Cognitive Science Major

The Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science offers a Bachelors Degree in Cognitive Science (B.A.). Below is a description of the requirements for fulfilling the new Cognitive Science Major and the five possible tracks.

To declare the major, students need to have taken:

1 course in the Computational/Logical Reasoning Component
1 course in the Statistical Reasoning Component
185:201 Introduction to Cognitive Science

Students can declare the new Cognitive Science Major using myMajor.

Once you declare, you will be able to follow progress toward the degree using Degree Navigator.

Majors may receive Honors in Cognitive Science. Review requirements and procedures on our honors page.

You can learn more about the Cognitive Science major by watching a video from one of our excellent majors, Mohammad Wiswall:

WATCH THIS VIDEO

If you have questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or schedule an advising appointment

Requirements and Tracks

(Click here to download a flyer with the major requirements and track information.)

The major is structured into 5-segments with 5-tracks (from which students will select one track):
(i) Quantitative Reasoning, (ii) Foundational, (iii) Distributional, (iv) Capstone, and (v) Topics Courses.

There are two requirements in Computational/Logical and Statistical Reasoning, one Foundational course in Cognitive Science, a set of three Distributional requirements in cognate areas, one Capstone Course, and three upper-division Topics Courses (vary by track).

There are 5 possible tracks for the major:

(1) Cognitive Neuroscience
(2) Decision Making
(3) Language
(4) Mind, Machines & Computation
(5) Perception

The major must consist of a minimum of 36 credits***:

Complete a minimum of 4-courses in Cognitive Science (curriculum code 185).
Grades of C or better must be earned in all courses counted toward the major.
Two-thirds of the 36-credits must be at the 300-level or above.
(Click here for courses that automatically satisfy the requirement.)
Two-thirds of the 36-credits must be from courses offered by the School of Arts and Sciences.
No more than 4-courses from Philosophy and no more than 4 courses from Computer Science may be counted toward the major.
No more than 3-courses from any other department (not listed above) may be counted toward the major.

Note: Courses used to satisfy the distribution requirement cannot also be used to satisfy the track elective requirements.

***Once all required section courses are completed, 36-credits may not have been reached. The remaining credits can be from any category on either side of the track flyer as long as the additional requirements noted above have been met.

(i) Quantitative Reasoning Requirements

(ii) Foundational Requirement in Cognitive Science (185:201)

(iii) Distributional Requirements

(iv) Capstone Course (185:411; 4cr) OR (185:395; 3cr) OR 185:495; 3cr)

After selecting from one of 5-tracks (above), the remaining credits will be completed by taking a minimum of three Topics Courses in a specific area of concentration. Note: there is no double-counting of courses; even though some courses appear on multiple lists, any one course can only count for satisfying one requirement.

Contacts

John McGann

Mimi Phan

Pernille Hemmer

Undergraduate Menu

Undergraduate Quicklinks

Major