), Russian (RUSS), and Spanish (SPAN).
Students with four or more years of high school work in a second language, or who have proficiency in a language other than English, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination through the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Mathematics:

Complete one of the following options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:

One of the following:

MATH 115 - Pre-Calculus Credit(s): 3
MATH 117 - Pre-Calculus for Scientists and Engineers Credit(s): 4

Option Two:

Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201 , MATH 202 , MATH 205 , MATH 251 , MATH 252 , MATH 253 , MATH 266 , and MATH 450 .

Option Three:

Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Second Writing Requirement:

A Second Writing Requirement approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

Cognitive Science Major Requirements

Major Requirements:

Minimum grade of C- required for all major and concentration requirements.

With the exception of LING 101 , students majoring in Cognitive Science and majoring in Linguistics may not count a single course towards both majors.
With the exception of LING 101 , students majoring in Cognitive Science and minoring in Linguistics may not count a single course towards both the major and the minor.
With the exception of LING 101 , students majoring in Cognitive Science and majoring in Linguistics & French may not count a single course towards both majors.

Core:

CGSC 170 - Introduction to Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
LING 101 - Introduction to Linguistics I Credit(s): 3 ¹
PSYC 100 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
NSCI 100 - Psychological and Brain Sciences Credit(s): 3 ²

Note:

¹LING 101 is the prereq for most upper level LING and CGSC courses.

²PSYC 100 is the prereq for most upper level PSYC courses.

Advanced PSYC/CGSC Course Requirement:

One of the following:

CGSC 410 - Embodied Cognition Credit(s): 3
CGSC 420 - Research Methods in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 451 - Topics in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 470 - Elements of Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
NSCI 320 - Introduction to Neuroscience Credit(s): 3
PSYC 314 - Brain and Behavior Credit(s): 3
PSYC 340 - Cognition Credit(s): 3
PSYC 350 - Developmental Psychology Credit(s): 3

Biology Requirement:

One of the following:

BISC 104 - Principles of Biology with Laboratory Credit(s): 4
or
BISC 207 - Introductory Biology I Credit(s): 3
and
BISC 217 - Introductory Biology I Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Computational Requirement:

One of the following:

CISC 101 - Principles of Computing Credit(s): 3
CISC 103 - Introduction to Computer Science with Web Applications Credit(s): 3
CISC 106 - General Computer Science for Engineers Credit(s): 3
CISC 108 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit(s): 3
CISC 181 - Introduction to Computer Science II Credit(s): 3
LING 202 - Science of Language Credit(s): 3
PHIL 205 - Logic Credit(s): 3

Statistics Requirement:

One of the following:

MATH 202 - Introduction to Statistical Methods II Credit(s): 3
MATH 205 - Statistical Methods Credit(s): 4
PSYC 209 - Measurement and Statistics Credit(s): 3
SOCI 301 - Research Methods and Statistics Credit(s): 4
STAT 200 - Basic Statistical Practice Credit(s): 3

Concentration Requirements:

NSCI/PSYC Electives Requirement

Nine credits from the following:

NSCI 320 - Introduction to Neuroscience Credit(s): 3
NSCI 468 - Advanced Research Credit(s): 1-6
PSYC 310 - Sensation and Perception Credit(s): 3
PSYC 312 - Learning and Motivation Credit(s): 3
PSYC 314 - Brain and Behavior Credit(s): 3
PSYC 325 - Principles of Developmental Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 334 - Principles of Psychopathology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 340 - Cognition Credit(s): 3
PSYC 344 - Psychology of Language Credit(s): 3
PSYC 350 - Developmental Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 365 - Psychology Field Placement Credit(s): 1-6
PSYC 380 - Psychopathology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 414 - Drugs and the Brain Credit(s): 3
PSYC 431 - Hormones and Behavior Credit(s): 3
PSYC 433 - Cognitive Neuroscience Credit(s): 3
PSYC 436 - Nature vs Nurture Credit(s): 3
PSYC 445 - Adolescence Credit(s): 3
PSYC 446 - Psychology of Music Credit(s): 3
PSYC 481 - Clinical Psychology Credit(s): 3

Non-NSCI/-PSYC Electives Requirement:

Three of the following (six credits must come from LING/CGSC courses; six credits must be at the 300-level or higher):

ANTH 205 - What is Human Nature? Credit(s): 3
CGSC 327 - Diversity, Ethics, and Society Credit(s): 3
CGSC 402 - Neurobiology of Language Credit(s): 3
CGSC 404 - Animal Minds Credit(s): 3
CGSC 410 - Embodied Cognition Credit(s): 3
CGSC 420 - Research Methods in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 421 - Philosophy, Biology, Society Credit(s): 3
CGSC 451 - Topics in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 470 - Elements of Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 485 - Seminar in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 490 - Philosophy of Language Credit(s): 3
CGSC 496 - Psycholinguistics Credit(s): 3
EDUC 462 - Language Acquisition Credit(s): 4
LING 102 - Language, Mind and Society Credit(s): 3
LING 202 - Science of Language Credit(s): 3
LING 404 - Structure of Language Credit(s): 3
LING 418 - Meaning and Language Use Credit(s): 3
LING 444 - First Language Development Credit(s): 3
LING 480 - Sociolinguistics Credit(s): 3
PHIL 320 - Theory of Knowledge Credit(s): 3
PHIL 330 - Philosophy of Mind Credit(s): 3

Capstone Course Requirement:

One of the following:

CGSC 402 - Neurobiology of Language Credit(s): 3
CGSC 451 - Topics in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 470 - Elements of Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3
CGSC 485 - Seminar in Cognitive Science Credit(s): 3

Electives:

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.

Cognitive Science - Psychological Foundations Concentration (BS)

Four Year Plan

University Requirements:

College Requirements:

College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements:

Second Language:

Mathematics:

Option One:

Option Two:

Option Three:

Second Writing Requirement:

Cognitive Science Major Requirements

Major Requirements:

Core:

Note:

Advanced PSYC/CGSC Course Requirement:

Biology Requirement:

Computational Requirement:

Statistics Requirement:

Concentration Requirements:

NSCI/PSYC Electives Requirement

Non-NSCI/-PSYC Electives Requirement:

Capstone Course Requirement:

Electives:

Credit to Total a Minimum of 124

Last Revised for 2025-2026 Academic Year